By 1945, it was clear that the film careers of Laurel and Hardy were winding down. Their second to last feature was "The Bullfighters", wherein they play detectives who go to Mexico to arrest a larcenist. As it happens, not only is Stan a dead ringer for a noted bullfighter, but a man whom the guys helped imprison is seeking revenge.There are some funny scenes, but the movie isn't quite like their 1930s movies. On top of that, the casting of white people as Mexicans is politically incorrect. And of course, it's hard to enjoy the bullfighting scenes, knowing what a cruel sport it is. I always root for the bull. If the bullfighter gets injured...well, he knew the risks.Anyway, it's OK, not great.

Way back in the day before Laurel teamed with Hardy, Stanley was quite the comic silent screen star and many of his short subjects were satires of current big screen productions. One of the best of them was Mud And Sand where Stan Laurel did a spoof of Rudolph Valentino and his role in Blood And Sand. 20th Century Fox also now owned the rights to Blood And Sand because of the great Tyrone Power sound version that had come out a few years earlier.So in their farewell film before the disastrous comeback with Utopia, Stan and Ollie did The Bullfighters where Laurel got to be a bullfighter again. And he plays a dual role the great Don Sebastian of Spain and just plain Mr. Laurel who with Mr. Hardy are a pair of private eyes from Peoria.Now if you can wrap your minds around the concept of ANYBODY hiring these two as detectives, The Bullfighters is an amusing enough film though not up to the standards of their Hal Roach work. They're in Mexico on an extradition job to bring back Carol Andrews and of course in their usual fashion make a holy hash of that.But promoter Richard Lane notices Stan's resemblance to Don Sebastian and since this guy whom he has brought over and promoted is being held up at the border. They've got a problem however in Ralph Sanford who got sent up the river on the mistaken testimony of these two lugnuts and threatens to skin them alive.The Bullfighters is amusing, especially in that last sequence when both of Laurels personas show up in the bullring with the PI from Peoria getting well fortified for the occasion. I can't blame Stan it's the only way I would go in a bull ring.You'll have to see The Bullfighters to see if Sanford makes good on his threat.

It's time for another Laurel and Hardy adventure.This time Stan and Ollie find themselves in New Mexico, where the boys from Peoria, Illinois go as private detectives.Their job is to find Larceny Nell.There is also a certain Richard K. Muldoon, who the boys sent in prison a few years back.He was later found not guilty, but he seeks for revenge on those two saps.He wants to skin them alive, first the little one, then the big one.There's another fine mess Stan's gotten Ollie into.There also happens to be a huge resemblance between Stan and a famous matador from Barcelona.He doesn't get there on time because of some passport problems, so Stanley has to pretend to be him.And the poor little guy is allergic to bulls.The Bullfighters (1945) is directed by Malcolm St. Clair, but also Stan Laurel wrote and directed portions of this feature.This is Laurel's and Hardy's last movie to be made in America for 20th Century Fox and their second last movie in general.Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892-1957) show us that they are the greatest comedy team ever lived.It's their childlikeness that makes them so likable.A good comedian never lets his inner child die, and they knew that.There's also a great supporting cast in this movie.Margo Woode portrays Senorita Tangerine.Richard Lane is 'Hot Shot' Coleman, the man who makes Stan a bullfighter.Diosa Costello (b.1917) plays Conchita, who sings Bim Bam Bum and shows her fantastic dance moves in the film.Carol Andrews plays Hattie Blake, also known as Larceny Nell.Ralph Sanford is Richard K. Muldoon.Hank Worden plays the part of Mr. McCoy.This movie contains many funny gags that will make the L&H fans laugh.When Stanley is kissed by a beautiful woman, and he faints, is one of those moments that I loved.And I liked the water fight at the fountain.The egg gag is pretty hilarious, where Larceny Nell and the boys start messing each other with eggs.Or Oliver disguising him with a mask when Muldoon comes in, and when he's in the telephone booth and falls on the poor guy.And when Stanley pretends to be Don Sebastian and he takes a big bow and hits his head on the table.You can't help but laugh at the little man's mishaps.And when the boys find themselves in a sticky situation hanging over the hay bales after the bull gets wild.In the end we see the boys with their bones rattling all over the place, after Muldoon has skinned them alive.To me this is a better movie than what has been said of it.I and my family really enjoyed this comedy by Laurel and Hardy.L&H have never left me with a disappointment.These boys brought us their comedy, which we still find amusing.There's a little less laughter and a little less joy when Stan and Ollie aren't there with their new movies.

Laurel & Hardy's last American film is also probably the best(or more accurately,least worst)of their post-Hal Roach movies.One positive aspect,unlike their previous Fox/MGM wartime efforts,is that there are scenes in the film which are reasonably in character,as likeable innocents,and not complete idiots. A reworking of the egg-breaking sequence from HOLLYWOOD PARTY(1934)works quite well,as does a water-throwing routine.Arguably the best moments in the film are with cult character actor Hank Worden,who while registering at the hotel says he can't write("He's forging my name!",Stan protests!). Where the film falters is with supposed villain Ralph Sanford.Walter Long,Rychard Cramer,Charlie Hall and James Finlayson were both menacing and funny in the Roach films,but in this film,Sanford is neither despite his bulky frame.Former Radio announcer Richard Lane is good though,but the film falters in it's second half with a hackneyed 'double' story;namely Stan being a lookalike for the great bullfighter Don Sebastian.And for the first time since their earliest silent days,Fox's make-up department do away with their comic hairstyles.Still,the film brightens up with an amusing 'freak' ending,which Stan liked to employ occasionally with the Hal Roach studios.Not a good film,but certainly a tolerable one compared to A-HAUNTING WE WILL GO(1942) and THE DANCING MASTERS(1943).