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Habeas Corpus
Habeas Corpus
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Leo McCarey; James Parrott
Written by	Leo McCarey; James Parrott; H. M. Walker
Produced by	Hal Roach
Starring	Stan Laurel; Oliver Hardy; Richard Carle; Charles A. Bachman; Charley Rogers
Cinematography	Len Powers
Edited by	Richard C. Currier
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	December 1, 1928;
Running time	20 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Synchronized Sound; English (Intertitles)

Habeas Corpus is a synchronized sound short subject comedy film co-directed by Leo McCarey and James Parrott starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized orchestral musical score with sound effects. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on December 1, 1928. This film is importantly historically as the first Laurel and Hardy film to be released with recorded sound.

Plot

A mad scientist named Professor Padilla captures the attention of law enforcement agencies with his nefarious intentions, particularly his plan to conduct a medical experiment using a deceased body. During a mealtime discussion revolving around the theory of the human brain's structure, Professor Padilla's residence is unexpectedly visited by Stan and Ollie, who coincidentally seek sustenance. Capitalizing on the moment, the professor offers the duo $500 to procure a cadaver from a nearby cemetery, a proposition met with initial incredulity but ultimately accepted by Stan and Ollie. Unbeknownst to them, the professor's butler, who is an undercover policeman, eavesdrops on their conversation and promptly alerts his superior. Acting on this information, the police apprehend the professor.

Simultaneously, Stan and Ollie's endeavors at the cemetery unfold in a series of unwitting missteps as they attempt to access the premises and unearth a fresh grave. Meanwhile, Ledoux, disguised within a white sack, clandestinely infiltrates the grave. When Stan and Ollie retrieve what they believe to be the pilfered corpse, Ledoux's presence is revealed as his legs protrude through the sack. Realizing their mistake, Stan and Ollie flee in a panic, ultimately culminating in Ollie and Ledoux's descent into a deep, water-filled pit.

Cast

Stan Laurel as Stan
Oliver Hardy as Ollie
Richard Carle as Professor Padilla
Charley Rogers as Ledoux
Charles A. Bachman as Detective
Leo Sulky as Detective on telephone

Production notes

Habeas Corpus was filmed on July 16–24 and 30–31, 1928.^[2] Although technically a silent film — having intertitles and no synchronized dialogue — it was the inaugural Hal Roach film released with a synchronized music and sounds effects track for theatres wired for sound.^[2] The Victor sound discs were thought lost until a set surfaced in the 1990s and was reunited with the film elements.^[3]

The concept of men trolling through a cemetery with a dead body was reworked by The Three Stooges in Three Pests in a Mess (1945).^[4]

Reception

Horror film author Christopher Workman commented, "One sequence involving the comedy team's attempts to get over the graveyard wall takes up entirely too much running time and mires the proceedings in excessive tedium. Comedic incidents accumulate until the film has reached the requisite running time".^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
^ ^a ^b Skretvedt, Randy (1987). Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies. Beverly Hills, California: Past Times Publishing. ISBN 0-940410-29-X. p. 130
^ Mitchell, Glenn (1995). The Laurel and Hardy Encyclopedia. London: Batsford Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7134-7711-3. p. 122
^ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 257. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.