Product: Utopia (1954)
Rating: 3.0
Laurel and Hardy's Cinematic Swansong
A 1951 French-Italian production, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's unjustly maligned "Atoll K" deserves another look - particularly in regard to the now-available German version. If you have only seen the mutilated public-domain dupes of "Utopia" (the 1954 U.S. release), the 87-minute "Dick und Doof erben eine Insel" is quite a surprise in terms of its excellent print quality and the additional subplot with co-star Suzy Delair. The team's cinematic swansong includes some memorable sight gags and a surprising amount of political satire. Though somewhat marred by Stan and Ollie's declining health, the admirably offbeat "Atoll K" remains superior to the team's post-Hal Roach efforts.