#1935 film

“Tit for Tat” is a 1935 short comedy film starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. It is their follow-up sequel film to “Them Thar Hills” which was released the previous year & includes the same two supporting characters, Mr. & Mrs. Hall, portrayed by Charlie Hall & Mae Busch.

Release Date: January 05, 1935
27" X 41" (rare) One Sheet theatrical Poster

There is a bit of “cockney rhyming slang” at work here. A “tit-fer”refers to“hat” as in “Tit-for-tat”. (This is why Stan tips his hat.)

Stan (in a later interview), had said that he’d put special jokes “in for England”…. I had often wondered what he meant by that & over the years; I have spotted a few things–In the films “Perfect Day” & “Way Out West” Stan & Oliver both say “Oh! me apple!” Also, the film title “Towed In A Hole” (1933)suggests a play on “toad in the hole” a name for a dish consisting of sausages baked in batter. There are possibly other examples!

The regal lady the boys are tipping their hats to has been identified by Richard Bann as their co-star of the silent days; Viola Richard. She was listed as an extra in the film, but isn’t seen in the finished cut of “Tit For Tat”.

THE 8TH ACADEMY AWARDS |Thursday, March 05, 1936

Stan Laurel attends the Awards banquet at the Biltmore Hotel.

“Tit For Tat” was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Live Action Short Film (Comedy) of 1935, although it did not win. (For the record, Robert Benchley’s “How To Sleep” won.)