A Perfect Day Cut 🚗🥪 Laurel and Hardy 👋💥

"Perfect Day" is a Laurel and Hardy short film released on August 10, 1929.

Plans for a pleasant Sunday picnic with their families fall apart due to unfortunate events. Petty arguments, a malfunctioning car, and a disruptive feud with a next-door neighbor turn what was meant to be a perfect day into a chaotic disaster.

The filming took place in and around the Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California, which was the primary location for many of their films during that time.

The original "Perfect Day" plan involved a picnic in the second reel. However, the gags during the preparation and departure grew so elaborate that they filled the entire two reels.

Silent film actors often improvised dialogue, as it wasn't recorded. For example, in one scene, Kay Delsys ad-libbed "I hope so" after Laurel tells the neighbors they're leaving. Director Jimmy Parrott found it amusing and kept it in the film. Edgar Kennedy's profanity also remained, as it would have been censored had it been audible.

A Thermos jug falls off the table as they prepare for the picnic. Oliver picks it up and listens for rattling glass shards, indicating a broken interior. The original Thermos featured a metal exterior and a fragile glass interior, which could break if the jug was dropped or jarred.

A particularly memorable moment in the film occurs when Ollie hits Stan's head with a clutch, producing a loud, hollow clang. "The Film Exhibitor's Herald" praised it as "the funniest sound effect yet recorded."

References of Interest:
1. https://silentlocations.com/2015/03/21/how-laurel-hardy-filmed-perfect-day-new-discoveries/