With Love and Hisses

About the production

was produced during the early period of Laurel and Hardy's collaboration before they were officially established as a comedy team. The production utilized the Hal Roach Studios' backlot which featured a standing military set that was used for multiple comedies. The film was shot quickly as part of Roach's efficient production system, completing in just a few days. Director Fred Guiol was instrumental in developing the chemistry between Laurel and Hardy, experimenting with their complementary character types.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Production circa 1927 meant fixed cameras, intertitles or early sound rigs, and studio economies that shaped every scene in With Love and Hisses.

Why this film matters

Archivists revisit With Love and Hisses (1927) for performance styles and craft choices later mainstream releases refined.

Making of

The filming of 'With Love and Hisses' took place during a crucial period at Hal Roach Studios when the producers were experimenting with different comedy pairings. Stan Laurel had been a successful solo comedian, while Oliver Hardy had been playing various character roles. Director Fred Guiol recognized their complementary chemistry - Laurel's childlike innocence paired perfectly with Hardy's pompous authority. The military setting was chosen partly because the studio had an existing barracks set that could be reused, and partly because military life provided a natural framework for physical comedy and conflict. The film was shot in just a few days using Roach's efficient production system, which typically completed two-reel comedies on tight schedules. During filming, the actors improvised many of the gags, with Laurel contributing his experience from his years in British music halls and Hardy bringing his theatrical background to create the character dynamics that would eventually define their partnership.

What critics said

Modern retrospectives screen With Love and Hisses to illustrate 1927 pacing and camera norms.

Did you know?

• This is one of the earliest films to feature both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, though they weren't yet officially established as the comedy duo they would become famous for.
• The film was originally titled 'The Recruit' before being changed to 'With Love and Hisses' as a play on military discipline and romantic elements.
• James Finlayson, who plays the Colonel, would become a frequent supporting actor in Laurel and Hardy films, known for his exasperated expressions and trademark mustache.
• The military setting was a popular backdrop for Hal Roach comedies, as it provided a natural structure for physical comedy and contrasted humorously with the characters' incompetence.
• was part of Roach's 'All-Star' series, which featured various combinations of his comedy talent before permanent partnerships were established.
• The film's title is a pun on the phrase 'with love and kisses,' substituting 'hisses' to reflect the military theme and the characters' contentious relationships.
• Only one 16mm print of was known to survive for decades, making it somewhat rare among Laurel and Hardy's early work.
• The film early versions of character traits that would become staples of Laurel and Hardy's later films - Laurel's cry-face and Hardy's exasperated dignity.

Visual style

The cinematography in 'With Love and Hisses' reflects the standard practices of Hal Roach Studios in the late 1920s, utilizing static cameras positioned to capture the full scope of physical comedy. The film employs wide shots to establish the military setting and allow the actors room for their elaborate physical gags, with medium shots used for facial expressions and character interactions. The lighting is typical of studio productions of the era, bright and even to ensure visibility of the performers' actions. The camera work is functional rather than artistic, focusing on clearly presenting the comedy rather than creating visual style, which was appropriate for the fast-paced production schedule of two-reel comedies.

Innovations

While 'With Love and Hisses' was not particularly innovative technically, it represents the efficiency of the Hal Roach Studios production system. The film demonstrates the studio's mastery of the two-reel format, packing substantial comedy and story development into its 20-minute runtime. The use of existing sets and props shows the economic approach to filmmaking that made Roach successful. The film's preservation through 16mm duplication efforts represents an early example of film preservation techniques that would become crucial for saving silent cinema heritage.

Music

As a silent film, 'With Love and Hisses' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The score would typically have been provided by the theater's organist or pianist, using cue sheets supplied by the studio that suggested appropriate music for various scenes. Military-themed marches would have been used for parade and training sequences, while more whimsical or frantic music would accompany the comedy scenes. No original composed score exists for , though modern screenings often use period-appropriate compiled scores or newly composed music that reflects the silent comedy tradition.

Famous quotes

You're in the army now!" (intertitle)

Attention!" (repeated intertitle as Hardy tries to maintain order)

Fall in!" (military command intertitle)

At ease!" (intertitle followed by immediate chaos)

Memorable scenes

• The opening recruitment scene where Laurel's character misunderstands basic military instructions, leading to him marching in the wrong direction and colliding with other recruits. The basic training sequence where Laurel attempts to follow drill commands but ends up tangled in his rifle and equipment, causing a domino effect of falling soldiers. The mess hall scene where Laurel's attempts to eat properly result in food flying everywhere and Hardy getting covered in mashed potatoes. The final chase sequence where the entire camp pursues Laurel through various obstacles, showcasing the film's most elaborate physical comedy set pieces.

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1927 responded positively to 'With Love and Hisses,' finding the military setting relatable in the post-WWI era and enjoying the escalating chaos caused by Laurel's character. The film performed well in theaters as part of the typical double-feature programming of the era, where short comedies were expected to provide light entertainment between main features. Modern audiences, primarily silent film enthusiasts and Laurel and Hardy fans, appreciate the film as a historical artifact showing the early development of the comedy duo's style. The film continues to be screened at classic film festivals and silent cinema revival events, where it receives warm receptions from audiences familiar with Laurel and Hardy's later work.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Charlie Chaplin's 'Shoulder Arms' (1918)
• Buster Keaton's 'The General' (1926)
• Harold Lloyd's comedy style
• Music hall comedy traditions
• Mack Sennett's Keystone comedies

This film influenced

• Laurel and Hardy's 'Pack Up Your Troubles' (1932)
• Abbott and Costello's 'Buck Privates' (1941)
• The Three Stooges' military shorts
• Martin and Lewis's 'At War with the Army' (1950)

Film restoration

The film survives in 16mm duplicate prints and has been preserved by film archives. It is not considered a lost film, though the original 35mm negative is likely no longer extant. The film has been restored and is available through various classic film distributors. The surviving copies show some wear and deterioration typical of films from this era, but remain watchable and complete.

Where to watch

• Available on DVD in Laurel and Hardy collections from major distributors
• Streaming on classic film platforms such as The Criterion Channel
• Available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video
• Occasionally screened at film festivals and classic cinema revival events
• Accessible through some public library media collections