Back to trending
Sons of the Desert

Sons of the Desert

Comedy · 1933

Ollie and Stan deceive their wives into thinking they are taking a medically necessary cruise when they are really going to a lodge convention.

Movie details

Sons of the Desert

“THEIR NEW FULL-LENGTH FEATURE PICTURE!”

1933 Comedy 1h 5m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

Ollie and Stan deceive their wives into thinking they are taking a medically necessary cruise when they are really going to a lodge convention.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Sons of the Desert?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

And Now for Something Completely Different

And Now for Something Completely Different

Comedy · 1971

A collection of Monty Python's Flying Circus skits from the first two seasons of their British TV series.

What About Bob?

What About Bob?

Comedy · 1991

Before going on vacation, self-involved psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin has the misfortune of taking on a new patient: Bob Wiley. An exemplar of neediness and a compendium of phobias, Bob follows Marvin to his family's country house. Dr. Marvin tries to get him to leave; the trouble is, everyone loves Bob. As his oblivious patient makes himself at home, Dr. Marvin loses his professional composure and, before long, may be ready for the loony bin himself.

Liar Liar

Liar Liar

Comedy · 1997

Forced by his son's birthday wish, fast-talking attorney and habitual liar Fletcher Reede must tell the truth for the next 24 hours.

Phantom of the Megaplex

Phantom of the Megaplex

Comedy · 2000

Pete Riley is a 17-year-old who lands a part-time job at a multiplex in his neighbourhood. He and his friends are excited when it's announced that the theatre will play host to the premier of a major motion picture, with a number of Hollywood celebrities in attendance. However, when the big night comes, Pete has to contend with disappearing staff, malfunctioning equipment, and a broken popcorn machine.

Beat the Devil

Beat the Devil

Adventure · 1953

A group of con artists stake their claim on a bogus uranium mine.

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit

Comedy · 1945

While holding a séance for skeptical novelist Charles Condomine, self-proclaimed 'spiritualist medium' Madame Arcati inadvertently summons the spirit of his deceased first wife Elvira, leading to an increasingly complex love triangle with Ruth, his current wife of five years.

Are We Done Yet?

Are We Done Yet?

Family · 2007

Newlyweds Nick and Suzanne decide to move to the suburbs to provide a better life for their two kids. But their idea of a dream home is disturbed by a contractor with a bizarre approach to business.

Yankee Zulu

Yankee Zulu

Comedy · 1993

Two South African boys, one white, Rhino, and one black, Zulu, go their separate ways after an incident. Many years later, they meet up again as adults, when one, after living for years in the United States, is now a wanted criminal. The two end up being a part of a madcap chase involving a check for a large amount of lottery money, pursued by Gen. Diehard and Rhino's ex-wife Rowena, who was the cause of the rift between the two protagonists.

Grown Ups

Grown Ups

Comedy · 2010

After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Brain Donors

Brain Donors

Comedy · 1992

Three manic idiots—a lawyer, a cab driver and a handyman—team up to run a ballet company to fulfil the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich widow and her scheming big-shot lawyer, who also wants to run the ballet.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

William A. Seiter

Written by

Jack Barty · Glenn Tryon · William A. Seiter · Stan Laurel

Stan Laurel

Stan Laurel

Stanley 'Stan' Laurel

Oliver Hardy

Oliver Hardy

Oliver 'Ollie' Hardy

Mae Busch

Mae Busch

Mrs. Lottie Hardy

Dorothy Christy

Dorothy Christy

Mrs. Betty Laurel

Charley Chase

Charley Chase

Charley

Lucien Littlefield

Lucien Littlefield

Dr. Horace Meddick

E

Ernie Alexander

Waiter (uncredited)

Court is in session

Put Sons of the Desert on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.