However, some selections throughout the discs, notably in the shorts (which haven’t all been given the same attention), do show clear wear and a quality that is slightly lacking compared to other additions. The features in particular have a crisp look that makes them the healthiest and cleanest they have looked and sounded on home video. However, since the marketing for this box set puts the spotlight on them–and not exclusively the films themselves–some of this review will reflect that.)įans of Laurel & Hardy (and, really, those who appreciate high-definition transfers of classic Hollywood films) should be amazed at a number of the presentations found on the four discs.
(Typically, details of the transfers is kept for the below portion of the review. The main attraction, really, is the transfers, and that this is the first time Laurel & Hardy have been featured so prominently on Blu-ray. And so, with only two features and 17 shorts, what’s the appeal with this four-disc set? Indeed, you can get better content from other box sets. This is less than half of the 40+ shorts that Laurel & Hardy appeared in throughout their decades-long run. The included shorts are (in order of appearance on the four discs): THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY (1927), BERTH MARKS (1929), BRATS (1930), ONE GOOD TURN (1931), ME AND MY PAL (1933), HELPMATES (1932), MUSIC BOX (1932), THE CHIMP (1932), COUNTY HOSPITAL (1932), SCRAM! (1932), THEIR FIRST MISTAKE (1932), THE MIDNIGHT PATROL (1933), BUSY BODIES (1933), TOWED IN A HOLE (1932), TWICE TWO (1933), THAT’S THAT (1937), and THE TREE IN A TEST TUBE (1943), which was their final short. WAY OUT WEST is a nice companion piece in that it also sees the duo getting into hijinks and showing off their talent for physical comedy. SONS OF THE DESERT in particular perhaps has the better reputation, ranking on the American Film Institute’s lists of funniest movies (#95) and best quotes (“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!” at #60). SONS OF THE DESERT (1933) and WAY OUT WEST (1937) are both must-see showcases for those curious about what made Laurel & Hardy the legends they were. Even though the inclusion of SONS OF THE DESERT and WAY OUT WEST is essential (this is also their first appearance on Blu-ray), certainly more feature-length endeavors would have been welcome by their biggest admirers. They are definitely familiar enough to draw in a casual fan who might want to seek out more (but maybe not more features), but not deep in the well enough for die-hards. The positive and negative of that is the same: they are their most well-known films. This new four-disc set from Kit Parker Films only has two Laurel & Hardy features, even though they starred in nearly 30. One can immediately picture the men, and, although their career had its shaky moments (their story is recounted in the 2018 biopic STAN & OLLIE), that picture always has them side by side.
On appearance alone, they complement one another perfectly: Brit Stan Laurel was skinny and stood 5’8” American Oliver Hardy was chubby and had about a half-foot on Laurel. Recognizable as likely the most iconic comedy duos of the 1930s and 1940s, the pair joined up in the mid-‘20s when they both signed contracts with Hal Roach studios. You’re either a Laurel & Hardy fanatic, or you’re under the age of 70.
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