Laurel and
Hardy – The Collection
(Uk Region 2)
A Review by
Drew Smith
Universal's
region 2 Laurel and Hardy Collection is a monumental site to behold, a set
comprising ALMOST the entire Hal Roach collection has definitely been what fans
of the boys have been asking for.
Discussion
of the films is best left to other sections of this site but the contents reads
like this:
VOL. 1: A Chump At Oxford and Related
Stories
A CHUMP AT OXFORD - restored black-and-white version
A CHUMP AT OXFORD - computer-colour version
FROM SOUP TO NUTS - restored version
ANOTHER FINE MESS - restored black-and-white version
ANOTHER FINE MESS - computer-colour version
DVD VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing -
Classic Shorts
COUNTY HOSPITAL - restored black-and-white version
COUNTY HOSPITAL - computer-colour version
THEM THAR HILLS - restored black-and-white version
THEM THAR HILLS - computer-colour version
TIT FOR TAT - restored black-and-white version
TIT FOR TAT - computer-colour version
PERFECT DAY - restored black-and-white version
PERFECT DAY - computer-colour version
THEY GO BOOM! - Restored black-and-white version
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 3: Way Out West and
shorts featuring James Finlayson
WAY OUT WEST
- restored black-and-white version
WAY OUT WEST - computer-colour version
ONE GOOD TURN - black-and-white version
ONE GOOD TURN - computer-colour version
THICKER THAN WATER - restored black-and-white version
THICKER THAN WATER - computer-colour version
VOL. 4: Ollie and Matrimony -
Classic shorts
BEAU HUNKS - restored
black-and-white version
BEAU HUNKS - computer-colour version
OUR WIFE - restored black-and-white version
OUR WIFE - computer-colour version
HELPMATES - restored black-and-white version
HELPMATES - computer-colour version
ME AND MY PAL - black-and-white version
ME AND MY PAL - computer-colour version
DVD VOL. 5: Our Relations and
'dual roles' shorts
OUR RELATIONS - restored black-and-white version
OUR RELATIONS - computer-colour version
BRATS - restored black-and-white version
BRATS - computer-colour version
TWICE TWO - restored black-and-white version
TWICE TWO - computer-colour version
DVD VOL. 6: Murder in the Air
- Classic shorts
THE LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE - restored black-and-white version
THE LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE - computer-colour version
NOCHE DE DUENDES - The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case and Berth Marks combined into a
special Spanish-language edition, with Laurel & Hardy speaking their own
dialogue
BERTH MARKS - restored black-and-white version
BERTH MARKS - computer-colour version
OLIVER THE EIGHTH - restored black-and-white version
OLIVER THE EIGHTH - computer-colour version
DVD VOL. 7: Block-Heads and
related shorts
BLOCK-HEADS - restored black-and-white version
BLOCK-HEADS - computer-colour version
UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE - restored black-and-white version
UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE - computer-colour version
WITH LOVE AND HISSES - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
SHOULD MARRIED MEN GO HOME? - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 8: Blackmail -
Classic shorts
CHICKENS
COME HOME - restored black-and-white version
CHICKENS COME HOME - computer-colour version
POLITIQUERIAS - Chickens Come Home in an extended Spanish-language edition,
with Laurel & Hardy speaking their own dialogue
COME CLEAN - restored black-and-white version
LOVE 'EM AND WEEP - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
SUGAR DADDIES - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
EARLY TO BED - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 9: The Bohemian Girl
and related shorts
THE BOHEMIAN GIRL - restored black-and-white version
THE BOHEMIAN GIRL - computer-colour version
ON THE LOOSE - restored black-and-white version of a Laurel & Hardy guest
appearance
THAT'S MY WIFE - restored black-and-white silent comedy, with music and sound
effects from its original release
ALONG CAME AUNTIE - black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 10: Snow! - Classic
shorts
LAUGHING
GRAVY - restored original 2-reel black-and-white version
LAUGHING GRAVY - restored 3-reel black-and-white version
LAUGHING GRAVY - 3-reel computer-colour version
LES CAROTTIERS - Be Big and the 3-reel Laughing Gravy combined into a special
French-language edition, with Laurel & Hardy speaking their own dialogue
THE FIXER-UPPERS - restored black-and-white version
THE FIXER-UPPERS - computer-colour version
SLIPPING WIVES - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 11: Saps at Sea and
'music' shorts
SAPS AT SEA - restored black-and-white version
SAPS AT SEA - computer-colour version
YOU'RE DARN TOOTIN' - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
BELOW ZERO - restored black-and-white version
BELOW ZERO - computer-colour version
TIEMBLA Y TITUBEA - Below Zero in an extended Spanish-language edition, with
Laurel & Hardy speaking their own dialogue
DVD VOL. 12: L&H and the
Law - Classic shorts
SCRAM!
