The title says it all...here's some interesting L&H videos I found on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8HG2619C2nw (Living Famously - Laurel & Hardy)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1qkv9ZbmMAk (Laurel & Hardy On Location - Culver City)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rK1aQ14p-S0 (Colorized "Music Box" montage)

Enjoy!

The Music Box ( Which i believe is also called "The Long Staircase" on some releases) is the very best L&H movie ever made....when I was a kid, my parents company had an annual Xmas party for all the employees kids, and this film was always the highlight of the day, I could watch this film over and over again.

I can't say that I'm a huge Laurel and Hardy fan, I've only seen a few of their movies, but I love the Music Box. It's one of the best short movies ever made, IMO. :)

In 1986, for the first time in my life, I attended a convention for The Sons of the Desert (The International Laurel and Hardy Society). Everyone was excited, when they ran the newly colorized The Music Box. While I have problems with colorizing films like Casablanca, I was okay with them doing some lighter comedies; especially when they do a good job as they did with The Music Box and March of the Wooden Soldiers (Babes In Toyland).

Later, when this version of the film was released to the general public on video tape, I was appalled that they'd monkeyed around with the soundtrack. They'd added new recordings of the old, Roach themes done by a contemporary group: The Nighthawks.

Colorizing is one thing, but this new music seemed to throw off the comedic timing IMO.

They didn't learn their lesson either. When they finally released the DVD of the feature Sons of the Desert a few years ago, they messed with the music again. I can't even bring myself to watch the thing.

I'm totally against colourisation of films , but, interestingly , the process was invented here in Canada and, the first films to be colourised were Laurel and Hardy comedy shorts......Strangely, the "painter" miscoloured Stan Laurel's red hair and blue eyes, giving him brown hair and eyes. (Do your research, people! :rolleyes:)

They did an excellent colorization job on some Three Stooges shorts recently.
One of the extras is an interesting documentary that explains just how
extensively they researched the colors to get it right (looking up props from
the period on eBay for instance). STOOGED AND CONFOOSED is the title of
the DVD and I highly recommend it (if you're a Stooge fan).

Speaking of Colour, Stan Laurel made very few films in the silent era because he had eyes that were such a light blue that he appeared to have no iris on the early film emulsions, thus giving him a "blind eyed" look that was unappealing on film.

Oliver Hardy made one of his earliest silent film appearances as the Tin Man in Larry Semon's 1925 retelling of "The Wizard of Oz"...A film that had little to do with the original book, it was however, the first time that Oz was portrayed as a "dream" ( As it was in the 1939 classic ), rather than a real place. Larry Semon wrote this film as a starring vehicle for his wife Dorothy Dwan, but, in only a few years, both their careers would be over, however, Oliver Hardys was just beginning. ( you can see Oliver Hardy as the Tinman below VVV )

..They were members of Fred Karno's travelling music hall troupe. They were discovered in America during the troupe's American tour!

Here we see a rare photo of Stan Laurel (1) ( Known then by his real name Stanley Jefferson ) and Charlie Chaplin (2) posing with the Karno troupe's field hockey team!

And speaking of DVD releases, have all the L&H shorts been released in the U.S. yet? I remember reading a while back that the German & Dutch sets were more complete than the U.S. ones, but I don't know if any other releases have come out since then.

Here in the U.S. we're still lagging far behind in the release of L&H on DVD.

Here in the U.S. we're still lagging far behind in the release of L&H on DVD.
It's a real shame that this material still hasn't gotten a proper release. Amazon.com seems to be filled with DVD's labeled as "The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy," priced at $27 a piece, and from what I can tell, those are only the silent shorts. I'm mainly interested in the 40 "talkies" they made from 1929-1935, and some of the features, like "Sons of the Desert" and "Block Heads." I have a few of the old Anchor Bay VHS tapes, but I'd love to be able to purchase them on DVD. If 39 episodes of a show like The Honeymooners can be released in a nice 5-disc set, at nearly the same price as a single disc of those so-called "Lost Films," I don't see why those 40 shorts, that don't even run 30 minutes each, can't be released the same way...

