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Post by petrolino on Dec 26, 2020 22:37:57 GMT
The documentary 'Laurel & Hardy : Their Lives And Magic' is directed by Andreas Baum who more recently directed 'Harold Lloyd : Hollywood's Timeless Comedy Genius' (2017).
Harold Lloyd with Laurel & Hardy
I found this documentary very interesting for a number of reasons. There are rare contributions from Lois Laurel (Stan Laurel's daughter) and Cassidy Cook (Stan's great grand-daughter). It's interesting hearing about a trip Oliver Hardy made with Stan Laurel later in life to see his family home in Ulverston, Lancashire, in the north-west of England. I was also left curious by the theatre marquee advertising a film starring Lois Lane.
Jean Harlow with Laurel & Hardy
'Double Whoopee' (1929)
I didn't realise the ways in which Stan Laurel and Babe Hardy crossed paths on their way to becoming a comedy team under producer Hal Roach, first appearing together in 'The Lucky Dog' (1921). I like the way the running narrative traces the gradual erosion of community spirit and creative freedom that drove the ideas behind their masterpieces of the 1930s. The documentary contends this completely gave way when they were strait-jacketed in the 1940s by major studios who simply didn't know what to do with them.
Marion Byron has a Christmas kiss for Laurel & Hardy
'The Boy Friend' (1928)
'Laurel & Hardy : Their Lives And Magic' is currently screening on the channel Sky Documentaries here in the U K. I think 'Harold Lloyd : Hollywood's Timeless Comedy Genius' can probably still be seen through the channel Sky Arts.
Buster Keaton with Laurel & Hardy
Stan Laurel and Dana Andrews
Interview with Jerry Lewis
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Post by phantomparticle on Dec 27, 2020 3:18:11 GMT
I've seen a number of documentaries on the duo. Stan and Ollie, a fictionalized account of their stage act in England in the fifties, is a beautiful valentine to their memory.
They have always been my favorite comedy team. Their films are hit and miss, from the sublime Way Out West, Sons of the Desert and The Music Box to the awful Utopia (their last). In the end, however, it is their personal magic that transcends all the imperfections. One of the highlights of their films are the (unfortunately) infrequent musical interludes featuring Hardy's beautiful voice and Laurel's eccentric dancing.
Hopefully, the Baum documentary will be available in the U.S., if not already.
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Post by petrolino on Dec 27, 2020 5:55:25 GMT
Years before Billy Wilder shot Marilyn Monroe's iconic sequences with an air stream from a vent, Stan Laurel was pulling the same gag wearing a kilt. I did not know that till watching this documentary.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Dec 29, 2020 18:12:38 GMT
I have to see this. L&H are my favorite comedy duo by far. Sons of the Desert is an absolute masterpiece. They were unique in that they were great friends. Abbott and Costello had times when they wouldn't speak to each other. The Marx Brothers had feuds. When Oliver Hardy died, Stan Laurel couldn't go to the funeral for health reasons. He said "Babe would understand", Babe being Hardy's nickname. I believe I seen a huge poll asking who was the greatest British comedian. Stan Laurel won. Quite an accomplishment, seeing how he hadn't done anything since 1951. And beating Dudley Moore, Marty Feldman, the Monty Pythons...
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Post by petrolino on Dec 30, 2020 0:15:25 GMT
I have to see this. L&H are my favorite comedy duo by far. Sons of the Desert is an absolute masterpiece. They were unique in that they were great friends. Abbott and Costello had times when they wouldn't speak to each other. The Marx Brothers had feuds. When Oliver Hardy died, Stan Laurel couldn't go to the funeral for health reasons. He said "Babe would understand", Babe being Hardy's nickname. I believe I seen a huge poll asking who was the greatest British comedian. Stan Laurel won. Quite an accomplishment, seeing how he hadn't done anything since 1951. And beating Dudley Moore, Marty Feldman, the Monty Pythons...
That is an accomplishment. And he was from the north-west of England where a lot of great comics have come from. They would play all the working mens clubs which were tough crowds. Robb Wilton, Tommy Handley, Arthur Askey, Frank Randle, Ted Ray, Eric Morecambe, Ken Dodd, Bernard Manning, Les Dawson, Tommy Cannon, Bobby Ball, Syd Little, Robin Askwith, Victoria Wood, Caroline Aherne (born in London but moved to Manchester aged 2), Fiona Allen, Steve Coogan, Lee Mack, Peter Kay and Diane Morgan are all from Stan Laurel's county, Lancashire, to name but a few.
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