The Bullfighters

1945 film by Malcolm St. Clair, Stan Laurel

The Bullfighters

Directed by| Mal St. Clair
Stan Laurel
Written by| W. Scott Darling
Stan Laurel
Produced by| William Girard
Starring| Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Margo Woode
Richard Lane
Carol Andrews
Diosa Costello
Cinematography| Norbert Brodine
Edited by| Stanley Rabjohn
Music by| David Buttolph
Distributed by| 20th Century Fox

Release date

* May 19, 1945 (1945-05-19)

Running time

| 60:55
Country| United States
Language| English

The Bullfighters is a feature film starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, the sixth and final film the duo made under 20th Century Fox as well as the last released in the United States.[1]

## Plot

[edit]

Private detectives Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy embark on a journey from their native Peoria, Illinois to Mexico City with the intent of apprehending the notorious criminal Hattie Blake, widely recognized as "Larceny Nell". Meanwhile, American sports promoter Richard K. Muldoon encounters his associate "Hot Shot" Coleman to discuss an upcoming bullfight featuring the esteemed Spanish matador Don Sebastian. However, Muldoon's anger is ignited upon seeing photographs of Don Sebastian, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Laurel. Muldoon's resentment towards Laurel and Hardy stems from a past incident in Peoria, where their testimony led to Muldoon's wrongful conviction and subsequent loss of livelihood and reputation.

As Laurel and Hardy confront Blake in pursuit of justice, she eludes capture and snatches the extradition papers. Their encounter coincides with Muldoon's discovery of Laurel's resemblance to Don Sebastian, prompting Hot Shot to coerce Laurel into impersonating the bullfighter to salvage the impending event. Reluctantly, Laurel complies under the threat of exposure to Muldoon, with the assurance of a handsome reward. Unforeseen circumstances compel Laurel to face the bulls in the ring despite his initial reluctance and inebriation.

However, the real Don Sebastian unexpectedly arrives, leading to a chaotic series of events during the bullfight. Muldoon, recognizing Laurel and incensed by his past injustice, instigates pandemonium in the arena. In a frenzy, Muldoon unleashes every bull, endangering the lives of all present. Laurel and Hardy attempt to flee, only to discover Muldoon hiding in their closet, seeking revenge with a knife. Fulfilling his vow, Muldoon subjects Laurel and Hardy to a symbolic punishment, leaving them with only their heads intact.

In the aftermath, Hardy laments their predicament with his iconic catchphrase, prompting a decision to return to their hometown of Peoria, where they feel they truly belong.[2]

## Cast

[edit]

* Stan Laurel as Stan, Don Sebastian
* Oliver Hardy as Ollie
* Richard Lane as "Hot Shot" Coleman
* Irving Gump as Mr. Gump
* Carol Andrews as Hattie Blake
* Diosa Costello as Conchita
* Ralph Sanford as Richard K. Muldoon
* Margo Woode as Señorita Tangerine
* Rory Calhoun as El Brillante, disgusted matador
* Hank Worden as Mr. McCoy
* Max Wagner as Farmer
* Emmett Vogan as Prosecutor
* Cyril Ring as Cafe Customer
* Jay Novello as Luis, Maître d'hôtel
* Edward Gargan as Vasso, Man Practicing Speech

## Production

[edit]

Laurel wrote and directed portions of the feature.,[3] which was produced in late 1944 and released in May 1945. The revenge plot was reworked from their short film Going Bye-Bye! (1934), and a tit for tat egg-breaking sequence was reprised from the MGM all-star feature Hollywood Party, in which the team appeared in guest roles. This was Laurel and Hardy's last American film and also the film debut of Frank McCown, who later became famous as Rory Calhoun.

Laurel and Hardy were scheduled to make another film for 20th Century-Fox in the spring of 1945, but the studio discontinued all B-picture production at the end of 1944 and closed the Laurel and Hardy unit. When The Bullfighters became a hit, the studio offered to reopen the entire B department just for Laurel and Hardy, but the comedians declined.[4] Thus, The Bullfighters turned out to be Laurel & Hardy's final American film. (Their final film, Atoll K, was produced in France in 1950–51.)

