Growing up With Laurel and Hardy

When I was a kid, I was hooked on Laurel and Hardy's picaresque exploits. I mean, who wouldn't be? Those two were comedic gold, always making me laugh with their hilarious hijinks on screen.

The British-American comedy duo brought laughter and joy to millions with their slapstick humor and impeccable timing.

Last week, I was watching "Pack Up Your Troubles" and suddenly it hit me that even though they were five centuries apart, Miguel de Cervantes' picaresque storytelling in "Don Quixote" was still being portrayed on the big screen.

In the pre-code era movie, Stan and Ollie are sent on a mission to retrieve a prisoner. It's a suicide mission, but I watch as they climb the trenches and push forward amidst the havoc. They end up driving a tank, dodging bullets, and bringing back German soldiers wrapped in barbed wire in a scene of sheer hilarity.

As I revisited Laurel and Hardy's films, I started to see more and more parallels between them and Cervante's iconic characters.

The two duos might seem worlds apart, but they share the same spirit of adventure, the same commitment to their ideals, and the same ability to make us laugh until our sides hurt.

Cervantes' reinterpretation of the Arthurian saga and the medieval chivalric romance genre lives on in the comedic genius of Laurel and Hardy on the big screen. You might see it as an odd pairing, but to me, they share the same archetypical matrix.

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza were the original odd combo, with the idealistic knight errant and his down-to-earth squire always finding themselves in hilarious situations. One of my favorite scenes in Don Quixote is when the knight mistakes windmills for giants and charges into battle, lance at the ready.

So, today I am set on exploring the similarities and showing how my beloved comic duo from the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond are the perfect modern representation of Cervantes's timeless characters.

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I remember the day I found an old, worn-out edition of Don Quixote on my grandparents' bookshelves. I was around 10 years old and had never heard of the novel before. But as I thumbed through its yellowed pages, I became entranced by the story of the delusional knight and his loyal squire.

I mean, who wouldn't be?

From that day forward, I was hooked on Cervantes' timeless novel and would go on to read it multiple times throughout my life.

Little did I know then that the story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza would one day intertwine with that of another iconic duo, Laurel and Hardy. The latter duo had been comedic gold, always making me laugh with their hilarious hijinks on screen.

Years later, having majored in comparative literature, I grew fond of finding interesting pairings across different genres.

Revisiting Laurel and Hardy's cinematic adventures made me think about how they truly are a modern representation of Cervantes iconic characters.

While the two comedic legends may not have been intentionally modeled after the famous novel, their similarities cannot be denied. Laurel, the zany woolgatherer, is a reflection of Don Quixote's chivalrous spirit, always chasing after grand ideas and adventures.

Meanwhile, Hardy, the pragmatist, is akin to Sancho Panza, the grounded and practical counterpart who keeps the dreamer's feet on the ground.

The windmill chasers

If there's one thing that Don Quixote and Stan Laurel have in common, it's their ability to get lost inside their minds and engage in idle or aimless daydreaming in a goofy way.

Don Quixote was a knight errant, wandering the countryside in search of adventure and always looking for a way to prove his valor.

Laurel is a kind-hearted character that always seems a bit lost in the oniric realm as he tries to go through the harshest tribulations in the goofiest way.

One of the best examples of Laurel's grand ideas can be found in the film "Way Out West."

In this classic comedy, Laurel and Hardy play a pair of hapless cowboys embroiled in a plot to deliver a deed to a gold mine to a farmer's daughter, leading them to have to contend with crooks and a treacherous saloon owner. Along the way, they encounter all sorts of obstacles, including a group of tough guys, and a horse that refuses to cooperate.

Through it all, Laurel remains the eternal optimist, always dreaming of a better tomorrow and never giving up hope.

Whether he's trying to win the heart of a damsel in distress or simply trying to get a job done, he approaches everything with the same boundless enthusiasm and childlike wonder.

Another great example of Laurel's Don Quixote-like qualities can be found in the film "Sons of the Desert."

In this hilarious comedy, the wacky duo plays a pair of husbands who pretend to be sick in order to attend a lodge convention in Chicago. Of course, things don't go according to plan, and the duo finds themselves in all sorts of hilarious situations.

Through it all, Laurel remains the fool-hearted dreamer, always believing that things will work out in the end and never losing faith in his own abilities.

Whether he's trying to sneak past a suspicious spouse or simply trying to survive a crazy situation, he approaches everything with the same sense of foolhardy optimism, boundless energy, and childlike wonder.

While Laurel embodies the characteristics of Don Quixote, Hardy perfectly fits the bill of his trusted squire, Sancho Panza.

Sancho is known for his level-headedness, practicality, and ability to keep Don Quixote grounded in reality.

Similarly, Hardy is often the voice of reason and logic in Laurel and Hardy's comedic escapades.

Hardy's practical approach is evident in many of their films. For example, in the short film "Busy Bodies," the duo is working in a sawmill, and things quickly spiral out of control.

Laurel is busy dreaming up grand schemes for getting the job done, but it's Hardy who tries to keep things practical and run a tight shift even if they end up making a mess to our comic delight.

Another great example of Hardy's pragmatism is in the film "The Music Box." The duo is tasked with delivering a piano up a long flight of stairs, and Laurel's grand ideas only lead to chaos and destruction. It's Hardy who eventually comes up with the practical solution to get the job done.

Hardy's ability to think on his feet counterbalances Laurel's dreamer persona, and together they create a dynamic duo that is both hilarious and endearing.

The legacy of picaresque duos in pop culture

My childhood heroes' legacy transcends their own time and continues to influence popular media today.

In recent years, we've seen a resurgence of interest in these classic character tropes with new dynamics but the same archetypal essence.

From Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn to Ren and Stimpy, from Captain Ahab and Pip to Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, there is much we can learn from these fictional characters, as they arise from the same archetype puddle.

One of my favorite picaresque duos is composed of two iconic characters from the Star Wars saga: Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Han Solo, like Don Quixote, is a dauntless, gallant daydreamer. Chewbacca, like Sancho Panza, has a level-headed mindset and a more common-sense approach.

In the original trilogy, Han and Chewie's banter and camaraderie were highlights. Chewie keeps Han grounded and focused on the task at hand. Together, they form a dynamic duo that complements each other's strengths and weaknesses.

The idea of two characters with contrasting personalities working together to achieve a common goal is a timeless formula that will continue to captivate us for years to come.

Hence, the legacy of Laurel and Hardy, Don Quixote, and Sancho Panza continues to influence pop culture today.

Closing thoughts

To wrap it all up, let me emphasize how iconic pop culture characters can offer valuable insights and life lessons that we can apply to our own lives.

The dynamic between these iconic duos serves as a reminder that no matter how different we may be, we all need someone to complement us and help us navigate life's challenges. By studying and emulating these characters, we can become better versions of ourselves and achieve our goals and dreams.

The next time you watch a Laurel and Hardy movie, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings, pay attention to duo dynamics, and you will see the modern representation of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in action.