Laurel and Hardy

Laurel & Hardy Dance Routine from “Way Out West”

https://youtu.be/LXCwlO2jnYU

The Shorts

The restored films as a whole look sharper and brighter, and with more detail, than the RHI box set. That’s not a knock on that collection, which at 10 discs is very comprehensive, and includes 58 sound shorts and feature films.

The picture quality of “Helpmates” looks a little more fuzzy on the RHI DVD versus the Kit Parker Films Blu-ray. When comparing “Come Clean” and “The Music Box” from the Dutch 2002 “Laurel & Hardy: Talkies 2” compilation to the U.S. 2011 “Essential Collection””, and finally the 2020 U.S. Blu-ray, the newest set takes the nod. “Talkies 2” had specks in the picture, the Essential Collection looked better, but the “Definitive Restorations” Blu-ray picture quality was the best.

“Berth Marks” is included with its original 1929 VitaPhone audio track, as well as the 1936 reissued film with altered music and sound effects. “Brats” is similar, in that you get both the original 1930 VitaPhone disc movie and the reissued 1937 VitaPhone soundtracks.

“Hog Wild”

Oliver Hardy, Fay Holderness, and Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy, Fay Holderness, and Stan Laurel
Courtesy of Kit Parker Films

Among the numerous “Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations” focal points include the 1932 Oscar winning live action short, “The Music Box”, in which The Boys have to deliver a crated piano up 133 steps to the customer. Laurel and Hardy play themselves and their young sons via camera work and over-sized furniture in the aforementioned “Brats.” Moreover, you get some words of wisdom from Laurel in that film. He tells Hardy that the way to deal with the rambunctious kids is to treat them with kindness, because “You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be led.”

“Berth Marks” is included with its original 1929 VitaPhone audio track, as well as the 1936 reissued film with altered music and sound effects. “Brats” is similar, in that you get both the original 1930 VitaPhone disc movie and the reissued 1937 VitaPhone soundtracks.

“The Tree in a Test Tube”, made for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is notable for being Laurel and Hardy’s only surviving color movie. The pair appear for approximately the first four minutes of the short, using pantomime. The idea was to show the importance of wood to Americans’ daily lives during World War II, and as a replacement for metal. While Laurel and Hardy may not have any lines in the movie, it’s still fun to see them in Technicolor.

“The Music Box”

Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and HardyCourtesy of Kit Parker Films

“One Good Turn” comparison

“Their First Mistake” comparison

Special Features

Here’s where “Laurel & Hardy: The Definite Restorations” really shines. Eight hours of special features are included, and they’re very extensive and a real treat. 2,500 rare Laurel and Hardy production photos, posters, Pressbook articles, studio files, scripts, and much more can be accessed via the Blu-ray discs.

What’s special, too, are the included interviews Skretvedt conducted with Laurel and Hardy associates using a Kodachrome Super 8 sound movie camera in 1981. The duo’s frequent co-star Anita Garvin describes Laurel as practically being like a second director behind the scenes with their films. Hardy she describes as a shy, sweet man, who would sometimes sit on the set and play his ukulele.

Producer Joe Rock talks about signing Laurel up to star in 12 films before the team of Laurel and Hardy was formed. Hal Roach Studios special effects artist Roy Seawright speaks about first meeting Laurel on the studio lot, as well as his production work on the Laurel and Hardy films “Babes In Toyland (March of the Wooden Soldiers)” and “Swiss Miss.” Audio interviews by Skretvedt are included as well, with Hal Roach, Hardy’s widow Lucille, director George Marshall, Roach Studios musical director Marvin Hatley, and more.

A fascinating series of photos shows a retired Laurel at his Santa Monica apartment from 1959 to 1964 with such celebrity admirers as Dick Van Dyke and Marcel Marceau.

Technical Details

The four Blu-ray discs have an aspect ratio of 1:37:1 with a 1080p resolution. Total running time, not including the bonus features, is 511 minutes. English subtitles are available. The set is region free. No booklet is included with the discs, but the main contents are listed on the back of the multi disc Blu-ray case.

Minor quibbles are that the discs don’t have a Play All feature. Additionally, when the audio commentary tracks from Skretvedt and Bann are played, the sound from the particular movie becomes silent. But, these points don’t take away the enjoyment you get from watching the films. And with Skretvedt and Bann, they’re so knowledgeable about Laurel and Hardy, that it’s like taking a fun, film education class just listening to them.

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button