## Reception

[edit]

Critic Bosley Crowther in the New York Times praised The Bullfighters as “six reels of nonsense” adding that director Malcolm St. Clair, a veteran of the  slapstick silent film era, “didn't need a script; he must have had the whole business down pat in the back of his memory.” Crowther admired the climax of the film: “The melee in the bullring (which looks like newsreel footage), with occasional shots of the comedians running around among the crowds and the stampeding bulls, is the best part of the picture.”[5]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Dwyer, 1996 p. 239-240: Filmography
2. ^ Dwyer, 1996 p. 239-240: Filmography, plot synopsis.
3. ^ MacGillivray, Scott, Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward (Second Edition); iUniverse, 2009
4. ^ MacGillivray, Scott, Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward (Second Edition); iUniverse, 2009
5. ^ Crowther, 1945

## References

[edit]

* Dwyer, Ruth Anne. 1996. Malcolm St. Clair: His Films, 1915-1948. Filmmakers Series, No. 38. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham, MD & London. ISBN 0-8108-2709-3
* Crowther, Bosley. 1945. THE SCREEN; 'Escape in the Desert' New Attraction at Strand-- 'Bullfighters,' Laurel and Hardy, at the Rialto At the Rialto. New York Times, May 12, 1945. Https:www.nytimes.com/1945/05/12/archives/the-screen-escape-in-the-desert-new-attraction-at-strand.html Retrieved 15 June, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to The Bullfighters.

* The Bullfighters at IMDb
* The Bullfighters at the TCM Movie Database
* The Bullfighters at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
* The Bullfighters at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Laurel and Hardy filmography

* Stan Laurel
* Oliver Hardy

Short films|

| Silent|

* The Lucky Dog (1921)
* 45 Minutes from Hollywood (1926)
* Duck Soup (1927)
* Slipping Wives (1927)
* Love 'em and Weep (1927)
* Why Girls Love Sailors (1927)
* With Love and Hisses (1927)
* Sugar Daddies (1927)
* Sailors, Beware! (1927)
* The Second Hundred Years (1927)
* Hats Off (1927)
* Do Detectives Think? (1927)
* Putting Pants on Philip (1927)
* The Battle of the Century (1927)
* Leave 'Em Laughing (1928)
* Flying Elephants (1928)
* The Finishing Touch (1928)
* From Soup to Nuts (1928)
* You're Darn Tootin' (1928)
* Their Purple Moment (1928)
* Should Married Men Go Home? (1928)
* Early to Bed (1928)
* Two Tars (1928)
* Habeas Corpus (1928)
* We Faw Down (1928)
* Liberty (1929)
* Wrong Again (1929)
* That's My Wife (1929)
* Big Business (1929)
* Double Whoopee (1929)
* Bacon Grabbers (1929)
* Angora Love (1929)

|

Talking|

* Unaccustomed As We Are (1929)
* Berth Marks (1929)
* Men O' War (1929)
* Perfect Day (1929)
* They Go Boom! (1929)
* The Hoose-Gow (1929)
* Night Owls (1930)
* Blotto (1930)
* Brats (1930)
* Below Zero (1930)
* Hog Wild (1930)
* The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930)
* Another Fine Mess (1930)
* Be Big! (1931)
* Chickens Come Home (1931)
* Laughing Gravy (1931)
* Our Wife (1931)
* Come Clean (1931)
* One Good Turn (1931)
* Beau Hunks (1931)
* Helpmates (1932)
* Any Old Port! (1932)
* The Music Box (1932)
* The Chimp (1932)
* County Hospital (1932)
* Scram! (1932)
* Their First Mistake (1932)
* Towed in a Hole (1932)
* Twice Two (1933)
* Me and My Pal (1933)
* The Midnight Patrol (1933)
* Busy Bodies (1933)
* Dirty Work (1933)
* Oliver the Eighth (1934)
* Going Bye-Bye! (1934)
* Them Thar Hills (1934)
* The Live Ghost (1934)
* Tit for Tat (1935)
* The Fixer Uppers (1935)
* Thicker than Water (1935)
* Galaxy of Stars (1936 promotional)

