Them Thar Hills

Them Thar Hills

Year: 1934

Runtime: 20 mins

Language: English

Director: Charley Rogers

Comedy

Stan and Ollie head to the mountains for Ollie’s health and set up their caravan beside a well that moonshiners have filled with illicit liquor. Mistaking it for mineral water, they drink it and get tipsy. Their trouble deepens when a motoring couple stops for gas; the irritable husband leaves his thirsty wife with the duo while he refills his tank, leading to a series of slap‑slap mishaps involving the moonshine, the well and the borrowed gasoline.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Them Thar Hills yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Them Thar Hills (1934)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Them Thar Hills (1934). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1934

The events take place in the early 1930s, a era known for classic American comedies and the duo’s distinctive style. The mountain retreat setup reflects the period’s simple, visual humor that relies on physical gags. The pacing and tone embody the era’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to comedy.

Location

Mountains, deserted cabin, trailer

The action unfolds in a remote mountain setting, centered on a weathered cabin and a trailer parked nearby. The isolation of the mountains provides a backdrop for the duo’s improvisations and the locals’ reactions to their hijinks. The environment becomes a stage for slapstick chaos, from a tainted well to a volatile confrontation that shakes the campsite.

🏔 Mountainous 🏚 Deserted cabin 🚚 Trailer

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:21

Main Characters – Them Thar Hills (1934)

Meet the key characters of Them Thar Hills (1934), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

The Doctor (Billy Gilbert)

Hardy’s physician who diagnoses gout as the result of “too much high living” and prescribes a mountain retreat. He motivates the trip and frames the plot with practical medical advice. His presence sets the stage for the duo’s misadventures in the mountains.

🩺 Doctor 🧠 Practical 🗣️ Explanatory

Ollie (Oliver Hardy)

Hardy’s tall, good-natured partner who endures the gout remedy and the ensuing chaos with a mix of stoic patience and bursts of laughter. He often reacts to Laurel’s schemes with bewildered amusement, fueling their dynamic. His steadiness contrasts with Laurel’s mischief, amplifying the slapstick energy.

🎭 Comedy 🤝 Duo 🛠️ Slapstick

Stan (Stan Laurel)

The more energetic and mischievous half of the duo, driving the mountain retreat plan and providing musical quips. He thrives on improvisation, turning small moments into comedic twists and keeping the pair’s chemistry alive. His buoyant, unpredictable nature pushes Hardy into ever more ridiculous situations.

🎭 Comedy 🤝 Duo 🧠 Witty

Mr. Hall

A gruff, practical man whose car runs out of gas and who quickly clashes with Laurel and Hardy. His impatience and blunt demeanor set up a series of confrontations that escalate into humiliation and retaliation. He ends up entangled in the duo’s pranks and rough humor.

🎭 Antagonist 🧯 Fire hazard 💼 Practical

Mrs Hall

A sociable, drinking-loving presence who becomes a conduit for comic interaction with the duo. She enjoys the tainted well water and joins in the merriment, amplifying the film’s lighthearted chaos. Her drunken exuberance contrasts with Mr. Hall’s prickly disposition.

👩 Hall 🥂 Drunk 🎶 Social

Officer (Bobby Burns)

One of the lawmen pursuing the moonshiners, he contributes to the mounting tension and eventual arrest sequence. His interactions with Laurel and Hardy help drive the law-and-order thread of the plot. He represents the checkpoints of authority amid the trio’s misadventures.

👮 Officer 🕵️ Law 🧭 Enforcement

Officer (Eddie Baker)

Another officer involved in the pursuit, adding to the ensemble’s dynamic and helping maintain the film’s pace of pursuit and setpiece humor. He participates in the escalating chaos that punctuates the mountain sequence. His presence emphasizes the collision of law and slapstick improvisation.

👮 Officer 🕵️ Law 🧭 Enforcement

Officer (Baldwin Cooke)

A third officer who rounds out the policing trio, contributing to the sense of pursuit and mock authority. His scenes reinforce the recurring gag of lawmen clashing with the duo’s antics. He helps push the chaotic momentum toward the climactic moments.

