Sons of the Desert

Sons of the Desert is a 1933 American PreCode film starring Laurel and Hardy, and directed by William A. Seiter. It was first released in the United States on December 29, 1933 and is regarded as one of Laurel and Hardys greatest films. In the United Kingdom, the film was originally released under the title Fraternally Yours.

The film begins at a meeting of the Sons of the Desert, a fraternal lodge styled to resemble the Shriners of which both Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are members. The organization will be holding its annual convention in Chicago in a week and all members have to take an oath to attend. Stan is reluctant to take the oath, but Oliver goads him into it. Later, on the way home, Stan explains to Oliver his reluctance to take the oath he is worried that his wife will not let him go to the convention. Oliver tries to reassure Stan his wife has no choice but to let him go because he took a sacred oath. When they get home and Stan accidentally brings up the subject of the convention, however, it turns out Olivers wife will not let him go as they had already arranged a mountain trip together which Oliver had forgotten about. Olivers attempts to exert his authority over his wife only results in him getting several pieces of crockery thrown at him.Unwilling to go back on the oath that he swore, Oliver feigns illness to get out of the trip with his wife. Stan arranges for a doctor actually a veterinarian to prescribe an ocean voyage to Honolulu, with their wives staying home Oliver is well aware how much ocean voyages disagree with his wife. Stan and Ollie go to the convention, with their wives none the wiser. Of course, they have a close call while drinking with a fellow conventioneer when as a practical joke their friend Charley calls his sister in Los Angeles who turns out to be Mrs. Hardy However, nothing comes of this. But then, as usual in such a film, fate cruelly closes in. While Stan and Ollie are en route home from Chicago, their supposed ship arriving from Honolulu sinks in a typhoon and the wives head to the shipping companys offices to find out any news about the survivors. Stan and Ollie discover what has happened only after returning home and looking at the newspaper while their wives were out. ........

Source: Wikipedia