Feature films|

* Pardon Us (1931)
* Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
* Fra Diavolo / The Devil's Brother / Bogus Bandits (1933)
* Sons of the Desert (1933)
* Babes in Toyland (1934)
* Bonnie Scotland (1935)
* The Bohemian Girl (1936)
* Our Relations (1936)
* Way Out West (1937)
* Swiss Miss (1938)
* Block-Heads (1938)
* The Flying Deuces (1939)
* A Chump at Oxford (1940)
* Saps at Sea (1940)
* Great Guns (1941)
* A-Haunting We Will Go (1942)
* Air Raid Wardens (1943)
* Jitterbugs (1943)
* The Dancing Masters (1943)
* The Big Noise (1944)
* Nothing But Trouble (1944)
* The Bullfighters (1945)
* Atoll K / Utopia (1951)

Related|

* Stan Laurel filmography
* Oliver Hardy filmography
* Laurel and Hardy (animated TV series)
* The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy (1999)
* Stan & Ollie (2018)
* Music
* The Sons of the Desert

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Malcolm St. Clair

1910s|

* Rip & Stitch: Tailors (1919)
* The Little Widow (1919)
* No Mother to Guide Him (1919)

1920s|

* Hungry Lions and Tender Hearts (1920)
* He Loved Like He Lied (1920)
* His Youthful Fancy (1920)
* Don't Weaken! (1920)
* Welcome Home (1920)
* A Kitchen Cinderella (1920)
* Wedding Bells Out of Tune (1921)
* Sweetheart Days (1921)
* The Goat (1921)
* The Night Before (1921)
* Call a Cop (1921)
* Bright Eyes (1921)
* You'd Be Surprised (1922)
* Don't Be Foolish (1922)
* Wedding Dumb Bells (1922)
* The Blacksmith (1922)
* Their First Vacation (1922)
* Twin Husbands (1922)
* Entertaining the Boss (1922)
* Keep 'Em Home (1922)
* Christmas (1923)
* Fighting Blood (1923)
* The Knight in Gale (1923)
* The Knight That Failed (1923)
* Six Second Smith (1923)
* Two Stones with One Bird (1923)
* Some Punches and Judy (1923)
* Gall of the Wild (1923)
* Rice and Old Shoes (1923)
* The End of a Perfect Fray (1923)
* When Gale and Hurricane Meet (1923)
* Judy Punch (1923)
* George Washington Jr. (1924)
* Julius Sees Her (1924)
* When Knighthood Was in Tower (1924)
* Money to Burns (1924)
* King Leary (1924)
* William Tells (1924)
* Sherlock's Home (1924)
* For the Love of Mike (1924)
* The Square Sex (1924)
* Bee's Knees (1924)
* Find Your Man (1924)
* The Lighthouse by the Sea (1924)
* On Thin Ice (1925)
* Are Parents People? (1925)
* After Business Hours (1925)
* The Trouble with Wives (1925)
* A Woman of the World (1925)
* The Grand Duchess and the Waiter (1926)
* A Social Celebrity (1926)
* Good and Naughty (1926)
* The Show-Off (1926)
* The Popular Sin (1926)
* Knockout Reilly (1927)
* Breakfast at Sunrise (1927)
* Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928)
* Sporting Goods (1928)
* Beau Broadway (1928)
* The Fleet's In (1928)
* The Canary Murder Case (1929)
* Side Street (1929)
* Welcome Danger (1929; uncredited)
* Night Parade (1929)

1930s|

* Montana Moon (1930)
* Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930)
* Remote Control (1930; uncredited)
* The Boudoir Diplomat (1930)
* Olsen's Big Moment (1933)
* Goldie Gets Along (1933)
* Crack-Up (1936)
* Time Out for Romance (1937)
* Born Reckless (1937)
* She Had to Eat (1937)
* Dangerously Yours (1937)
* A Trip to Paris (1938)
* Safety in Numbers (1938)
* Down on the Farm (1938)
* Everybody's Baby (1939)
* The Jones Family in Hollywood (1939)
* Quick Millions (1939)
* Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)

1940s|

* Young as You Feel (1940)
* Meet the Missus (1940)
* The Bashful Bachelor (1942)
* The Man in the Trunk (1942)
* Over My Dead Body (1942)
* Two Weeks to Live (1943)
* Jitterbugs (1943)
* The Dancing Masters (1943)
* Swing Out the Blues (1943)
* The Big Noise (1944)
* The Bullfighters (1945)
* Arthur Takes Over (1948)
* Fighting Back (1948)

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