They did an excellent colorization job on some Three Stooges shorts recently.
One of the extras is an interesting documentary that explains just how
extensively they researched the colors to get it right (looking up props from
the period on eBay for instance). STOOGED AND CONFOOSED is the title of
the DVD and I highly recommend it (if you're a Stooge fan).
I'm just seeing some of those colorized Stooges shorts for the first time myself. I found a clip from "Dizzy Doctors" (I think) on YouTube that was pretty good. At least the people working on these films are doing their research and not just guessing what color everything was. What other shorts are featured on that DVD? I might have to pick that up.

Speaking of Colour, Stan Laurel made very few films in the silent era because he had eyes that were such a light blue that he appeared to have no iris on the early film emulsions, thus giving him a "blind eyed" look that was unappealing on film.
I think I remember you mentioning something about this in another thread a while back. Do you know the names of any films in which he appeared to be "blind eyed," or have any stills you could post for me?

Here we see a rare photo of Stan Laurel (1) ( Known then by his real name Stanley Jefferson ) and Charlie Chaplin (2) posing with the Karno troupe's field hockey team!
Wow, thanks for posting this! Any idea when this might have been taken?

The four selected shorts on STOOGED & CONFOOSED (all classics) are:
"Violent Is the Word for Curly," "You Nazty Spy" (Moe Howard's personal
favorite), "No Census, No Feeling" and "An Ache in Every Stake." Before
the colorization process, each short was painstakingly restored from the
original negative for the best picture and sound quality. Each short can
be watched in either the original black-&-white (in high def) or in color.

Originally Posted by Mikado
Here we see a rare photo of Stan Laurel (1) ( Known then by his real name Stanley Jefferson ) and Charlie Chaplin (2) posing with the Karno troupe's field hockey team!

Wow, thanks for posting this! Any idea when this might have been taken?

The picture must have been taken between 1910 and 1913 as Stan joined the Fred Karno comedy troupe in 1910 ( 2 years after Chaplin who joined in 1908 ) and Chaplin left in 1913 to pursue a solo career in the music halls. (which led to Hollywood beckonning in 1914 )

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikado
Speaking of Colour, Stan Laurel made very few films in the silent era because he had eyes that were such a light blue that he appeared to have no iris on the early film emulsions, thus giving him a "blind eyed" look that was unappealing on film.

I think I remember you mentioning something about this in another thread a while back. Do you know the names of any films in which he appeared to be "blind eyed," or have any stills you could post for me?

Well, interestingly enough, I found a fairly good example in 1917's "Lucky Dog", Ironically the first film that Laurel and Hardy appeared in together ( although, it would be another 9 years before they appeared on screen together again, this time as the team we all know, in 1926 )
While Stan's eyes arent totally "blind" there certainly isnt much iris to be seen, mostly you see the pupils.

Oliver Hardy made one of his earliest silent film appearances as the Tin Man in Larry Semon's 1925 retelling of "The Wizard of Oz"...A film that had little to do with the original book, it was however, the first time that Oz was portrayed as a "dream" ( As it was in the 1939 classic ), rather than a real place. Larry Semon wrote this film as a starring vehicle for his wife Dorothy Dwan, but, in only a few years, both their careers would be over, however, Oliver Hardys was just beginning. ( you can see Oliver Hardy as the Tinman below VVV )
Hmm...I didn't know about his appearance in this. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know there was a "Wizard of Oz" film made in 1925. From what I've read about Oliver Hardy, his first film appearance was in 1914, and according to a few sources, he appeared in a lot of movies before 1925...he must've been in over 100 movies before he did "The Wizard of Oz"! That's impressive...you wouldn't happen to know what his first starring role was would you?

The four selected shorts on STOOGED & CONFOOSED (all classics) are:
"Violent Is the Word for Curly," "You Nazty Spy" (Moe Howard's personal
favorite), "No Census, No Feeling" and "An Ache in Every Stake." Before
the colorization process, each short was painstakingly restored from the
original negative for the best picture and sound quality. Each short can
be watched in either the original black-&-white (in high def) or in color.
Thanks for the info, I'll have to pick that up when I get a chance. Any idea where I might be able to find the colorized version of "Dizzy Doctors" on DVD?

