Cast and Crew:   Leo McCarey (Co-Director); Hal Roach (Producer)

What It’s About: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are selling Christmas trees door to door.  An argument with a particularly cantankerous customer (James Finlayson) spirals out of control and results in a great deal of mayhem.

Why Watch it Today?:  Today is that most hellish of American retail traditions, Black Friday, where thousands line up, push, shove, and occasionally violently fight for deals on their Christmas purchases.  Big Business is one of Laurel and Hardy’s best shorts, a wickedly funny series of escalations, perfectly in season and in tone with today’s “holiday”.  Stay home and laugh; leave Black Friday to the foolish.

No trailer; here is the short in its entirety.

Mo Rating for Movember:  Besides Ollie’s trademark Mo, there’s also Finlayson’s absolutely classic “cranky bastard” ‘stache.  5 out of 5 Mos:

Magnificent.