The Bohemian Girl (1936 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Bohemian Girl


caption = Theatrical poster for "Bohemian Girl" (1936)
director = James W. Horne
Charley Rogers
producer = Stan Laurel
Hal Roach
writer = Michael William Balfe
Alfred Bunn (libretto)
Frank Butler (screenplay)
starring = Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Thelma Todd
Antonio Moreno
Darla Hood
Julie Bishop
Mae Busch
William P. Carleton
Jimmy Finlayson
Zeffie Tilbury
Mitchell Lewis
Felix Knight
Harry Bernard
Eddie Borden
Harry Bowen
Lane Chandler
Bobby Dunn
Paulette Goddard
Andrea Leeds
Sam Lufkin
Margaret Mann
James C. Morton
Bob O'Connor
Harold Switzer
music = Michael William Balfe (original operetta)
Robert Shayon
Nathaniel Shilkret
cinematography = Francis Corby
Art Lloyd
editing = Bert Jordan
Louis McManus
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = February 14, 1936
runtime = 71 min.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = "Bonnie Scotland"
followed_by = "Our Relations"
imdb_id = 0027376

"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 mysterious death. It is one of the few Laurel and Hardy movies not set in the 1920s, 1930s or 1940s.

Plot

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's role

Thelma Todd had starred in 4 Laurel and Hardy films, including their first talkie, "Unaccustomed As We Are".

Todd died on 16 December, 1935 at the age of thirty. She had been found in the garage of her home, poisoned by the fumes of her own car. Tragically, 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 this film, 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 plying 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". She is probably dubbed.

Quotes

"Meta-reference": James Finlayson, well- known for his comical squinting, gets poked in the eye at one point and cries: "Oh! My good eye!"

Casting and production details

MGM wanted to cast a talented newcomer as Arline. Hal Roach cast Darla Hood from the "Our Gang" movies instead.

Rosina Lawrence dubs Julie Bishop's singing.

Paulette Goddard has a small uncredited role as a Gypsy.

Trivia

* Due to its gypsy theme the film was banned in Nazi Germany when it first came out in 1936.

External links

*imdb title|id=0027376|title=The Bohemian Girl

See also

* 1936 in film
* Laurel and Hardy films