Laurel and Hardy on Disc

[Scharphedin2]

Short of doing the research myself, could anyone comment how complete this Laurel & Hardy: 21 DVD Box Set really is? Did anyone plunge on this yet and can make any kind of comments?

As far as I can see, it does not include the two features that came out a while ago as a TCM Archives set. On the other hand, it lists a lot of unspecificed short films, and I am specifically interested in these for their connection to George Stevens.

The main thing really holding me back here is that the thing must be big as a house. Where to store it?

[greggster59]

The set is massive. About half of the DVD's include both the B&W AND colorized versions. Eliminating the latter would have saved quite a bit of space. Otherwise, great set and at a bargain currently.

Cheers,
GF

The missing films:
The March of The Wooden Soldiers (AKA Babes in Toyland)
Fra Diavolo (AKA The Devil's Borther)
The Flying Deuces
Bonnie Scotland
Air Raid Wardens
Nothing But Trouble
The Big Noise
Nothing But Trouble
Great Guns
Hollywood Party
Hollywood Revue of 1929
Jitterbugs
Dancing Masters
Atoll K (AKA Utopia, Robinson Crusoeland)
A-Haunting We Will Go
The Bullfighters

My DVDBeaver review

Contents listed below reprinted from The Laurel & Hardy Forum

Posted with thanks to compiler Neil Evans, Grand Sheik, Bacongrabbers Tent, Wigan and St Helens.

