After one attempt to replicate Laurel & Hardy's success by doing a female Laurel & Hardy team (FEED 'EM AND WEEP), Roach waited a few years and tried again with Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd and hit pay dirt.
There is nothing in the least Laurel & Hardyish about the teaming of these two women, except for the warm friendship that they show for each other on the screen. Yet the comedy arises out of their characters.
SEAL SKINS, although not the best of their vehicles, does emphasize the basis of their friendship: they fill in the gaps in each others' characters and support each other: Thelma wanting to get ahead as a reporter, and Zasu trying to act as the voice of reasons.... not that either is capable of much reasoning. This one is definitely worth twenty minutes of your time.
There is nothing in the least Laurel & Hardyish about the teaming of these two women, except for the warm friendship that they show for each other on the screen. Yet the comedy arises out of their characters.
SEAL SKINS, although not the best of their vehicles, does emphasize the basis of their friendship: they fill in the gaps in each others' characters and support each other: Thelma wanting to get ahead as a reporter, and Zasu trying to act as the voice of reasons.... not that either is capable of much reasoning. This one is definitely worth twenty minutes of your time.