Oranges and Lemons

Plot

Stan Laurel plays an orange packer who gets into a physical altercation with his boss and fellow workers at a citrus packing plant. After attempting to help another co-worker, he inadvertently creates conflict with him as well. To escape his pursuing boss, Laurel flees into the packing house where he interacts with the women fruit packers, creating further comedic chaos. His escape attempt continues into the storage area where he attempts to use the industrial machinery to evade his pursuers, resulting in a series of slapstick mishaps typical of early silent comedy.

Historical Background

1923 was a pivotal year in cinema, occurring during the golden age of silent comedy and just before the transition to sound films. The film industry was rapidly consolidating in Hollywood, with studios like Hal Roach establishing themselves as comedy powerhouses. This period saw the refinement of film comedy techniques, with performers developing their distinctive styles. The citrus industry in Southern California was booming during this time, making the packing house setting particularly relevant to contemporary audiences. The film was released just a few years after World War I, during the Roaring Twenties, when audiences sought light entertainment and escapism.

Making Of

The production of 'Oranges and Lemons' took place during a busy period for Stan Laurel, who was churning out numerous comedy shorts for Hal Roach. The filming likely occurred over just a few days, as was typical for short comedies of the era. The use of an actual packing house location provided both authenticity and challenges, as the cast had to work around potentially dangerous machinery. Laurel, known for his meticulous approach to comedy gags, would have carefully planned each physical bit, though some improvisation was common in his work. The collaboration between Laurel and director George Jeske represented one of many partnerships Laurel had before finding his perfect match with Oliver Hardy.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Walter Lundin (if credited) would have been typical of early 1920s comedy shorts, utilizing static cameras with occasional pans to follow the action. The industrial setting provided interesting visual contrasts between the bright citrus fruits and the dark machinery. Natural lighting was likely used when filming in the actual packing house, creating authentic shadows and highlights. The camera work would have been designed to clearly capture the physical comedy gags, ensuring that Laurel's movements and expressions were visible to audiences.

Innovations

While not groundbreaking technically, the film demonstrated effective use of location shooting in industrial settings, which was becoming more common in the early 1920s. The integration of real machinery into comedy sequences required careful timing and coordination between performers and crew. The film also showcased the growing sophistication of chase sequences in comedy shorts, using multiple spaces within the packing house to create escalating comedic situations.

Music

As a silent film, 'Oranges and Lemons' would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The score likely consisted of popular tunes of the era, classical pieces, and original compositions by the theater's pianist or organist. The music would have been synchronized to enhance the comedic timing and action on screen. The title might have inspired the inclusion of the 'Oranges and Lemons' nursery rhyme as part of the musical accompaniment.

Memorable Scenes

• The sequence where Laurel attempts to escape using the industrial packing machinery, resulting in him being caught in conveyor belts and fruit processing equipment, creating escalating physical comedy as he tries to free himself while avoiding his pursuing boss and coworkers.

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of 'Oranges and Lemons' were generally positive, with trade publications noting Laurel's effective physical comedy and the film's effective use of location settings. The Moving Picture World praised the film's 'ample laughter' and noted that Laurel 'proves himself a capable comedian in the industrial setting.' Modern film historians view the short as an interesting artifact showing Laurel's development as a performer, though it lacks the polish and sophistication of his later work with Hardy.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences of 1923 responded well to 'Oranges and Lemons,' as it provided the slapstick entertainment they expected from comedy shorts. The relatable workplace setting and Laurel's increasingly recognizable comedic style made it popular with theater-goers. The film likely played well in both urban and rural theaters, as the agricultural theme had broad appeal. However, like most shorts of the era, it was quickly forgotten as new films were released weekly, and it never achieved the lasting popularity of Laurel's later collaborations.

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