BIG BUSINESS – Laurel and Hardy play door-to-door Christmas tree salesmen in California. They end up getting into an escalating feud with a grumpy would-be customer. Goaded by their repeated attempts to sell him a Christmas tree, he destroys it with hedge-clippers. Laurel and Hardy retaliate by damaging the man’s doorframe with a knife.
Finlayson then goes to work on their clothes, and this escalates, with his home and their car being destroyed in the melee (after Finlayson has run out of Christmas trees to mangle). A police officer steps in to stop the fight (after vases are thrown out and smashed, and one hits him on the foot) and negotiates a peaceful resolution. Stan and Ollie give the homeowner a cigar as a peace offering. However, as the pair make their escape and the homeowner happily lights the gratis smoking-device, it is revealed to be a “trick” cigar rigged with a hidden powder-charge, which promptly explodes in his face. Film duration 18 minutes.
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL – The film is based on the 1845 short story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. A young woman stands on a corner on New Year’s Eve, trying to sell matchsticks. She is ignored by most passers by, except a young man who nearly approaches her before changing his mind. She gazes longingly at his food. A group of children pelt her with snowballs. A policeman passes by and admonishes her for being outside with poor shoes. Rather than go home empty-handed, the girl crouches in a corner for warmth. Soon, she begins to hallucinate, imagining herself stepping into the toy display in the window next to her. She envisions herself and the young man from the diner being pursued through the toyland by a pirate embodying death. Eventually, he catches them both. The young woman dies in her vision and is draped on a hilltop near a cross. White flower petals fall on her face. The film shifts back to reality and we see that the flower petals are really snow. An old woman finds her dead body in the snow. Film duration 35 minutes.
Doors & Bar open 11am. Coffee, Tea snacks & refreshments available. Movie screens at 12 noon. $15 for adults and free for kids 13 and under.