| Big Business | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | James W. Horne Leo McCarey |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Written by | H.M. Walker (titles) |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Jimmy Finlayson Charlie Hall Retta Palmer Tiny Sandford Lyle Tayo |
| Editing by | Richard C. Currier (as Richard Currier) |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | April 20, 1929 |
| Running time | 19 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film English (Original intertitles) |
Big Business is a 1929 silent Laurel and Hardy comedy short subject directed by James W. Horne and supervised by Leo McCarey from a McCarey (uncredited) and H. M. Walker script. The film was deemed culturally significant and entered into the United States National Film Registry in 1992.
Stan and Ollie play door-to-door Christmas tree salesmen in California. They end up getting into an escalating feud with grumpy would-be customer James Finlayson, with his home and their car being destroyed in the melee. A police officer steps in to stop the fight and negotiates a peaceful resolution. Stan and Ollie give the homeowner a cigar as a peace offering. However, as the pair make their escape, the trick cigar promptly explodes in his face.
Producer Hal Roach bought a house from a studio worker so he could destroy it in the film. According to Roach, the cast and crew demolished the house next door instead by accident during filming, but Stan Laurel said this was a fabrication.
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