To me, this movie is perfection.

Some things I liked some I did not.

ridiculous rating

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

With the Code now firmly in place I'm kind of surprised that The Bohemian Girl made it through the censors. Such subjects as adultery and child kidnapping are part and parcel of this film. And since Laurel&Hardy were now draws in the children's market via their previous venture into operetta Babes In Toyland, that makes this film all the more curious.Unlike Babes In Toyland Stan and Ollie's roles were definitely shoehorned into the plot of this operetta. The Bohemian Girl which debuted in 1843 had no parts that were the equivalent of who Laurel and Hardy portrayed. Usually Stan was the naive one, but Ollie's naiveté in this film makes him sound backward. Even Stan is bright enough to see how brazenly Ollie's wife Mae Busch is carrying on with Antonio Moreno, the notorious Devilshoof. To take vengeance on a Bohemian count for ordering the gypsies off his property, Busch and Moreno kidnap the count's little daughter Darla Hood of The Little Rascals. Then they flee leaving Stan and Ollie to raise the child who grows up to be Julie Bishop.Speaking of which it is patently obvious that Ollie much prefers the company of Stan than his wife. It's as close as I've ever seen the much discussed notion that Laurel&Hardy were gay on the screen.Unlike other features Laurel keeps getting the better of Hardy and his best moments are getting totally plastered trying to bottle some bubbling freshly fermented wine. Just when Ollie needs him to rescue Bishop.Because their parts are not integral to the real plot of The Bohemian Girl, the film as a whole is not structured right. But fans of Stan and Ollie should be pleased with their comic genius here.

Hollywood could never make this movie today in this way. The Laurel and Hardy scenes, and they are funny, are simply inserted between scene of a very sincere, if corny, production of Balfe's then still popular Bohemian Girl. It never occurs to the director to make fun of this folk opera, which must have taken real restraint, as it is at its best quite corny and could easily have been made fun of. But Roach doesn't. When Eileen sings the big number, "I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls," the focus is on her and nothing ridicules what was then still a popular number in pops concerts.That's what fascinated me about this picture. Yes, as with the Marx Brothers'A Night at the Opera those with no interest in opera or its performance history will see the operatic scenes as just annoying filler. But for those of us who do have an interest in such things, it's very interesting to see that there was a time when Hollywood could present opera, even not very good opera, in a sincere and straightforward fashion, relying on the audience to enjoy those segments for what they were.Yes, this is another example of Laurel and Hardy, and an enjoyable one. But it is also a sort of document of how a certain type of opera was once performed and appreciated, and that is not negligible.

I remember seeing this movie on AMC when I was a kid, and found it long and dull compared to Way Out West and Swiss Miss. Seeing it again many years later I found it a very enchanting and funny movie. The only thing keeping this from being and incredibly good drama is Stan and Ollie's wonderful presence. The story and music are wonderful and provide an interesting undertone to the movie. The silliness though brought forth by L&H throughout makes this absolutely delightful. Watch Stan get progressively intoxicated, some great marital spats, and the duo's inept pickpocketing throughout the village (slowly, slowly slowly...shut!) A great family film that everyone can enjoy

Bohemian Girl won't rank up with the best of the Laurel and Hardy features but it's a fine attempt with a number of wonderful scenes. Only the bland singing and the overly dramatic plot stop this picture from claiming a spot alongside Way Out West and Blockheads as one of the boys finest.The best scenes include a wonderful pickpocketing scene, a crazy wine-drinking sketch and the final image of an overgrown Ollie and a shortened Stan. Some Laurel and Hardy regulars make brief but amusing appearances. Mae Busch is as tyrannical as ever as Oliver's wife. She has the gall to have an affair right in front of her husband and yet Ollie is too much of a gentleman to stop her. James Finlayson has a nice turn as a palace guard adopting that wonderful double take of his to great effect.Bohemian Girl is not the film that you'd show to a first time Laurel and Hardy watcher. It lacks the rhythm of their best pieces. However, for a loyal viewer, it provides a few of the boys finest routines.