A CHUMP AT OXFORD VOL. 1: A Chump At Oxford and Related Stories
ALONG CAME AUNTIE VOL. 9: The Bohemian Girl and related shorts
ANGORA LOVE VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
ANOTHER FINE MESS VOL. 1: A Chump At Oxford and Related Stories
ANY OLD PORT! VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
BACON GRABBERS VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
BE BIG VOL. 18: Married Life – Classic Shorts
BEAU HUNKS VOL. 4: Ollie and Matrimony - Classic shorts
BERTH MARKS VOL. 6: Murder in the Air - Classic shorts
BIG BUSINESS VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
BLOCK-HEADS VOL. 7: Block-Heads and related shorts
BLOTTO VOL. 18: Married Life – Classic Shorts
BRATS VOL. 5: Our Relations and 'dual roles' shorts
BRATS VOL. 21: The Original Brats
BUSY BODIES VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
CALL OF THE CUCKOO VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
CHICKENS COME HOME VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
COME CLEAN VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
COUNTY HOSPITAL VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
DIRTY WORK VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
DO DETECTIVES THINK? VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
DOUBLE WHOOPEE VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
DUCK SOUP VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
EARLY TO BED VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
FLUTTERING HEARTS VOL. 21: The Original Brats
FLYING ELEPHANTS VOL. 17: Swiss Miss - and Animal shorts
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES FROM HOLLYWOOD
VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
FROM SOUP TO NUTS VOL. 1: A Chump At Oxford and Related Stories
GOING BYE-BYE! VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
HABEAS CORPUS VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
HATS OFF - stills gallery VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
HELPMATES VOL. 4: Ollie and Matrimony - Classic shorts
HINTER SCHLOSS UND RIEGEL VOL. 21: The Original Brats
HOG WILD VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
LA VIDA NOCTURNA (Blotto in Spanish) VOL. 18: Married Life – Classic Shorts
LADRONES (Night Owls in Spanish) VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
LAUGHING GRAVY VOL. 10: Snow! - Classic shorts
LAUREL & HARDY - A TRIBUTE TO THE BOYS VOL. 21: The Original Brats
LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
LES CAROTTIERS (Be Big and the 3-reel Laughing Gravy in French) VOL. 10: Snow! - Classic shorts
LIBERTY VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
LOS CALAVERAS (Be Big + Laughing Gravy combined feature in Spanish) VOL. 18: Married Life – Classic Shorts
LOVE 'EM AND WEEP VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
ME AND MY PAL VOL. 4: Ollie and Matrimony - Classic shorts
MEN O'WAR VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
NIGHT OWLS VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
NOCHE DE DUENDES (The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case and Berth Marks in Spanish) VOL. 6: Murder in the Air - Classic shorts
OLIVER THE EIGHTH VOL. 6: Murder in the Air - Classic shorts
ON THE LOOSE VOL. 9: The Bohemian Girl and related shorts
ON THE WRONG TREK VOL. 13: Sons of the Desert and related shorts
ONE GOOD TURN VOL. 3: Way Out West and shorts featuring James Finlayson
OUR RELATIONS VOL. 5: Our Relations and 'dual roles' shorts
OUR WIFE VOL. 4: Ollie and Matrimony - Classic shorts
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES VOL. 15: Pack Up Your Troubles - and 'Adopt-a-Child' shorts
PARDON US VOL. 19: Pardon Us and related shorts
PERFECT DAY VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
POLITIQUERIAS (Chickens Come Home in an extended Spanish-language edition) VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
PRUDENCE VOL. 21: The Original Brats
PUTTING PANTS ON PHILIP VOL. 15: Pack Up Your Troubles - and 'Adopt-a-Child' shorts
SAILORS, BEWARE! VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
SAPS AT SEA VOL. 11: Saps at Sea and 'music' shorts
SCRAM! VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
SHOULD MARRIED MEN GO HOME?
VOL. 7: Block-Heads and related shorts
SLIPPING WIVES VOL. 10: Snow! - Classic shorts
SONS OF THE DESERT VOL. 13: Sons of the Desert and related shorts
SUGAR DADDIES VOL. 8: Blackmail - Classic shorts
SWISS MISS VOL. 17: Swiss Miss - and Animal shorts
THAT'S MY WIFE VOL. 9: The Bohemian Girl and related shorts
THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY VOL. 19: Pardon Us and related shorts
THE BOHEMIAN GIRL VOL. 9: The Bohemian Girl and related shorts
THE CHIMP VOL. 17: Swiss Miss - and Animal shorts
THE FINISHING TOUCH VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
THE FIXER-UPPERS VOL. 10: Snow! - Classic shorts
THE HOOSE-GOW VOL. 19: Pardon Us and related shorts
THE LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE VOL. 6: Murder in the Air - Classic shorts
THE LIVE GHOST VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
THE MIDNIGHT PATROL VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
THE MUSIC BOX VOL. 14: A Job to Do- Classic shorts
THE SECOND HUNDRED YEARS VOL. 12: L&H and the Law - Classic shorts
THEIR FIRST MISTAKE VOL. 15: Pack Up Your Troubles - and 'Adopt-a-Child' shorts
THEIR PURPLE MOMENT VOL. 13: Sons of the Desert and related shorts
THEM THAR HILLS VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
THEY GO BOOM! VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
THICKER THAN WATER VOL. 3: Way Out West and shorts featuring James Finlayson
THUNDERING FLEAS VOL. 21: The Original Brats
TIEMBLA Y TITUBEA (Below Zero in an extended Spanish-language edition) VOL. 11: Saps at Sea and 'music' shorts
TIT FOR TAT VOL. 2: Someone's Ailing - Classic Shorts
TOWED IN A HOLE VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
TWICE TWO VOL. 5: Our Relations and 'dual roles' shorts
TWO TARS VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE VOL. 7: Block-Heads and related shorts
WAY OUT WEST VOL. 3: Way Out West and shorts featuring James Finlayson
WE FAW DOWN VOL. 13: Sons of the Desert and related shorts
WHY GIRLS LOVE SAILORS VOL. 16: Maritime Adventures - Classic shorts
WITH LOVE AND HISSES VOL. 7: Block-Heads and related shorts
WRONG AGAIN VOL. 20: More Brushes with the Law - Classic shorts
YOU'RE DARN TOOTIN' VOL. 11: Saps at Sea and 'music' shorts

It`s quite hard to get the formatting right but if you want a copy of this list in Excel format you can download it here
_________________
"Mr Hardy holds that every man should tell his Wife the whole truth... Mr Laurel is Crazy too!" COME CLEAN (1931)

[Scharphedin2]

Thank you for this hugely helpful post (and Beaver review), Gregg!

Currently on sale for £50 at HMV, I needed very little encouragement to purchase this, and I just did.

Laurel & Hardy used to be weekly fare on TV, when I was a kid, and they were one of the few things that could bring the whole family into the living room, and I remember some amazing laugh fests... However, thinking about it now, it must be at least 25 years since I saw one of their films. I am sure I will find some spot in my flat for this fine set.

[greggster59]

Usually, I like to watch one or two with my Sunday morning coffee. I find Stan & Ollie to be a welcome alternative to starting my day with the news.

If you haven't already done so be sure to check out the Laurel & Hardy forum I linked to above. Very helpful and fun site about anything to do with Laurel & Hardy.

