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Rating: 
Summary: For L&H fans only, with one exception
Review: For those who associate silent film comedy with pies and police chases, "Wrong Again" might be a revelation. Made in 1929, the year that film studios converted to making talking movies, this film is a fine example of the extent to which silent comedies had been refined and perfected since the days of Mack Sennett. It is the best of this volume of comedies starring Laurel and Hardy and other stars of the Hal Roach studio (including Laurel and Hardy in solo or supporting performances).
The world seems to be divided neatly into two groups: highly devoted L&H fans, and those who don't appreciate their humor. Much of their humor boils down to a set of recurring themes: premeditated pain directed at each other or someone else, destruction of property, "scare" humor, and humor resulting from uncontrollable laughter. Usually mixed with these elements are the duo running away from the law or from other trouble. This collection contains examples of each of these components. In general, L&H fans will savor this collection, while others might find a lot that is tedious and predictable.
"Wrong Again" however is different; it contains little or none of the typical L&H elements, but focuses more on the pure chemistry of their partnership, as well as their individual characters: the naive, child-like Stan and the arrogent, but equally clueless Oliver. The story is simple: the famous painting "Blue Boy" has been stolen; the boys are stable hands taking care of a horse named "Blue Boy"; they assume the horse has been stolen, so they try to return it. From this basic misunderstanding there emerges a number of clever situations, with the climax being attempts by the duo to place "Blue Boy" on a grand piano, as requested by the home owner, who is of course upstairs out of view of the proceedings the whole time. The film is a showcase for the depth of the duo's comedic talent: the naive clown Laurel paired with a great comic actor. In general, I find "Wrong Again" to be a silent film classic that reaches an artistic level close to that achieved by Keaton and Chaplin. Its level of sophistication looks more forward into the era of the "screwball" comedies than backward into the Chaplin era, not surprising given that the director of the film was Leo McCarey, the "inventor" of the screwball genre.
Among the other films, "Duck Soup" is interesting as the first film in which L&H star as a team. It's facinating as a film insofar as the basic chemistry of the duo appears almost complete in this film -- aside from the lack of the standard bolder hats, and other changes in their appearence, it's clear that the team's character emerged basically fully formed from the start.
Rating: 
Summary: Good DVD series-wish they had more of the talkies
Review: I love this series of DVD's. But I wish that there was more of the talkies available on these. Perhaps they do not fit into the "Lost" category.Can someone please tell me what that gray square on the bottom right of the screen during some of the movies is? Habeas Corpus has it.
Rating:
Summary: Good DVD series-wish they had more of the talkies
Review: I love this series of DVD's. But I wish that there was more of the talkies available on these. Perhaps they do not fit into the "Lost" category. Can someone please tell me what that gray square on the bottom right of the screen during some of the movies is? Habeas Corpus has it.
Rating: 
Summary: This DVD is a Must for Laurel & Hardy Fans
Review: I started collecting Laurel & Hardy films in 8 mm. back in the 1960s. Today, the video and sound qualities are better than ever and Volume 5 of the so-called Lost Films of L & H series in DVD is an absolute must for true fans. Among the many treats is the first "team" film, DUCK SOUP, that turns out to be the predecessor of their 1930 talkie, Another Fine Mess. In both cases, the plot - by Stan's father no less - gets in the way. But here, in DUCK SOUP, the Stan and Ollie characters are only partially developed and they just don't seem much like the Laurel & Hardy we know and love - sort of the way they became later in those awful 1940s films for Fox and MGM when they just didn't act like themselves. Another highlight is the Charley Chase film, FLUTTERING HEARTS, that had me wondering why Hal Roach never gave him a chance in feature films during the sound era. This film is a surprise bonus if you expected to find only Laurel & Hardy. The picture quality varies from very good to stunning. For whatever reason, WRONG AGAIN seems derived from two different sources. Various shots in the same scene will be sharp as a tack while others will appear soft. If there is one shortcoming, it's in the liner notes that should tell us more about the film sources. In both HABEAS CORPUS and SHORT KILTS, a small white box in the lower right of the screen is apparently hiding some logo; I suspect it's a cable station. But I'm just carping. It's a great DVD release and I had a ball.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a Must for Laurel & Hardy Fans