👮 Officer 🕵️ Law 🧭 Enforcement

Moonshiner

One member of the moonshining group involved in a shootout with the police and later seen dumping barrels into the well. His actions anchor the film’s illicit-crime thread and the eventual arrest. He embodies the rough, criminal element that intersects with the protagonists’ misadventures.

🪪 Criminal 💣 Illicit 🧯 Tension

Moonshiner

Another member of the moonshining crew connected to the well incident and subsequent capture. This character reinforces the dangerous backdrop to the mountain escapade while contributing to the film’s chaotic energy. His presence helps drive the confrontation with law enforcement.

🪪 Criminal 💣 Illicit 🧭 Tension

Moonshiner

The third member among the moonshiners, tying together the group’s activity with the cabin’s well and the police pursuit. His role adds to the sense of danger that contrasts with Laurel and Hardy’s carefree humor. He participates in the broader climactic sequence leading to arrests.

🪪 Criminal 💣 Illicit 🧭 Tension

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:21

Major Themes – Them Thar Hills (1934)

Explore the central themes of Them Thar Hills (1934), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Slapstick

The film leans on physical humor and pratfalls to generate laughs, turning ordinary mishaps into running gags. Laurel and Hardy stumble through a string of escalating situations — from a damaged shoe to a toppled trailer — that continually subvert expectations. The humor is grounded in timing, visual cues, and the duo’s chemistry.

💧 Tainted Water

The well water becomes a catalyst for chaos when its strange color and taste trigger drunken antics. Hardy’s rational explanations clash with Laurel’s carefree mischief as they drink, fueling miscommunication and slapstick conflict. The tainted water drives much of the plot’s energy and interactions with others.

🔥 Escalation

A confrontation with Mr. Hall escalates into a sequence of humiliations and reckless antics. The climax features the trailer tipping, fires sparked by gasoline, and a chaotic finale powered by the well water reacting with alcohol. The buildup of misfortune culminates in a farcical yet explosive ending.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:21

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Escalating Comedy of Errors like in Them Thar Hills

Stories where a simple misunderstanding spirals into hilarious chaos.If you enjoyed the snowballing chaos of Them Thar Hills, you'll love these movies. This thread gathers comedies where a single misunderstanding triggers a hilarious and fast-paced series of mishaps. Find films with similar plots built on mistaken identity, accidental mix-ups, and spiraling slapstick situations.

slapstickchaotichilariousridiculousescalatingmisunderstandingfarce

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a straightforward cause-and-effect pattern. An initial, often innocent, mistake (like mistaking moonshine for water) creates a ripple effect. Each attempt by characters to fix the situation only makes it worse, leading to a climax of pure, chaotic farce before a happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core plotting mechanism: the escalating error. They prioritize fast pacing, physical humor, and low-stakes conflicts that build upon each other, creating a consistent vibe of playful, ridiculous fun where the journey into chaos is the main attraction.

Movies with Drunken Antics like in Them Thar Hills

Humor derived from characters losing their inhibitions and coordination after a drink.Looking for more comedies fueled by hilarious intoxicated mishaps like in Them Thar Hills? This collection highlights films where characters get tipsy, leading to slapstick chaos and drunken shenanigans. Discover similar funny stories about moonshine, mistaken drinks, and the comedic consequences of losing one's sobriety.

tipsydrunkenslapstickplayfulhilariousanticsmoonshinechaotic

Narrative Summary

The plot often introduces a potent substance that characters consume by accident or design. Their resulting intoxication becomes the engine for a series of gags, from slurred speech and wobbly walking to ill-advised decisions and heightened emotional reactions, all played for laughs rather than serious drama.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their use of intoxication as a primary comedic device. They share a light tone, focus on physical humor and slapstick, and create a vibe of playful absurdity where the normal rules of behavior are suspended for the sake of laughter.

Unlock the Full Story of Them Thar Hills

Don't stop at just watching — explore Them Thar Hills in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Them Thar Hills is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Them Thar Hills Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Them Thar Hills, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Them Thar Hills Summary

Them Thar Hills Timeline

Track the full timeline of Them Thar Hills with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Them Thar Hills Timeline

Them Thar Hills Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Them Thar Hills that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Them Thar Hills Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Them Thar Hills

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Them Thar Hills: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Them Thar Hills

Similar Movies to Them Thar Hills

Discover movies like Them Thar Hills that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.