Night Owls 🌙🏠 Laurel and Hardy 🚨😂

Night Owls, a 1930 American Pre-Code short film featuring Laurel and Hardy, was filmed during October and November of 1929 and debuted on January 4, 1930.

Police officer Edgar Kennedy receives an ultimatum from his chief to make arrests, curb the burglary spree in his area, or face dismissal. One night, he encounters vagrants Laurel and Hardy and convinces them to stage a robbery at the chief's home to return to his boss's good graces. Initially reluctant due to the danger, the duo agrees to the charade only after Kennedy threatens them with ninety days on "the rockpile" and promises their release once caught. Stan and Ollie face multiple challenges during their staged heist. Still, ultimately, Kennedy gets caught by the chief with various stolen items in his house. Miraculously, the bumbling duo manages to evade capture.

Did you know the Spanish version of "Night Owls," titled "Ladrones," holds a special place in Argentine film history? In February 1930, exhibitor Max Glücksmann showcased "Ladrones" in Mar del Plata, making it the first-ever Spanish talkie shown in Argentina. It also became the first Spanish-language short to be released by Hal Roach Studios.

In the 1950s, when Laurel and Hardy toured British music halls, Laurel adapted the plot of "Night Owls" into a stage sketch called "A Spot of Trouble." Interestingly, "Night Owls" was the first film to feature Marvin Hatley's "Dance of the Cuckoos," which eventually became the iconic theme music for Laurel and Hardy.

Another unique aspect of this film is that it has the least amount of dialogue from the comedic pair compared to their other sound shorts. While "Night Owls" is a comedy, it also critiques law enforcement corruption, addressing issues such as entrapment, quotas, overzealousness, and the targeting of less fortunate individuals.