| The Midnight Patrol | |
| Director: | Lloyd French |
| Producer: | Hal Roach |
| Music: | James Greene |
| Cinematography: | Art Lloyd |
| Editing: | Bert Jordan |
| Distributor: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Runtime: | 19:40 |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Midnight Patrol is a short American pre-Code comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy released August 3, 1933.
Laurel and Hardy play two police officers on night patrol. They get a call about a break-in and encounter a thief trying to crack a safe. Despite mistaking the thief for the shop owner, they unintentionally help him. When they realize their mistake, they let him go, coinciding with his planned bank robbery.
Later, they mistakenly arrest a homeowner locked out of his mansion, thinking he is the thief. Their colleagues praise them, but they soon discover the "thief" is actually the Chief of Police. Unable to explain their blunder, they flee as gunfire erupts, highlighting the consequences of their missteps.
The Midnight Patrol features two notable automobiles — a 1927 Cadillac Standard Line utilized as the police car and a 1925 Chevrolet Superior employed by the street thugs.[1]
The Midnight Patrol features an African American character, portrayed by Al Corporal in the role of the Police Chief's butler. Additionally, deleted scenes intended to feature Louise Beavers as a maid would have further expanded the representation of African American characters.
The influence of this film extends beyond its cinematic realm, as evidenced by its commemoration in Laurel & Hardy fan organizations. Both the Stoke-on-Trent and San Jose tents of the Sons of the Desert pay homage to the film by adopting the name "The Midnight Patrol Tent."[2]