The Stolen Jools was quite a discovery back around 1969 or 1970 as I recall. I think someone from the Laurel & Hardy Society tracked it down and, needless to say, this became a hot item in collecting circles. Since many are unaware of its origin, a few words about it…
It was a special promotional presented by the National Variety Artists and financed by– get this– Chesterfield cigarettes (!) to raise funds for what evolved into the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital for respiratory diseases like tuberculosis and emphysema. It was released in April 1931 by Paramount and National Screen Service (although also distributed by the Masquers Club, the actors’ charitable foundation). It was officially produced by Pat Casey, supervised by E.K. Nadel and directed by William McGann, although a “patchwork” co-operation by all the studios which furnished the guest stars, as available– which accounts for the rambling pace and disjointed storyline.
It was distributed in England under the title, The Slippery Pearls— in fact, I believe that was the first print that surfaced. Since this was the cross-over period from silent to sound, I daresay there are players you don’t even recognize among the large cast. This is the kind of credit that never appears in any of the filmographies compiled for the players concerned. Makes you wonder how many other gems with notable casts are floating around collector circles or laying dormant in the vaults. Just think of all the war-related promos, 1st and 2nd, we haven’t heard of or seen!