Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy Vol 01

Rating:
Summary: Funny but not rock solid
Review: There are indeed a couple of good shorts on here but they are supported with some not very interesting material. It's still worth the money but the other material is more for general interest than as being representative of the pair at their best.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly some of the funniest films aver made
Review: They are that funny! I bought it because it had "Big Business" - a film that was always shown on Christmas when I was a child in Sweden. I was so glad that I still find it funny. The other films are a bit uneven. They are, of course, all funny, but not as funny as "Big Business." The other favourite is "The Finishing Touch." This is suitable for anyone with the slightest sense of humour. They are the purest examples of Stan Laurel's special brand of slapstick. It goes a bit like a Greek drama: we know it will all end in chaos, we just do not know how. The scene is set at the beginning of the short, the characters are introduced, and slowly the small disasters and misunderstandings build up and amplify. Smiles, lead to chuckles, lead to howles, and finally to tears, stomach cramps, and frantic grasps for air as the short gets more and more unbelievably funny.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly some of the funniest films aver made
Review: They are that funny! I bought it because it had "Big Business" - a film that was always shown on Christmas when I was a child in Sweden. I was so glad that I still find it funny. The other films are a bit uneven. They are, of course, all funny, but not as funny as "Big Business." The other favourite is "The Finishing Touch." This is suitable for anyone with the slightest sense of humour. They are the purest examples of Stan Laurel's special brand of slapstick. It goes a bit like a Greek drama: we know it will all end in chaos, we just do not know how. The scene is set at the beginning of the short, the characters are introduced, and slowly the small disasters and misunderstandings build up and amplify. Smiles, lead to chuckles, lead to howles, and finally to tears, stomach cramps, and frantic grasps for air as the short gets more and more unbelievably funny.

Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a wonderful series of DVDs
Review: Volume 1 in what is planned to be a 10 volume series of the early Laurel & Hardy films, most of which have been either unavailable on commercial video for years or have never been available before - that alone is reason to rejoice and praise the DVD format. What you get on this initial volume are four L&H originals (one featuring Max Davidson - "The Call of the Cuckoo" - where L&H are in more of a supportive role) as well as two super rare pre-L&H Stan Laurel shorts. Having these "bonus" films from before the advent of Stan and Ollie is almost more than a fan could ask for! I'm shocked to see actual reviews of this series here on Amazon actually COMPLAIN (! ) about them being silent or missing frames or not up to the film quality of "The Matrix" - these folks are simply missing the point and denying themselves the rare beauty and enjoyment of these truly maverick film-makers. Hal Roach Studios in tandem with Image Entertainment (and Richard Feiner and the Nostalgia Company) have done a splendid job on this series - restoring these titles from the original 35mm material and in the case of "Big Business", from the original nitrate camera negative. In addition to the lovingly remastered films, you get some excellent DVD packaging as well. The case features a fold-out section with the original movie posters for the three team films ("Call of the Cuckoo"'s poster is missing and replaced with a couple of stills) as well as detailed source information and full descriptive notes on all six films. I would NEVER say that if you consider yourself a casual Laurel & Hardy fan, that these DVDs are for collectors only - because just about every second of film with the boys should be essential viewing. Fans who are "more than casual" obviously need no review to tell them they need these discs. However, for those who are merely interested in Laurel & Hardy, there really can't be a more wonderful introduction as these films are presented in as close to original form as possible, and it's the magic of Laurel and Hardy's screen presence that will infect your life with sincere joy and laughter.

Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a wonderful series of DVDs
Review: Volume 1 in what is planned to be a 10 volume series of the early Laurel & Hardy films, most of which have been either unavailable on commercial video for years or have never been available before - that alone is reason to rejoice and praise the DVD format. What you get on this initial volume are four L&H originals (one featuring Max Davidson - "The Call of the Cuckoo" - where L&H are in more of a supportive role) as well as two super rare pre-L&H Stan Laurel shorts. Having these "bonus" films from before the advent of Stan and Ollie is almost more than a fan could ask for! I'm shocked to see actual reviews of this series here on Amazon actually COMPLAIN (! ) about them being silent or missing frames or not up to the film quality of "The Matrix" - these folks are simply missing the point and denying themselves the rare beauty and enjoyment of these truly maverick film-makers. Hal Roach Studios in tandem with Image Entertainment (and Richard Feiner and the Nostalgia Company) have done a splendid job on this series - restoring these titles from the original 35mm material and in the case of "Big Business", from the original nitrate camera negative. In addition to the lovingly remastered films, you get some excellent DVD packaging as well. The case features a fold-out section with the original movie posters for the three team films ("Call of the Cuckoo"'s poster is missing and replaced with a couple of stills) as well as detailed source information and full descriptive notes on all six films. I would NEVER say that if you consider yourself a casual Laurel & Hardy fan, that these DVDs are for collectors only - because just about every second of film with the boys should be essential viewing. Fans who are "more than casual" obviously need no review to tell them they need these discs. However, for those who are merely interested in Laurel & Hardy, there really can't be a more wonderful introduction as these films are presented in as close to original form as possible, and it's the magic of Laurel and Hardy's screen presence that will infect your life with sincere joy and laughter.

