Thus far, most of the reviews fall into 2 categories: 1) They love it 2)They consider it weaker than the average L&H talkie short. I'm definitely in the first group.........Ollie has a bad cold and his sneezing is going to cause trouble several times in the film. It makes the window shade roll up, several times. It makes the picture over his head in bed fall down, several times. But, by far, the most spectacular result is that, after their air mattress stretches itself to the maximum, and has the boys very close to the ceiling, Ollie sneezes, and the mattress, full of cooking gas, explodes, making a big hole in the ceiling, with the bed above partly hanging down, and the occupant clinging to the bed. No doubt, that event is what you will most remember about this film.........What can Stan do to possibly help alleviate Ollie's symptoms? He comes up with the idea of putting a mustard plaster on his chest: an old folk remedy. He brings a large washing tub to beside Ollie, in bed, and pours a large bag of mustard powder in, creating dust that makes Ollie sneeze.(This is far, far more than he needs.(He should have also added a good amount of flour). Stan stirs the powder into some boiling water, using a broom handle, hitting ollie on the head with the broom. He then goes for cold water, but trips on the way back, and throws the water on Ollie, instead of in the tub. Makes Ollie sneeze, causing the window shade to jump off it's hooks, and the picture to fall down again. Plus, in his excitement, he steps into the tub, and burns his feet........Later, the landlord, played by Charlie Hall, arrives for the second time, to warn them to be quiet, at this night hour. This time. he's the victim of Ollie's wrath at Stan. Ollie throws a pillow at Stan, misses, and it hits a nail above the door, causing a rip, which results in many feathers falling on Charlie, as he enters. Then, Ollie pushes Charlie, and he lands in the tub of mustard plaster, emerging mad as a wet hen. He will visit the boys again, this time with several policemen. They are victims of the mattress explosion, as Ollie sneezes again after causing the mattress to explode. This time, it causes more of the ceiling plaster to fall down, right on Charlie and the police.........See it at YouTube.
Review of They Go Boom!