The picture must have been taken between 1910 and 1913 as Stan joined the Fred Karno comedy troupe in 1910 ( 2 years after Chaplin who joined in 1908 ) and Chaplin left in 1913 to pursue a solo career in the music halls. (which led to Hollywood beckonning in 1914 )
Interesting...did Stan and Chaplin ever appear in any films together?

Well, interestingly enough, I found a fairly good example in 1917's "Lucky Dog", Ironically the first film that Laurel and Hardy appeared in together ( although, it would be another 9 years before they appeared on screen together again, this time as the team we all know, in 1926 )
While Stan's eyes arent totally "blind" there certainly isnt much iris to be seen, mostly you see the pupils.
Oh, I think I've seen that picture before, but I never really thought much about his eyes. He looks pretty creepy like that though, almost like something out of an early horror movie. Speaking of Laurel & Hardy before they were a team, have you seen many of their earlier films? I'm more familiar with the 40 talking shorts they did...I think the earliest L&H short I've seen is "Do Detectives Think?" Anyway, my question is, were all the films they appeared in together before they were a team comedies?

Hmm...I didn't know about his appearance in this. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know there was a "Wizard of Oz" film made in 1925. From what I've read about Oliver Hardy, his first film appearance was in 1914, and according to a few sources, he appeared in a lot of movies before 1925...he must've been in over 100 movies before he did "The Wizard of Oz"! That's impressive...you wouldn't happen to know what his first starring role was would you?
Well, by his career was just starting i meant, his career as a star...he played bit roles, mainly vilains until he teamed up with Stan in 1926. In fact, in the Wizard of Oz film, he plays the vilain who tries to steal Dorothy from Larry Semon, the action takes place on a farm, the OZ bit is a dream sequence.
( Ive actually seen this film for sale at a place that sells old movies in Niagara-on-the-lake << About an hour from Niagara Falls )

Thanks for the info, I'll have to pick that up when I get a chance. Any idea where I might be able to find the colorized version of "Dizzy Doctors" on DVD? Probably that store i just mentioned, although, I couldnt tell you the name of the place atm, though, I think i may have the business card around somewhere

Interesting...did Stan and Chaplin ever appear in any films together? So far as i know, they didnt...its likely they were never on stage together in the Karno troupe either, as Stan was Chaplin's "understudy", so they likely were doing the same act...they did remain lifelong friends though.



Oh, I think I've seen that picture before, but I never really thought much about his eyes. He looks pretty creepy like that though, almost like something out of an early horror movie. Speaking of Laurel & Hardy before they were a team, have you seen many of their earlier films? I'm more familiar with the 40 talking shorts they did...I think the earliest L&H short I've seen is "Do Detectives Think?" Anyway, my question is, were all the films they appeared in together before they were a team comedies?I saw at least 2 L&H silent films, to answer the other Q, so far as I know, this film from 1917 ( The Lucky Dog ) was the only time they appeared on film together until they became a team in 1926...although, i could be wrong...ill have to check that out. ( Sound film came out in 1923, but, wasnt in wide use until about 1929, 2 years after the Jazz Singer came out (1927), so, L&H werent silent for long )

Originally Posted by Bill S.
Oh, I think I've seen that picture before, but I never really thought much about his eyes. He looks pretty creepy like that though, almost like something out of an early horror movie.
Which is why he didnt get a lot of work in the early movies...his eyes really turned people off! :lol: (Later, when film emulsions went from the highly inflammable cellulose nitrate base to the safer Acetate base, there was more contrast, and Stan's eyes looked more or less normal, from that point on)

Well, by his career was just starting i meant, his career as a star...he played bit roles, mainly vilains until he teamed up with Stan in 1926. In fact, in the Wizard of Oz film, he plays the vilain who tries to steal Dorothy from Larry Semon, the action takes place on a farm, the OZ bit is a dream sequence.
( Ive actually seen this film for sale at a place that sells old movies in Niagara-on-the-lake << About an hour from Niagara Falls )
Oh, okay, because I looked up his filmography and was surprised to see how many movies he had been in. I think he appeared in more movies on his own than he did with Stan...even though most of them may have been bit parts.

