Search - Days of Thrills & Laughter on DVD

Third and best

T. Barthel | upstate new york | 01/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the third and best of the revivals of silent comedy. Appearing original more than 30 years after talkies began, the All movie guide says "This is one in a series of entertaining cinematic compilations by Robert Youngson that reviews aspects of the history of film (The Golden Age of Comedy and When Comedy Was King directly preceded this release). As in its predecessors, this compilation looks back on the more distant past. Renowned comics like Charlie Chaplin, Mack Sennet and the Keystone Kops, Fatty Arbuckle, Stan Laurel, and others are featured in some of the best moments in their filmic careers. As for the thrillers, those times when the heroine was tied to the train tracks or the hero's car balanced on the edge of a cliff, they are as hilarious in retrospect as the comedies were to that generation.""

"Third Installment ... Days of Thrills & Laughter ... VCI En

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/28/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VCI Entertainment and 20th Century Fox presents ~ "DAYS OF THRILLS & LAUGHTER" (Dolby digitally remastered) -- Once upon a time before "Talkies", there were silent films filled with laughter, thrills and just some good old wholesome entertainment --- This is the third and best of the revivals of silent comedy a feature-length compilation of excerpts from silent comedies and melodramas, written and produced by Robert Youngson --- it is one of the most unexpectedly good basic catalog reissues of the year --- There is an appropriately humorous but affectionate background score by Jack Shaindlin and a commentary by Jay Jackson at the Sixty-eighth Street Playhouse at Third Avenue --- Featured players include Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Harry Houdini Pearl White, Harry Langdon, Ben Turpin, Charlie Chase, Snub Pollard, Mack Sennett, Fatty Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterlng, Boris Karloff, Warner Oland, Ruth Roland, Monty Banks, Al St. John, Cameo the Wonder Dog, the Keystone Kops and the Sennett Bathing Beauties.

Mr. Youngson has included segments by Douglas Fairbanks with some unbelievable stunts by Fairbank's himself in "Wild and Woolly" and some mad material from the likes of such serial experts as Pearl White in "The Perils of Pauline", Ruth Roland, Warner Oland, Boris Karloff --- and the believe it or not, Harry Houdini, rescuing a somewhat foggy damsel from taking the distressing drop over Niagara Falls some outstanding footage to behold --- Check out the Sennett-Chaplin chapters of film history of more than forty years ago and another look at Chaplin skittering around corners fleeing from prison guards in "The Adventurer" or blithely exposing his comic genius as the drank in "The Cure" will make for a greater appreciation of his authentically stupendous talent, that will never pass this way again.

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. THE BATH CHAIR MAN
2. THE KEYSTONES
3. THE CURE - CHARLIE CHAPLIN
4. WILD & WOOLEY
5. COMEDY'S GOLDEN TWENTIES
6. "KILL OR CURE" - STAN LAUREL
7. WOODHEAD - BEN TURPIN
8. HARRY LANGDON
9. COMING OUT PARTY
10. "EL PRESIDENTE" - SNUB POLLARD
11. THE THRILLERS
12. THRILLS & LAUGHTER
13.THREE FOR THE ROAD

Each clip carefully selected for this one of a kind release some great footage has been preserved by default, often looking remarkably clean, clear and even sharp.--- Every fan of the silent film era should view this collection --- The silent stars from yesteryear are still in our minds and hearts --- it makes for a journey worth retaking and proves just how enduring some of the films made really were worth viewing over and over again --- Must point out there are no bonus features or extras.

Total Time: 93 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment #8561 ~ (6/29/2010)"