Rating:
Summary: "Big Business" as Stan and Ollie team up for the first tame
Review: Volume One of "The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy" offers four misadventures of the boys from the late 1920s: "Big Business" (1929, 21 min.) has Laurel & Hardy as Christmas tree salesmen in July and is far and away the best offering on this DVD. James Finlayson becomes the test of their salesmanship and the battle is not over until his home and their business are totally destroyed. I like Tiny Sandord as the policeman who watches everthing while making copious notes, waiting for a reason to become involved, at which point Stan takes apart a piano with an axe. A comedy classic of the first rank. "Do Detectives Think?" (1927, 24 min.) has the distinction of being the first film to present Laurel & Hardy as the team we come to love. Convicted murderer Noah Young escapes from prison and vows vengeance on the judge (James Finlayson) who sentenced him. The boys are inept employees of a private detective agency assigned to guard the judge. Young goes after the judge with giant knives and swords, but the boys keep getting in his way. Even though they give up protecting their client, they do end up catching the convict by a fluke. "Call of the Cuckoo" (1927, 18 min.) merely features Laurel & Hardy as guest stars, their heads shaved because they were playing convicts in "The Second Hundred Years" being filmed at the same time. The star here is Max Davidson who moves into his new house only to discover every thing falls apart (including his bathtub). The boys do some sort of William Tell act. "The Finishing Touch" (1928, 21 min.), has Laurel & Hardy as contractors for agree to build a house in a day for an impatient homeowner while harassed by cop Edgar Kennedy. The best sequence has Oliver continually swallowing mouthfuls of nails. The only real problem with this two reeler is that there isn't a really satisfactory climax to it all. Also includes are a pair of Stan Laura solo shorts, "On the Front Page" (1926, 23 min.) and "Hustling for Health" (1918, 15 min.). An even collection, but you have to start somewhere.

Rating:
Summary: "Big Business" as Stan and Ollie team up for the first tame
Review: Volume One of "The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy" offers four misadventures of the boys from the late 1920s: "Big Business" (1929, 21 min.) has Laurel & Hardy as Christmas tree salesmen in July and is far and away the best offering on this DVD. James Finlayson becomes the test of their salesmanship and the battle is not over until his home and their business are totally destroyed. I like Tiny Sandord as the policeman who watches everthing while making copious notes, waiting for a reason to become involved, at which point Stan takes apart a piano with an axe. A comedy classic of the first rank. "Do Detectives Think?" (1927, 24 min.) has the distinction of being the first film to present Laurel & Hardy as the team we come to love. Convicted murderer Noah Young escapes from prison and vows vengeance on the judge (James Finlayson) who sentenced him. The boys are inept employees of a private detective agency assigned to guard the judge. Young goes after the judge with giant knives and swords, but the boys keep getting in his way. Even though they give up protecting their client, they do end up catching the convict by a fluke. "Call of the Cuckoo" (1927, 18 min.) merely features Laurel & Hardy as guest stars, their heads shaved because they were playing convicts in "The Second Hundred Years" being filmed at the same time. The star here is Max Davidson who moves into his new house only to discover every thing falls apart (including his bathtub). The boys do some sort of William Tell act. "The Finishing Touch" (1928, 21 min.), has Laurel & Hardy as contractors for agree to build a house in a day for an impatient homeowner while harassed by cop Edgar Kennedy. The best sequence has Oliver continually swallowing mouthfuls of nails. The only real problem with this two reeler is that there isn't a really satisfactory climax to it all. Also includes are a pair of Stan Laura solo shorts, "On the Front Page" (1926, 23 min.) and "Hustling for Health" (1918, 15 min.). An even collection, but you have to start somewhere.