The Music Box
US (1932): Comedy/Short
The Laurel & Hardy Moving Co. have a challenging job on their hands (and backs): hauling a player piano up a monumental flight of stairs to Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen's house. Their task is complicated by a sassy nursemaid (Lilyan Irene) and, unbeknownst to them, the impatient Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen himself (Billy Gilbert . But the biggest problem is the force of gravity, which repeatedly pulls the piano back down to the bottom of the stairs. Finally, the irate Professor explodes in fury to discover the "mechanical blunderbuss" in his home, not knowing it was a surprise birthday present from his wife (Gladys Gale). James Parrot directs. (IMDb)
The idea for the film came to a Hal Roach comedy writer in 1927 when he passed a long flight of stairs in the Silverlake area of L.A. and thought it would be a good idea to have Laurel and Hardy trying to move something heavy up these stairs. The film was reportedly half-improvised and was made mostly as a contractual obligation between Laurel and Hardy and Hal Roach.
1 nomination, 1 Award
· Best Short Subject (Comedy) 1931-32: Hal Roach, producer for MGM (Laurel and Hardy)