Probably that store i just mentioned, although, I couldnt tell you the name of the place atm, though, I think i may have the business card around somewhere
Alright, be sure to let me know if you find out. :wave:

So far as i know, they didnt...its likely they were never on stage together in the Karno troupe either, as Stan was Chaplin's "understudy", so they likely were doing the same act...they did remain lifelong friends though.
That's too bad, I would've loved to have seen a movie with the both of them in it...and since they were lifelong friends and all, it's surprising the idea was never brought up.

I saw at least 2 L&H silent films, to answer the other Q, so far as I know, this film from 1917 ( The Lucky Dog ) was the only time they appeared on film together until they became a team in 1926...although, i could be wrong...ill have to check that out. ( Sound film came out in 1923, but, wasnt in wide use until about 1929, 2 years after the Jazz Singer came out (1927), so, L&H werent silent for long )
I think you're right to an extent. I just did a little research myself and I found out that "The Lucky Dog" was the first film they appeared in together before 1927's "Duck Soup" (interestingly the same title as the famous Marx Brothers film). BUT, while they did appear as a team in "Duck Soup," they didn't in a few films they were in together after that, and weren't billed together as a team until a little later. I think the first time they were billed as a team was in either "The Second Hundred Years," or "Hats Off," which is still lost if I'm not mistaken.

Which is why he didnt get a lot of work in the early movies...his eyes really turned people off! :lol: (Later, when film emulsions went from the highly inflammable cellulose nitrate base to the safer Acetate base, there was more contrast, and Stan's eyes looked more or less normal, from that point on)
:lol: I'm sure he wouldn't have had any trouble getting roles in horror movies. I mean, these guys didn't...

Originally Posted by Mikado
So far as i know, they didnt...its likely they were never on stage together in the Karno troupe either, as Stan was Chaplin's "understudy", so they likely were doing the same act...they did remain lifelong friends though.

That's too bad, I would've loved to have seen a movie with the both of them in it...and since they were lifelong friends and all, it's surprising the idea was never brought up.
I expect that it had something to do with contracts, the studios didnt share their "players" much in those days.

:lol: I'm sure he wouldn't have had any trouble getting roles in horror movies. I mean, these guys didn't...
The Phantom of the Opera and Nostaferatu, good choices! :lol:

I can't stop laughing at the expression on Lon Chaney's face in that pic!
I think he's showing her the way to the "can" ;)

Dick Van Dyke met StanDick Van Dyke Idolised Stan Laurel, and even made a relatively unknown movie called THE COMIC where he played a silent film star named Billy Bright, who was obviously based on Stan Laurel...the film follows Billys life from birth to death and features Dick doing all the silent film cliches. ( I've seen it a few times )

I think he's showing her the way to the "can" ;)
:lol:

Dick Van Dyke Idolised Stan Laurel, and even made a relatively unknown movie called THE COMIC where he played a silent film star named Billy Bright, who was obviously based on Stan Laurel...the film follows Billys life from birth to death and features Dick doing all the silent film cliches. ( I've seen it a few times )
I knew he idolized Stan, but I didn't know he made a movie about him...I'll have to check that out. I remember one particular episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show where Rob does an impersonation of Stan...that's what made it obvious to me that Dick was inspired by him. Didn't Dick give the eulogy at Stan's funeral too? I think I remember reading that somewhere...

Didn't Dick give the eulogy at Stan's funeral too? I think I remember reading that somewhere...

Yes. I believe the eulogy, or at least part of it, is reprinted in Van Dyke's introduction to John McCabe's biography "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy."

I knew he idolized Stan, but I didn't know he made a movie about him...I'll have to check that out.
The movie wasnt actually about Stan Laurel, it was the story of a fictional silent screen star named Billy Bright, but the character was based on Stan, that is to say Dick VD used Stan Laurel as the model for his character :)

Yes. I believe the eulogy, or at least part of it, is reprinted in Van Dyke's introduction to John McCabe's biography "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy."
Thanks for clearing that up. Would it be possible for you to post an excerpt from that for me?

