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      Saps at Sea

      G Released Apr 29, 1940 57m Comedy List
      Reviews 72% Audience Score 250+ Ratings Ollie (Oliver Hardy) is at the end of his rope. He works at a horn factory, but every time he hears a horn, he launches into maniacal rage. In an attempt to cure him of his "hornophobia," his best friend Stan (Stan Laurel) takes Ollie on a relaxing trip to the ocean -- with the intent of keeping the boat on the dock, since Ollie is scared of sailing. But when an escaped convict (Richard Cramer) stows away on their boat and sets it adrift, Ollie's fragile mental state goes from bad to worse. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Denny S Laurel and Hardy's last good film. After "Saps At Sea" they left Hal Roach for the scrap pile at Fox and MGM and a final European disappointment in 1950. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review Ashley H Saps at Sea is an okay film. It is about Oliver who suffers a nervous breakdown as a result of working in a horn factory. Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel give decent performances. The script is a little slow in places. Gordon Douglas did an alright job directing this movie. I liked the motion picture because of the humor. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Audience Member I vaguely remember first seeing this forty years ago with my parents, when I was very young--especially the set-piece in which they're trying to outwit the murderous escaped criminal on their boat by making a quite inedible meal. Still quite funny two generations later. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member I vaguely remember first seeing this forty years ago with my parents, when I was very young--especially the set-piece in which they're trying to outwit the murderous escaped criminal on their boat by making a quite inedible meal. Still quite funny two generations later. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Stan and Ollie on the verge of a nervous breakdown from working at a car horn factory take a holiday out to sea and fall into the arms of a dangerous wanted killer. One of the weakest comedies of the duo, though in their defense this is a fact that is mostly due to contract and studio nuisance. This was, in fact, the last film they made with Hal Roach and to fulfil the contract it had to be made. So here is an unremarkable film that shows some creativity and originality in its start but hence recycles old gags and feels much more aged than the stuff they had been dishing out up to then. Slow paced and dull, Saps at Sea is an unremarkable work in Laurel and Hardy's remarkable filmography. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member One of Laurel and Hardy's best features, and their last with Hal Roach, in which the boys find themselves accidentally out to sea with a wanted criminal. The premise allows for some very clever physical gags that are played out within the confines of their studio apartment and a little boat; they're executed with incredible skill and make for some memorable, laugh-out-loud moments. A limited supporting cast, including a beautifully intimidating Richard Cramer and the always watchable James Finlayson, means that the attention's always where it should be. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Saps at Sea

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Ollie (Oliver Hardy) is at the end of his rope. He works at a horn factory, but every time he hears a horn, he launches into maniacal rage. In an attempt to cure him of his "hornophobia," his best friend Stan (Stan Laurel) takes Ollie on a relaxing trip to the ocean -- with the intent of keeping the boat on the dock, since Ollie is scared of sailing. But when an escaped convict (Richard Cramer) stows away on their boat and sets it adrift, Ollie's fragile mental state goes from bad to worse.
      Director
      Gordon Douglas
      Screenwriter
      Charley Rogers, Felix Adler, Gilbert Pratt, Harry Langdon
      Production Co
      Hal Roach Studios Inc.
      Rating
      G
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 29, 1940, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 22, 2016
      Runtime
      57m
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