Saps at Sea
Encyclopedia
Saps at Sea is a 1940 American film directed by Gordon Douglas
, distributed by United Artists
, and Laurel and Hardy
's last film produced by Hal Roach
Studio.
played by James Finlayson
in his last Laurel and Hardy film is called to treat Ollie and, warning Ollie that he could develop a more serious condition, "hornomania," he prescribes a relaxing boat trip and goat's milk. Ollie dismisses the idea because he is afraid to sail on the ocean, but Stan prescribes an alternative: they'll simply rent a boat and keep it attached to the dock, getting all the sea air
they can while never actually going out to sea. Ollie thinks this might be a good idea, Then when Stan's trombone
teacher arrives and Ollie hears the music and throws the teacher out, he knows he should take that advice. Stan and Ollie rent an unseaworthy boat called 'Prickly Heat' that is supposed to stay moored to the dock
. An escaped murderer named Nick Grainger stows away on the boat to avoid being caught by the police. The goat which they have brought to provide milk chews away at the docking line and overnight the boat drifts out to sea. Nick confronts Stan and Ollie with a gun (which he affectionately names "Nick Jr") and tells them to make him breakfast. They have no food on board, so they decide to prepare Nick a "synthetic" breakfast made up of string, soap and whatever else they can find. Nick spies on them and realizes what they are up to. He then makes them eat the fake food. Stan becomes inspired and starts to play his trombone. Ollie starts to go crazy and overcomes the criminal. The Coast Guard
arrives. Stan and Ollie are in line for a reward for capturing Nick. Stan shows the Coast Guard captain what happened by playing the trombone again, and Ollie goes crazy once more, blindly attacking the Coast Guard captain. The boys are arrested and put in a cell
with Nick.
Gordon Douglas (director)
Gordon Douglas was an American film director, who directed many different genres of films over the course of a five-decade career in motion pictures. He was a native of New York City.-Hal Roach and Our Gang:...
, distributed by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, and 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...
's last film produced by Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
Studio.
Plot
Stan and Ollie work in a horn factory. Ollie develops 'hornophobia' and starts going crazy each time he hears horns or horn-based musical instruments. Stan and Ollie are sent home so that Ollie can recuperate. A doctorPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
played by James Finlayson
Jimmy Finlayson
James Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson had many trademark comic mannerisms and is famous for his squinting, outraged, "double take and fade away" head reaction, and characteristic expression...
in his last Laurel and Hardy film is called to treat Ollie and, warning Ollie that he could develop a more serious condition, "hornomania," he prescribes a relaxing boat trip and goat's milk. Ollie dismisses the idea because he is afraid to sail on the ocean, but Stan prescribes an alternative: they'll simply rent a boat and keep it attached to the dock, getting all the sea air
Sea air
The air at or by the sea is traditionally thought to be healthy. This was variously attributed to iodine or ozone but its cleanliness or salt may be more significant....
they can while never actually going out to sea. Ollie thinks this might be a good idea, Then when Stan's trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
teacher arrives and Ollie hears the music and throws the teacher out, he knows he should take that advice. Stan and Ollie rent an unseaworthy boat called 'Prickly Heat' that is supposed to stay moored to the dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
. An escaped murderer named Nick Grainger stows away on the boat to avoid being caught by the police. The goat which they have brought to provide milk chews away at the docking line and overnight the boat drifts out to sea. Nick confronts Stan and Ollie with a gun (which he affectionately names "Nick Jr") and tells them to make him breakfast. They have no food on board, so they decide to prepare Nick a "synthetic" breakfast made up of string, soap and whatever else they can find. Nick spies on them and realizes what they are up to. He then makes them eat the fake food. Stan becomes inspired and starts to play his trombone. Ollie starts to go crazy and overcomes the criminal. The Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
arrives. Stan and Ollie are in line for a reward for capturing Nick. Stan shows the Coast Guard captain what happened by playing the trombone again, and Ollie goes crazy once more, blindly attacking the Coast Guard captain. The boys are arrested and put in a cell
Prison cell
A prison cell or holding cell or lock-up is a small room in a prison, or police station where a prisoner is held.Prison cells are usually about 6 by 8 feet in size with steel or brick walls and one solid or barred door that locks from the outside. Many modern prison cells are pre-cast. Solid doors...
with Nick.