The movie wasnt actually about Stan Laurel, it was the story of a fictional silent screen star named Billy Bright, but the character was based on Stan, that is to say Dick VD used Stan Laurel as the model for his character :)
Oh, okay. Do you know if it's been released on DVD or not? Amazon only has it on VHS...it's pretty cheap though, so maybe I'll pick it up.

Oh, okay. Do you know if it's been released on DVD or not? Amazon only has it on VHS...it's pretty cheap though, so maybe I'll pick it up.
i just looked it up and this is what it said: Not Available on DVD

The film wasnt a big hit, however, I think youll like it, so, get the VHS ;)

Thanks for clearing that up. Would it be possible for you to post an excerpt from that for me?

The next time I'm in the basement, I'll try to dig up one of my copies of the book.

i just looked it up and this is what it said: Not Available on DVD

The film wasnt a big hit, however, I think youll like it, so, get the VHS ;)
Alright, I'll pick it up as soon as I get a chance. BTW, did you ever see that "All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy" movie that came out a few years back? I just found out about it recently...I only saw bits and pieces of it, but from what I've read, the story revolves around Stan & Ollie's nephews (Stan Thinneus Laurel & Oliver Fatteus Hardy), played by Bronson Pinchot & Gailard Sartain (see attached image).

Alright, I'll pick it up as soon as I get a chance. BTW, did you ever see that "All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy" movie that came out a few years back? I just found out about it recently...I only saw bits and pieces of it, but from what I've read, the story revolves around Stan & Ollie's nephews (Stan Thinneus Laurel & Oliver Fatteus Hardy), played by Bronson Pinchot & Gailard Sartain (see attached image).
Nope never hear of it and have no interest in seeing it, to me this is even a worse crime against classic film images than colorisation! (When it comes to film, I am very much into the integrity of the art) And, giving them middle names of "Fatteus and Thinneus" is a total insult to the memory of the originals as if that was the only thing they were about. Not to mention I cant stand Bronson Pinchot as an actor :p

It's pretty bad.

Strictly for kids.

This wasn't the first time Bronson Pinchot imitated Stan Laurel. He and
Mark Linn-Baker did a parody of the classic comedy team on an episode of
PERFECT STRANGERS. I remember Gailard Sartain from HEE HAW and the
"Ernest ..." movies.

:lol:

Great picture! Thanks for posting.

Glad you like it :D

:eek:

The next time I'm in the basement, I'll try to dig up one of my copies of the book.
OK, thanks!

And, giving them middle names of "Fatteus and Thinneus" is a total insult to the memory of the originals as if that was the only thing they were about.
I agree, I was annoyed when I first read that as well. Hollywood needs to leave well enough alone and stop with all these cheesy remakes. It's no wonder this was a straight to DVD release, who would actually go see this in theaters?

Glad you like it :D
Nice pics! Any idea what/when they're from?

Nice pics! Any idea what/when they're from?

The one in the car is from Hog Wild. The other one looks to be from a silent; I would guess Leave 'Em Laughing.

(I'm not as familiar with the silents as I am with the films from the sound era.)

I think youre right, I think it was leave 'em laughing..I wasnt really paying attention to the name of the movie, I just put it up cause it was such a great example of the "blind eyed" problem Stan had with the older-type film stock

Thanks for that, I hadn't really noticed the "blind eyed" thing until you mentioned it, but that is a good example.YW and thx :)

I agree, I was annoyed when I first read that as well. Hollywood needs to leave well enough alone and stop with all these cheesy remakes. It's no wonder this was a straight to DVD release, who would actually go see this in theaters?
They'd have to put a gun to my head, and tie me to the chair to get me to watch this, PERIOD! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwzhmk21ydo

MrBand posted this over in the Honeymooners forum recently, but I figured I'd post it here too since it's also L&H-related. It is Chuck McCann and Dick Van Dyke imitating Laurel & Hardy, as well as Ralph & Norton, on The Garry Moore Show in 1958.

I love them!!!!

Only the ones with vocals...... I do not like the silent ones!!!!!!


I think 1 of my favourite episodes is when they are trying to hoist a piano upstairs.........

hH9MBHERGN8

Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy - the greatest screen duo of all time. This documentary short, the first of three, explores their initial formation as a team, as well as their incredible adaptation from silent films to sound.