Great Guns
Encyclopedia
Great Guns is a 1941 film directed by Monty Banks
, and produced by Sol M. Wurtzel
for 20th Century Fox
starring Laurel and Hardy
.
and his chauffeur Oliver Hardy
. While there, he falls in love with a woman, Ginger Hammond (Sheila Ryan
), who runs a photography store, but is equally the attraction of Forrester's commanding officer, Sgt. Hippo (Edmund MacDonald).
Laurel and Hardy emerge triumphant after some mock war maneuvers.
Monty Banks
Montague Banks was a comedian and film director. In the 1920s, he worked in Hollywood, starring in many silent short comedies and in the feature-length action thriller Play Safe...
, and produced by Sol M. Wurtzel
Sol M. Wurtzel
Sol M. Wurtzel was an American motion picture producer.Born in New York City, New York, Sol M. Wurtzel worked as an executive assistant to William Fox, founding owner of the Fox Film Corporation. In 1917, Fox sent him to California to oversee the studio's West Coast productions...
for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
starring Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
.
Plot
Pampered and sickly young millionaire Dan Forrester (Dick Nelson) joins the army, helped and hindered by his gardener Stan LaurelStan Laurel
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
and his chauffeur Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
. While there, he falls in love with a woman, Ginger Hammond (Sheila Ryan
Sheila Ryan
Sheila Ryan, was an American actress who starred in over 60 movies.-Acting career:Born as Katherine Elizabeth McLaughlin in Topeka, Kansas, she went to Hollywood in 1939 at the age of 18. She was signed by 20th Century Fox in 1940 and was credited in her early films as Bettie McLaughlin...
), who runs a photography store, but is equally the attraction of Forrester's commanding officer, Sgt. Hippo (Edmund MacDonald).
Laurel and Hardy emerge triumphant after some mock war maneuvers.
Trivia
- The first of Laurel and Hardy's post-Hal Roach features, Great Guns is generally regarded as the start of the team's decline, since they were given unsuitable, out-of-character scripts to work with, and very little artistic freedom behind the camera. At Hal Roach Studios, Stan Laurel looked on such creativity behind as well as in front of the camera as routine, but Twentieth Century Fox did not allow such luxuries.
- Future film star Alan LaddAlan Ladd-Early life:Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the only child of Ina Raleigh Ladd and Alan Ladd, Sr. He was of English ancestry. His father died when he was four, and his mother relocated to Oklahoma City where she married Jim Beavers, a housepainter...
appears briefly as a photo store customer; he however does not share any scenes with Laurel and Hardy.
Cast
- Stan LaurelStan LaurelArthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
as Stan - Oliver HardyOliver HardyOliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
as Ollie - Sheila RyanSheila RyanSheila Ryan, was an American actress who starred in over 60 movies.-Acting career:Born as Katherine Elizabeth McLaughlin in Topeka, Kansas, she went to Hollywood in 1939 at the age of 18. She was signed by 20th Century Fox in 1940 and was credited in her early films as Bettie McLaughlin...
as Ginger Hammond - Dick Nelson as Dan Forrester
- Edmund MacDonald as Sgt. Hippo
- Charles TrowbridgeCharles TrowbridgeCharles Trowbridge was an American film actor. He appeared in 233 films between 1915 and 1958.He was born in Veracruz, Mexico and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:*Tycoon...
as Colonel Ridley - Ludwig StösselLudwig StösselLudwig Stössel was an actor born in Lockenhaus, Austria. He was one of many Jewish actors and actresses that were forced to flee Europe when the Nazis came to power in 1933....
as Dr. Schickel (as Ludwig Stossel) - Kane RichmondKane RichmondKane Richmond was an American film actor of the 1930s and 1940s, mostly appearing in cliffhangers and serials...
as Captain Baker - Mae MarshMae MarshMae Marsh was an American film actress with a career spanning over 50 years.-Early life:...
as Aunt Martha - Ethel GriffiesEthel GriffiesEthel Griffies was an English actress of stage, screen, and television....
as Aunt Agatha - Paul HarveyPaul HarveyPaul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
as General Taylor - Charles ArntCharles ArntCharles Arnt was an American film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1933 and 1962.He was born in Michigan City, Indiana, and died in Orcas Island, Washington from pancreatic and liver cancer.-Selected filmography:...
as Doctor - Pierre WatkinPierre WatkinPierre Watkin was an American actor. He was a character actor in many films, serials and TV series from the 1930s through the 1950s, especially westerns...
as Colonel Wayburn - Russell Hicks as General Burns
- Irving BaconIrving BaconIrving Bacon was an American character actor who appeared in over 400 films. He played on the stage for a number of years before getting into films in 1920. Bacon was sometimes cast in films directed by his namesake Lloyd Bacon such as The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse...
as Postman