- restored black-and-white version
SCRAM! - computer-colour version
NIGHT OWLS - restored black-and-white version
NIGHT OWLS - computer-colour version
LADRONES - Night Owls in an extended Spanish-language edition, with Laurel
& Hardy speaking their own dialogue
THE SECOND HUNDRED YEARS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
CALL OF THE CUCKOO - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DUCK SOUP - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM HOLLYWOOD - restored black-and-white silent comedy with
music
BIG BUSINESS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 13: Sons of the Desert and
related shorts
SONS OF THE DESERT - restored black-and-white version
SONS OF THE DESERT - computer-colour version
WE FAW DOWN - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
THEIR PURPLE MOMENT - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
ON THE WRONG TREK - restored black-and-white version
DVD VOL. 14: A Job to Do-
Classic shorts
BUSY
BODIES - restored black-and-white version
BUSY BODIES - computer-colour version
DOUBLE WHOOPEE - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
HOG WILD - black-and-white version
HOG WILD - computer-colour version
DIRTY WORK - restored black-and-white version
DIRTY WORK - computer-colour version
THE FINISHING TOUCH - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
THE MUSIC BOX - restored black-and-white version
THE MUSIC BOX - computer-colour version
HATS OFF - stills gallery
DVD VOL. 15: Pack Up Your
Troubles - and related 'Adopt-a-Child' shorts
PACK
UP YOUR TROUBLES - restored black-and-white version
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES - computer-colour version
THEIR FIRST MISTAKE - restored black-and-white version
THEIR FIRST MISTAKE - computer-colour version
PUTTING PANTS ON PHILIP - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 16: Maritime
Adventures - Classic shorts
THE LIVE GHOST - restored black-and-white version
SAILORS, BEWARE! - Restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
TWO TARS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
MEN O'WAR - restored black-and-white version
MEN O'WAR - computer-colour version
ANY OLD PORT! - restored black-and-white version
WHY GIRLS LOVE SAILORS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
TOWED IN A HOLE - restored black-and-white version
TOWED IN A HOLE - computer-colour version
DVD VOL. 17: Swiss Miss - and
Animal shorts
SWISS
MISS - restored black-and-white version
SWISS MISS - computer-colour version
THE CHIMP - black-and-white version
THE CHIMP - computer-colour version
FLYING ELEPHANTS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 18: Married Life – Classic
Shorts
BLOTTO - restored black-and-white version
BLOTTO - computer-colour version
LA VIDA NOCTURNA - Blotto in an extended Spanish-language edition, with Laurel
& Hardy speaking their own dialogue
BE BIG - restored black-and-white version
BE BIG - computer-colour version
LOS CALAVERAS - Be Big and Laughing Gravy combined into a feature-length
Spanish-language edition, with Laurel & Hardy speaking their own dialogue
DVD VOL. 19: Pardon Us and
related shorts
PARDON US - restored, extended length black-and-white version
PARDON US - extended length computer-colour version
THE HOOSE-GOW - restored black-and-white version
THE HOOSE-GOW - computer-colour version
THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY - black-and-white silent comedy with music
DVD VOL. 20: More Brushes with
the Law - Classic shorts
GOING BYE-BYE! - restored black-and-white version
GOING BYE-BYE! - Computer-colour version
DO DETECTIVES THINK? - Restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
HABEAS CORPUS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
ANGORA LOVE - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
BACON GRABBERS - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
THE MIDNIGHT PATROL - restored black-and-white version
THE MIDNIGHT PATROL - computer-colour version
LIBERTY - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
WRONG AGAIN - restored black-and-white silent comedy with music
BRATS
(1930)
HINTER SCHLOSS UND RIEGEL (1931)
THUNDERING FLEAS (1926)
FLUTTERING HEARTS (1927)
PRUDENCE (1927)
LAUREL & HARDY - A TRIBUTE TO THE BOYS
Notable
absences range from the unfortunate (BONNIE SCOTLAND is now owned by Warner) to
the lazy (due to its public domain status THE LUCKY DOG could easily have been
included). This does not however detract from an otherwise wonderful set of
films.
The Disks
Each disk opens with a fun little montage of moments from a
range of films in the collection set to the coo coo song and some Hal Roach
stock music. This can be skipped to save boredom after viewing for the twenty
first time.
The menu system is simple yet pleasant; a loop of the boys
dancing to “Commence Your Dancing” from WAY OUT WEST is displayed in a small
window while the film titles are presented beneath. Selecting one of these will
give viewers the option of playing either the original or colour version where
available.
Image quality on the whole is very
acceptable; the prints used are the best available thanks to the efforts of the
kirsch preservation group. While many would have benefited from further
restoration to remove film dirt and scratches the images are for the most part
crisp and the sound clear.
The same can sadly not be said for
the colourised versions. While this reviewer has no problem with colour being
provided as an alternative to the original this early example of computer
colour application is crude at best. Images are frequently cropped and blurred.
Helpmates in particular is badly edited, the removal of an entire scene is
surely something that would make Stan Laurel turn in his grave.
For a good example of colourisation
see the DVD release of MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS by Goodtimes home video.
Features
An unadvertised and welcome special
feature is the booklets which accompany each of the 21 volumes. These offer
plot summaries, cast an crew lists and often some interesting background
material.
The inclusion of foreign language
versions by the boys is welcome. Sadly though any extra comedy material is lost
to English speaking viewers due to a lack of any subtitles what so ever.
The Our Gang and Charley Chase
comedies on disk 21 make for a pleasant diversion but probably stand no more
than one viewing.
Laurel and Hardy- A tribute to the
Boys is frankly pathetic. The few (inaccurate) nuggets of information fail to
raise it above clip show material and host Dom Delouise, while obviously having
a true affection for the boys, comes across as annoying and unfunny.
Verdict
This set has its faults but don’t we
all. Above all it is the quality of the films that elevates the collection. If
you have a region 2 player then I’d advise going for it, at least try one of
the volumes if you cant afford the set and I doubt you will be disappointed.
For me the set means I have now seen
every Laurel and Hardy sound short, something I never thought I would manage
but now am quite proud of having done so.
Amazon.co.uk have it listed at £150
pounds. For about 68 hours of other nice messes you can’t really go wrong if
you have the cash.
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THIS WINDOW TO RETURN TO LAUREL AND HARDY CENTRAL