The Bohemian Girl – A strange little adventure with a slap on the cheek

So, I just rewatched “The Bohemian Girl” last weekend, and mate, what a trip. Any time you throw Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy into a film, you know you’re in for some classic chaos. But let’s be real – I’m still not sure Berthold Viertel (yep, that’s the director, had to Google him too, he’s not exactly Ingmar Bergman, right?) really knew what to do with those two goofballs stuck in this 1930s adaptation of an opera. Talk about mixing herring with knäckebröd.

Look, the plot is a bit all-over-the-place – gypsies, stolen kids, misplaced sandwiches… It’s like someone spiked the saft at midsommar and handed out scripts to everyone’s most drunk uncle. But Laurel & Hardy, man, they’re the salty licorice at the cinema’s candy counter. Just their facial expressions had me cackling, especially Hardy’s resigned looks. Opera? More like slapstick på hög nivå.

Personal confession: I remember watching this with mormor in Kungsbacka one snowstorm in February 2001. She fell asleep, snoring through the fight scenes, while I giggled every time Stan got bopped on the head. There’s just something timeless about that physical comedy, even if the story goes full helsjukt now and then.

Anyway, don’t expect Spielberg magic here. Hal Roach produced it, and ya feel that old Hollywood touch – kind of like classic Pepsodent toothpaste, makes your teeth ache if you leave it on too long. But sometimes all you want is to laugh at two idiots who can’t pour soup right. The soundtrack will stick in your ear too – like the Eurovision entry that just won’t leave your head.

Is it perfect? No. Is it fun with coffee and a kanelbulle? Yep, especially on a rainy Sunday. Not a film that’ll make you rethink your life, but hey, sometimes all you need is a silly escape and a giggle.

watch the full movie on Mavshack Movies on YouTube

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