Happy viewing!

[zedz]

I went for this set at a similar low price from HMV a while back and am slowly making my way through the films chronologically (which requires a fair bit of preliminary indexing work, since everything's organised thematically). The early shorts (as far as I've got) are a mixed bunch, but it's fascinating to see the personas evolve. There are some fascinating false starts, with some films suddenly 'clicking' into the Laurel & Hardy team we know, but the next films forcing them into thankless supporting roles, or weirdly wrong character roles, or just keeping them apart.

At that price, it's one of the best bargains I've ever got (and it's about the only time I haven't been stung by HMV's inflated shipping prices, since they blandly applied their dumb formula to this release even though it's the size of a small piece of furniture!). With all that colourized duplication, the content I actually want could have been organised much more economically, so I doubt I'd ever have gone for it at anything like full price.

[Paul Moran]

Does anyone know whether this set contains a corrected version of "Sons of the Desert"? I had to return 2 copies of the single disc release in April 2003, because of audio faults. I gave up trying after the second faulty copy. I kept a note of the faults in my database:

"At 59 min 16 sec in the original B&W version, Oliver Hardy is supposed to say, according to the subtitles, “How about you and me going to the mountains?” He says this line in full in the alternative colorised version included on the DVD. However, on the original B&W version, what we hear is “How going to the mountains?”, i.e. the words “about you and me” are omitted. This introduces about a 2 second lag between sound and picture (picture noticeably lagging sound) which continues to the end of the film. I also noticed that the English audio track is completely silent after 59 min 20 sec if the original B&W version is fast forwarded, or time searched, past that point."

[greggster59]

Does anyone know whether this set contains a corrected version of "Sons of the Desert"? I had to return 2 copies of the single disc release in April 2003, because of audio faults. I gave up trying after the second faulty copy. I kept a note of the faults in my database:

"At 59 min 16 sec in the original B&W version, Oliver Hardy is supposed to say, according to the subtitles, “How about you and me going to the mountains?” He says this line in full in the alternative colorised version included on the DVD. However, on the original B&W version, what we hear is “How going to the mountains?”, i.e. the words “about you and me” are omitted. This introduces about a 2 second lag between sound and picture (picture noticeably lagging sound) which continues to the end of the film. I also noticed that the English audio track is completely silent after 59 min 20 sec if the original B&W version is fast forwarded, or time searched, past that point."

I checked my copy from the boxed set and the line you mention is there in full. No problems with audio after 59'20" either.

[Paul Moran]

I checked my copy from the boxed set and the line you mention is there in full. No problems with audio after 59'20" either.

Thanks for checking, greggster59. Well, there goes my last excuse, so I've ordered the box set.

[Jeff]

Hadn't seen this mentioned yet:

Celebrating the genius of the most beloved comedy team of all time, Laurel and Hardy - The Essential Collection debuts in a stunning 10-disc set on October 25, 2011 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment. With a comedic style that defined an era and created a legacy that is still celebrated today, 58 of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy’s talking shorts and feature films, produced under legendary movie mogul Hal Roach from 1929 through 1940, are now available for the first time in the U.S. all together in one magnificent collection.

Transferred in high definition for the first time and digitally enhanced for home viewing in the finest quality available to date, the set contains favorites that have been enjoyed for generations including Helpmates, Hog Wild, Another Fine Mess, Sons of the Desert, Way Out West, and the Academy Award winning film The Music Box.

Laurel and Hardy - The Essential Collection comes housed in collectible, book-style packaging with an extensive, detailed film guide. The set also boasts over two hours of special features including exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with comedy legends Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway and more, who discuss the enduring impact and influence of Laurel and Hardy.

Additional features include commentaries by Laurel and Hardy aficionados, along with a virtual location map that allows viewers to take an interactive tour of the iconic places in and around Los Angeles where Laurel and Hardy filmed.

Not sure how this compares in terms of content to the massive U.K. set, but the new HD transfers and extensive supplements are certainly something to cheer about.

[George2U]

In terms of content, their silent films are not included, nor are the colorized versions of the films.

The UCLA Film and Television Archive are currently in the process of restoring the Laurel & Hardy films, but I would imagine this is the best they will look for awhile.

[domino harvey]

Are those effing cardboard slots? What the hell did hubs ever do to studios?

[matrixschmatrix]

Are the silents in the UK box? I've always thought they were broadly the stronger ones.

