Tit for Tat (1935)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Let's be realistic.

A Disappointing Continuation

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Like another reviewer, I saw "Tit for Tat" shortly after viewing "Them Thar Hills," (a crackerjack short in its own right) and was pleasantly surprised to see Busch and Hall back as the same characters; I didn't realize that this was a sequel until Stan referred to meeting them in the hills."Tit for Tat" is essentially a simple, one-joke outing. But, much like "The Music Box", Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy wring every last possible laugh out of the situation. Their battle with grocer Charley Hall starts small, but doesn't stay small for long.There's no need to see "Hills" before this one; the story really can stand alone...but is enhanced if you know about the previous antics.Other reviewers had remarked about Ollie's rather salacious-sounding comment to Mae Busch. Oddly enough, the Hays (censorship) code was in effect at the time; it was one of the reasons that Betty Boop ended up with collared, long-hem/long-sleeve dresses. Pre-Code, Ollie's remark wouldn't have been noticed. But with censorship rules in place, I too, am surprised that the line was kept in.Superior work from all involved makes "Tit for Tat" one of my favorite Stan and Ollie films.How do you do!

For fans of Laurel and Hardy, this is a classic short. Others might be less impressed by this war of destruction between the pair and their next-door neighbor, Charlie Hall. It's all based on childish insults that cross the line when they start tearing up each other's stores.It's simple and direct physical comedy in the best tradition of L&H and their slapstick brand of comedy. A running gag has someone pilfering their store whenever they go next-door to wreck havoc on their neighbor. Naturally, they never notice a thing, even when he loads all their wares in a truck by the curb.Mae Busch is the wife about whom Charlie Hall becomes jealous. When Oliver gets tossed onto their window ledge by one of Laurel's gaffes, he's helped inside the woman's bedroom by the woman herself. Coming down the stairs, he utters a line that clearly got by the censors: "I've never been in that position before!" Any wonder the husband goes into a jealous rage? Funny stuff, tailor-made and simple story that provides plenty of slapstick moments you won't forget.

Laurel and Hardy open up an electrical hardware store and go to introduce themselves to the neighbouring grocery store owner only to find that it is Mr and Mrs Hall, whom they encountered previously on a mountain trip for health reasons. Mr Hall still has issues regarding his wife and Hardy. These issues boil over when Hardy inadvertently gets involved with her again leading to a battle of retribution between the two men. Meanwhile, no one is minding the store.Having just seem `Them Thar Hills' the day before, the fact that this film followed on from that one was a pleasant surprise. The strongest part of that film was a `tit for tat' battle with Charlie Hall, Well, someone clearly agreed that this was funny, so the vast majority of this film is given over to a continuation of that battle – directly referring back to Them Thar Hills. The whole film is hilarious. Not only does the humour strike an imaginative chord but the calm `accept my punishment' style approach of the film makes it even funnier. There is also a great running joke each time the duo leave their store.Laurel and Hardy do great work – both giving and receiving the blows. Charlie Hall is about as spot on as I've seen him in these shorts. Here he has a bigger character than he often does and he really works hard to thank the film for the part I guess. Busch has less to do and is really only the plot driver here.Overall this short is one simple idea – a running battle between Laurel and Hardy and Mr Hall the grocer. It is wonderfully simple and wonderfully effective as it is hilarious from start to finish.

With a fine combination of both obvious and subtle laughs, "Tit For Tat" is one of the funniest Laurel & Hardy short comedies. It is a follow up to "Them Thar Hills", and it plays off of the memorable confrontation scene with Charlie Hall in the earlier movie - this time, Stan and Ollie open up an electrical supply store, only to find out that Charlie runs the grocery store next door. It doesn't take much for a full-scale battle to break out once again. It's very funny creative chaos - they make full use of the props in the two stores, and there is plenty of hilarious slapstick along with some more subtle humor (for example, watch for the running gag each time they go next door). Not to be missed for fans of these master comics.