| Flying Elephants | |
| Director: | Frank Butler |
| Producer: | Hal Roach |
| Starring: | Stan Laurel Oliver Hardy Jimmy Finlayson Edna Marion Dorothy Coburn Viola Richard Fay Lanphier Budd Fine Tiny Sandford Leo Willis |
| Distributor: | Pathé Exchange |
| Runtime: | 17 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Silent film English (Original intertitles) |
Flying Elephants is a two-reel silent film from 1928 directed by Frank Butler and co-written and produced by Hal Roach. It stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as a pair of battling cavemen.
The narrative unfolds within a Stone Age setting, where the ruler of the cave-dwelling populace mandates that all males aged 13 to 99 must secure a female partner or risk exile. Hardy embarks on a quest to find a spouse, enduring repeated blows from irate "husbands" in his pursuit. Eventually, he encounters a potential mate but remains unaware that Laurel, his companion, also seeks her hand in marriage.
As Laurel and Hardy vie for the same woman, their rivalry escalates, leading to a series of competitions to win her favor. In a pivotal scene, Laurel attempts to eliminate his competitor by luring him to a precarious cliff edge. However, his scheme is thwarted when a hostile goat intervenes, causing Hardy to plummet from the precipice. Seizing the opportunity, Laurel claims victory and the affections of the coveted bride-to-be.[1]
Although released in February 1928, Flying Elephants was actually filmed in May 1927, before the duo were established as a comedy team. As a result, the film lacks the Laurel and Hardy trademarks and consists mostly of solo performances by the two comedians.[2]
Taking place entirely outdoors, the rocky desert locations were photographed in Moapa, Nevada. Some locations would later be used in 1940 for Hal Roach's prehistoric drama One Million B.C..[1] [3]
The title Flying Elephants refers to a scene where Hardy's character points out three animated pachyderms flying up above in the sky.[4]