[zedz]

The UK box is everything that survives up until the late 30s, with only a handful of contractual holdouts (most of which appear on the US TCM set). Every extant silent short is on there somewhere.

Still, if this set is sensibly programmed it could be worth a double-dip.

[Gregory]

For R1, a set of the silents as a companion to the above would be most welcome, as Image's Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy discs are long out of print.

By the way, the UCLA Film and Television Archive is reaching out for public support for this project, in case anyone here would care to donate. It would be amazing to see all this stuff restored.

[Jonathan S]

The UK box.... Every extant silent short is on there somewhere.

I'm being fairly pedantic, but the UK set doesn't include the pre-Roach short The Lucky Dog, available on other DVDs but not, as far as I know, with the opening shots present in Robert Youngson's compilation 30 Years of Fun. The UK set also omits the surviving second reel of Now I'll Tell One, a Charley Chase silent in which L&H only appear separately. It isn't available on DVD anywhere, though it has been posted on YouTube.

The silents on the UK set are very variable in print quality; some are great, but others - on which much better materials survive - look like bad 16mm dupes.

As many will know, The Lost Films R1 set was supposed to be officially reissued last year by Michael Agee in an improved and massively extended Special Edition, but only a few DVD-R copies trickled out after Mail Fraud charges had been instigated by customers who'd paid in advance for a set that was subject to endless delays and now appears to be cancelled.

For real devotees, the new set of talkies could certainly improve enough on the UK one - restoring missing shots and dialogue in some films - even without the full UCLA restorations, great though it would be to have those one day (I've read they've completed only two films so far). It surprised me that the last BBC broadcasts of the Roach features - about ten years ago - looked much cleaner than the prints in the UK DVD set.

[gcgiles1dollarbin]

Are those effing cardboard slots? What the hell did hubs ever do to studios?

Indeed they are. And there are many complaints on Amazon with regard to inevitable scratching.

[filmyfan]

Thinking about buying this but I have yet to find a really good review of it anywhere. Most reviews seem to be of the general sort. Anyone know of any good reviews available saying what's on what discs and what commentaries are available?

[atcolomb]

I looked at most of the dvd review sites DVDTALK, DVDTOWN, DVD BEAVER..etc and nothing yet and that suprises me since this is a major Laurel & Hardy dvd box set release. Only Amazon.com has reviews from people who bought the set and most have great reviews of it....very strange. I just received it and can't wait to go threw it since i am a big fan of the boys.

[matrixschmatrix]

It was reviewed on the AVClub, but not with a lot of specificity.

[Bleddyn Williams]

I looked at most of the dvd review sites DVDTALK, DVDTOWN, DVD BEAVER..etc and nothing yet and that suprises me since this is a major Laurel & Hardy dvd box set release. Only Amazon.com has reviews from people who bought the set and most have great reviews of it....very strange. I just received it and can't wait to go threw it since i am a big fan of the boys.

Just found out about this set today! Atcolomb, or anyone else who has this to hand - any comments on the set?

[Gregory]

I noticed a couple weeks ago that it already seems to be out of print, unless they're just waiting on a second printing. Barnes & Noble keeps saying it ships in 1-2 weeks, but who knows. Hardly the "essentials" without the silents, but valuable anyway if what's there looks better than the big UK set.

[Max von Mayerling]

I have it. Believe it or not, aside from seeing Way Out West on TCM recently, I'd never seen any of these films prior to buying the set. So I can't really compare the transfers to anything else - but they strike me as solid. I've definitely been enjoying it. Only complaints so far are the packaging - glue in the sleeves stuck to a couple of my discs - but I haven't noticed any playback issues yet. And then the theme music repeats mercilessly over the menus, which is a little hard to take. But those are just quibbles. I have no regrets about picking this up.

[matrixschmatrix]

How are the commentaries?

[Max von Mayerling]

I must confess that I have not listened to any yet. But if it would be helpful, I'd be happy to give a couple a spin and report back.

I'm impressed by the inclusion of the Spanish and French versions (although again, I have yet to watch any of them). The notes in the book, while brief, strike me as pretty informative (but that's coming from someone who knows ZERO about Laurel and Hardy) (I feel somewhat ashamed to admit I had never seen any of this stuff - I think they just never showed these things on the Detroit-area television stations when I was growing up in the 70s).

[matrixschmatrix]

I would love to hear if the commentaries are any good, if you're up for giving them a listen.