Review: I started collecting Laurel & Hardy films in 8 mm. back in the 1960s. Today, the video and sound qualities are better than ever and Volume 5 of the so-called Lost Films of L & H series in DVD is an absolute must for true fans. Among the many treats is the first "team" film, DUCK SOUP, that turns out to be the predecessor of their 1930 talkie, Another Fine Mess. In both cases, the plot - by Stan's father no less - gets in the way. But here, in DUCK SOUP, the Stan and Ollie characters are only partially developed and they just don't seem much like the Laurel & Hardy we know and love - sort of the way they became later in those awful 1940s films for Fox and MGM when they just didn't act like themselves. Another highlight is the Charley Chase film, FLUTTERING HEARTS, that had me wondering why Hal Roach never gave him a chance in feature films during the sound era. This film is a surprise bonus if you expected to find only Laurel & Hardy. The picture quality varies from very good to stunning. For whatever reason, WRONG AGAIN seems derived from two different sources. Various shots in the same scene will be sharp as a tack while others will appear soft. If there is one shortcoming, it's in the liner notes that should tell us more about the film sources. In both HABEAS CORPUS and SHORT KILTS, a small white box in the lower right of the screen is apparently hiding some logo; I suspect it's a cable station. But I'm just carping. It's a great DVD release and I had a ball.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a Must for Laurel & Hardy Fans
Review: I started collecting Laurel & Hardy films in 8 mm. back in the 1960s. Today, the video and sound qualities are better than ever and Volume 5 of the so-called Lost Films of L & H series in DVD is an absolute must for true fans. Among the many treats is the first "team" film, DUCK SOUP, that turns out to be the predecessor of their 1930 talkie, Another Fine Mess. In both cases, the plot - by Stan's father no less - gets in the way. But here, in DUCK SOUP, the Stan and Ollie characters are only partially developed and they just don't seem much like the Laurel & Hardy we know and love - sort of the way they became later in those awful 1940s films for Fox and MGM when they just didn't act like themselves. Another highlight is the Charley Chase film, FLUTTERING HEARTS, that had me wondering why Hal Roach never gave him a chance in feature films during the sound era. This film is a surprise bonus if you expected to find only Laurel & Hardy. The picture quality varies from very good to stunning. For whatever reason, WRONG AGAIN seems derived from two different sources. Various shots in the same scene will be sharp as a tack while others will appear soft. If there is one shortcoming, it's in the liner notes that should tell us more about the film sources. In both HABEAS CORPUS and SHORT KILTS, a small white box in the lower right of the screen is apparently hiding some logo; I suspect it's a cable station. But I'm just carping. It's a great DVD release and I had a ball.
Rating:
Summary: This one has several classic Laurel & Hardy silent comedies
Review: Volume 5 of "The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy" presents more "silent" classics from the late 1920s. "Wrong Again," a 1929 two-reeler directed by Leo McCarey, has Laurel & Hardy as a pair of stable hands who hear that the "Blue Boy" as been stolen and their is a huge reward. Of course it is the famous painting by Gainsborough that has been stolen, but the boys think it is the horse of the same name from their stable. When they go to the millionaire's home to claim their reward, the boys are instructed to bring Blue Boy in and put is on the piano: so they do. "Wrong Again" is another one of those early sound efforts where the record has been lost and we are left with the silent version. Consequently the pacing on this one seems off because the action is matching sound cues that no longer exist. "Habeas Corpus" is one of the best Laurel & Hardy two-reelers, also directed by McCarey. The set up this time around is simple enough: mad scientist Richard Carle has hired to the boys to steal bodies from a cemetery for his experiments. The end result is much more slapstick than we usually find with Stan and Ollie. My favorite is when the body in the bag is still alive and starts walking on its own. A first-rate two-reeler from the boys. If you want to get technical, the first film in which both Laurel and Hardy appeared was "Forty-Five Minutes from Hollywood," a 1926 two-reeler that featured virtually every player under contract to Hal Roach including dinosaurs. In fact, Stan Laurel appears with an enormous mustache (a double for Jimmy Finlayson is my guess). However 1927's "Duck Soup," directed by Fred Guilo, has the distinction of being the first film in which you can really say Laurel & Hardy were a team. Stan and Ollie are a bit down on their luck and avoid the constable by stumbling onto the estate of a local millionaire. There they assume disguises as the master of the house and his maid. This is the least of the four comedies on this disc, but has "historical" importance. "Leave 'Em Laughing" is a 1928 film directed by Clyde Buckman but "supervised" by Leo McCarey with the story credit going to Hal Roach. This is the classic one where Laurel has a toothache and Hardy drags him to the dentist. After exposure to the "laughing gas," the boys cause a traffic jam and drive cop Edgar Kennedy to distraction. The solo shorts tacked on this time around are Hardy with Charley Chase in 1927's "Fluttering Hearts," and Laurel with James Finlayson in "Short Kilts" from 1924, which makes some interesting use of sound effects. Volume 5 is one of the better collections in the series.
