| The Bohemian Girl | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | James W. Horne Charley Rogers |
| Produced by | Stan Laurel Hal Roach |
| Written by | Michael William Balfe Alfred Bunn (libretto) Frank Butler (screenplay) |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Thelma Todd Mae Busch Antonio Moreno Darla Hood Julie Bishop Jimmy Finlayson |
| Music by | Michael William Balfe (original operetta) Robert Shayon Nathaniel Shilkret |
| Cinematography | Francis Corby Art Lloyd |
| Editing by | Bert Jordan Louis McManus |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | February 14, 1936 |
| Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Bohemian Girl is a 1936 feature film version of the opera The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe. It was produced at the Hal Roach Studios, and stars Laurel and Hardy and Thelma Todd in her last role before her death.
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Laurel and Hardy are a hen-pecked pair of Gypsies in 18th Century Austria. When Oliver is out pickpocketing, fortune-telling or attending his zither lessons, his wife (Mae Busch), has an affair with Devilshoof (Antonio Moreno). A cruel nobleman, Count Arnheim, persecutes the Gypsies, who are forced to flee, but Mrs. Hardy kidnaps his daughter, Arline (Darla Hood), leaves Hardy holding the baby, and elopes with Devilshoof.
12 years later, the Gypsies return to Arnheim's estate. When grown up Arline (Julie Bishop) trespasses in Arnheim's garden, she recognises the place, but is arrested by a constable (Jimmy Finlayson) and sentenced to the torture chamber. Stan and Oliver try to save her, but Stan is too drunk and both are arrested. Arline is rescued in time by Arnheim, who recognises a medallion she wears, and both try to rescue Stan and Oliver. It is too late though: Laurel and Hardy end up in the torture chamber, resulting in one of the team's best sight gags.
Thelma Todd had starred in four Laurel and Hardy films, including their first talkie, Unaccustomed As We Are.
Todd died on 16 December 1935 at age 29. She had been found in the garage of her home, poisoned by the fumes of her own car. Stan Laurel received a Christmas present from her soon afterwards. The jury brought out a verdict of suicide, but this came under heavy suspicion.
Three films starring Todd were released after her death. In The Bohemian Girl, Todd had played the Gypsy Queen, a very substantial role. All of her scenes were re-shot and her character was renamed as the Gypsy Queen's Daughter, and Zeffie Tilbury playing the Queen, and with a vampish Mae Busch character replacing her in the narrative. One scene of Todd's was kept in as a tribute to her: a musical number where she sings "Heart of a Gypsy".
Meta-reference: James Finlayson, well- known for his comical squinting, gets poked in the eye at one point and cries: "Oh! My good eye!"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wanted to cast a talented newcomer as Arline. Hal Roach cast Darla Hood, who had just begun appearing in Roach's Our Gang comedies, as young Arline and Julie Bishop as adult Arline.
Rosina Lawrence dubs Julie Bishop's singing.
Paulette Goddard has a small uncredited role as a Gypsy.
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