Pack Up Your Troubles is a 1932 pre-Code Laurel and Hardy film directed by George Marshall and Raymond McCarey, named after the World War I song "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile". It is the team's second feature-length film.

Plot

Against the backdrop of 1917, the narrative unfolds with Stan and Ollie's conscription into the American Expeditionary Force during World War I, where their ineptitude earns them the ire of their drill sergeant, relegating them to kitchen duties. A misinterpretation of instructions leads them to deposit garbage cans in the general's private domain, a faux pas that precipitates their imprisonment alongside a disgruntled cook. Their tumultuous journey continues as they find themselves amidst the perils of war, forming a bond with soldier Eddie Smith, who tragically succumbs to combat. Determined to honor Eddie's memory, the duo embarks on a quest to rescue his daughter from her abusive foster guardian and reunite her with Eddie's estranged parents. Following the armistice, their endeavors lead them to New York City in pursuit of the girl and Eddie's family. Negotiating the labyrinthine complexity of the urban landscape, they encounter myriad obstacles, including mistaken identities, physical altercations, and bureaucratic resistance. Undeterred, they persist in their mission, even resorting to unorthodox means such as unwittingly obtaining approval for a bank heist. As they draw the attention of law enforcement, a serendipitous revelation connects them with the very individuals they had been seeking: Eddie's parents, concealed within the persona of a banker. The unexpected familial revelation not only absolves them of their transgressions but also elevates them to honored guests, marking a triumphant conclusion to their odyssey. At least until the family cook turns out to be the same man they shared the guardhouse with; and who chases them from the mansion with carving knife glittering.

Cast

Production

The initial shot of Laurel and Hardy sitting in the park at the beginning of the recruitment scene was filmed at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California. The recruitment scenes were filmed at what is now Will Rogers Memorial Park, a public park in Beverly Hills, California.

Restoration

Pack Up Your Troubles was restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive from the 35mm nitrate original picture negative, a 35mm nitrate lavender positive, a 35mm master positive and a 35mm nitrate variable density track negative. Its world restoration premiere was on April 26, 2024.