Do Detectives Think?
1927 film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Do Detectives Think? or The Bodyguard is a 1927 silent comedy short film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy prior to their official billing as the duo Laurel and Hardy.
H.M. Walker (titles)
Oliver Hardy
| Do Detectives Think? | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Fred Guiol |
| Written by | Hal Roach H.M. Walker (titles) |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy |
| Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
Release date |
|
Running time | 19 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent film English intertitles |
Plot
A judge sentences a dangerous criminal, the Tipton Slasher, to death "for killing two Chinamen, both seriously". Judge Foozle, in pronouncing sentence, rather gratuitously adds "And I hope you choke!". The Slasher vows to cut out the Judge's tonsils without anesthetic. When the Slasher escapes, the judge hires Laurel and Hardy, two clumsy detectives, for protection. While on duty, Laurel and Hardy face various mishaps, like losing their hats in a cemetery. Unbeknownst to them, the Slasher disguises himself as a butler in the judge's house.
Hardy tries to impress the judge with his shooting skills but causes chaos instead. The judge's wife mistakes the Slasher for a threat, leading to a tense confrontation. Despite their blunders, Laurel and Hardy eventually capture the Slasher, though not without chaos. In the end, the judge's accidental scare helps the police catch the Slasher, thanks to Laurel and Hardy's unintentional help.[1]
Cast
- Stan Laurel - Ferdinand Finkleberry
- Oliver Hardy - Sherlock Pinkham
- James Finlayson - Judge Foozle
- Noah Young - The Tipton Slasher
- Viola Richard - Mrs. Foozle
- Frank Brownlee - Detective agency boss
- Charles A. Bachman - Officer
- Will Stanton - Slasher's pal
- Charley Young - Juror
- Wilson Benge - Butler attacked by Slasher
- Ed Brandenburg - Courtroom spectator
- Charles Lloyd - Juror
Production notes
Do Detectives Think? is the first film to showcase Laurel and Hardy donning their iconic attire of crumpled suits and bowler hats, the typical outfit of detectives during that era.
It was later reworked into the team's last American film The Bullfighters (1945), made at 20th Century Fox.
Homages
Canadian musician Nash the Slash chose his stage name based on the character in Do Detectives Think.[2]