Rating:
Summary: This one has several classic Laurel & Hardy silent comedies
Review: Volume 5 of "The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy" presents more "silent" classics from the late 1920s. "Wrong Again," a 1929 two-reeler directed by Leo McCarey, has Laurel & Hardy as a pair of stable hands who hear that the "Blue Boy" as been stolen and their is a huge reward. Of course it is the famous painting by Gainsborough that has been stolen, but the boys think it is the horse of the same name from their stable. When they go to the millionaire's home to claim their reward, the boys are instructed to bring Blue Boy in and put is on the piano: so they do. "Wrong Again" is another one of those early sound efforts where the record has been lost and we are left with the silent version. Consequently the pacing on this one seems off because the action is matching sound cues that no longer exist. "Habeas Corpus" is one of the best Laurel & Hardy two-reelers, also directed by McCarey. The set up this time around is simple enough: mad scientist Richard Carle has hired to the boys to steal bodies from a cemetery for his experiments. The end result is much more slapstick than we usually find with Stan and Ollie. My favorite is when the body in the bag is still alive and starts walking on its own. A first-rate two-reeler from the boys. If you want to get technical, the first film in which both Laurel and Hardy appeared was "Forty-Five Minutes from Hollywood," a 1926 two-reeler that featured virtually every player under contract to Hal Roach including dinosaurs. In fact, Stan Laurel appears with an enormous mustache (a double for Jimmy Finlayson is my guess). However 1927's "Duck Soup," directed by Fred Guilo, has the distinction of being the first film in which you can really say Laurel & Hardy were a team. Stan and Ollie are a bit down on their luck and avoid the constable by stumbling onto the estate of a local millionaire. There they assume disguises as the master of the house and his maid. This is the least of the four comedies on this disc, but has "historical" importance. "Leave 'Em Laughing" is a 1928 film directed by Clyde Buckman but "supervised" by Leo McCarey with the story credit going to Hal Roach. This is the classic one where Laurel has a toothache and Hardy drags him to the dentist. After exposure to the "laughing gas," the boys cause a traffic jam and drive cop Edgar Kennedy to distraction. The solo shorts tacked on this time around are Hardy with Charley Chase in 1927's "Fluttering Hearts," and Laurel with James Finlayson in "Short Kilts" from 1924, which makes some interesting use of sound effects. Volume 5 is one of the better collections in the series.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! Hal Roach has put out a masterpiece
Review: WOW! Can I say anything more! Hal Roach has put out a masterpiece. The DVD volume five contains six of their funniest silence to date. Like in volume Four we were blest with "Bacon Grabbers" which no one has ever seen unless you were in the theaters 70 years ago. In volume five we have "Leave'em Laughing" which I have only seen bits and pieces of and is restored to its original color tents when it was first release. The second reel of this film has Laurel and Hardy on laughing gas in their Model "T" Ford on Main Street in downtown Culver City. There are no other actors who can laugh in character like Stan and Ollie. The second reel of "Fluttering Hearts" has to be Hardy's best solo performance. Charley Chase baits a very drunken Hardy with a department store dummy (this is an only couples speakeasy). Hardy falls head over heels for this dummy in what is said to be the best of all the Charley Chase Comedies thanks to the excellent support of Oliver Hardy. The film "Short Kilts" a solo by Stan Laurel with Jimmy Finlayson was so good, I watch it five times Thursday after receiving the DVD in the mail. The McPherson's and the McGregors are feuding clans liken to the Hatfields and Mccoys. Things really get out of hand during a game of musical chairs. As the head of each clan trade insults at various member of each family, Stan has enough, and elopes with his betrothed. Would be brother-in-law Jimmy Finlayson does the same after Stan says no. Finally, all is at peace, everyone is married to their intended, and even young Mickey Daniels (of the Our Gang fame) along with the first leading lady (of Our Gang) Mary Kornman tries to tie the knot. But, peace is short lived, and another game of musical chairs leads to the fade out brawl. The other three are "Wrong Again", "Habeas Corpus" and "Duck Soup."
Rating:
Summary: WOW! Hal Roach has put out a masterpiece
Review: WOW! Can I say anything more! Hal Roach has put out a masterpiece. The DVD volume five contains six of their funniest silence to date. Like in volume Four we were blest with "Bacon Grabbers" which no one has ever seen unless you were in the theaters 70 years ago. In volume five we have "Leave'em Laughing" which I have only seen bits and pieces of and is restored to its original color tents when it was first release. The second reel of this film has Laurel and Hardy on laughing gas in their Model "T" Ford on Main Street in downtown Culver City. There are no other actors who can laugh in character like Stan and Ollie. The second reel of "Fluttering Hearts" has to be Hardy's best solo performance. Charley Chase baits a very drunken Hardy with a department store dummy (this is an only couples speakeasy). Hardy falls head over heels for this dummy in what is said to be the best of all the Charley Chase Comedies thanks to the excellent support of Oliver Hardy. The film "Short Kilts" a solo by Stan Laurel with Jimmy Finlayson was so good, I watch it five times Thursday after receiving the DVD in the mail. The McPherson's and the McGregors are feuding clans liken to the Hatfields and Mccoys. Things really get out of hand during a game of musical chairs. As the head of each clan trade insults at various member of each family, Stan has enough, and elopes with his betrothed. Would be brother-in-law Jimmy Finlayson does the same after Stan says no. Finally, all is at peace, everyone is married to their intended, and even young Mickey Daniels (of the Our Gang fame) along with the first leading lady (of Our Gang) Mary Kornman tries to tie the knot. But, peace is short lived, and another game of musical chairs leads to the fade out brawl. The other three are "Wrong Again", "Habeas Corpus" and "Duck Soup."
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