Search - The Flying Deuces on DVD

...................WHAT Restoration?

John Field | San Diego | 08/06/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When I see the word RESTORED, I think WOW! This will be the best ever!!!!!In this case....WRONG. This is simply an improvement over previous releases but not a major improvement. The bar has been set so high on previous classic film restorations, some examples of which are SINGIN IN THE RAIN, ROBIN HOOD and the CHAPLIN COLLECTIONS, that we expect an image that looks like it was filmed yesterday. The film opens with the Astor pictures re-release titles, not the original R.K.O. titles. Strike one. In fact the titles look like they were from a 16mm dupe, not the 35mm Nitrate print that they boast of. There are wear lines that could have been removed by simple digital cleanup. Strike two. Notice that THE END appears and the screen goes black but the music continues. That is because instead of black there should be the cast listed. Strike Three. While I complain, the extras are nothing special either. THE STOLEN JOOLS is an o.k. transfer. It looks much better on one of the LAUREL AND HARDY THE LOST EPISODES dvd. THIS IS YOUR LIFE is from a kinescope dupe. TREE IN A TEST TUBE.dupe. Laurel and Hardy on tour in the 30's just o.k. visuals but not even a music score! *sigh* The real crime of all of this? The original negative to FLYING DEUCES is in the possession of TURNER/Warner Bros. C'mon guys put this out in pristine form!"

Another unwatchable Madacy video

S. M. Struhl | Wilmette, IL United States | 04/13/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second video with the "Madacy" label that posed extreme viewing and quality problems. The print itself is only fair, but the video stopped functioning at several points and needed to be advanced manually. The synchronization of lip movement and sound was constantly poor. Needless to say, our young Laurel and Hardy fan was extremely disappointed.It is a shame that a company like Madacy, which seems to have so little regard for video quality or the quality of their product, is putting out movies on DVD."

EXCELLENT KINO VERSION

Robert C. Graham | OGMORE BY SEA, VALE OF GLAMORGAN United Kingdom | 04/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a superb version of the delightful Flying Deuces. Transferred from a nitrate 35 mm negative recently discovered in France and restored by Lobster Films, Paris who also worked on the great `Lost Films` series.

The sound has also been digitally cleaned and restored.

As usual a Kino Distribution is a hallmark of a quality release in itself and there is a wonderful goodie bag of extras including the `Tree in a Testube` colour educational short (shot on 16mm), 16mm footage of the boys` trip to the UK in 1932, `This is your life`(1955) and the fantastic charity short `Stolen Jools` with Buster Keaton, Edward G, Gary Cooper and many stars.

Overall: Excellent quality dvd transfer with an exciting tray of extras. Superb value for money and the only version of this quality available anywhere in the world (apart from France - but that is the same version) 100% recommendation for Laurel and Hardy fans!!

Incidentally, for once, this is one that is not available here in the UK in a better version. So to coin a long lost short it is "Hats Off" to KINO and LOBSTER.

"

This is THE only "Flying Deuces" to own!

Robert Badgley | London,Ontario,Canada | 02/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Flying Dueces" has always gotten a bit of a short shrift over the years from critics and fans alike but I have always thought it deserved better praise than it has gotten.
And finally KINO has released the best print of this movie I think I've ever seen to date.The French company Lobster films from whose archives this release comes from (and many other titles from Kino;check out their 'Slapstick Emporium' series!) obtained a very good 35mm negative in Europe and through some remastering in picture and sound have released this picture as close to its' original look as I think any of us has seen since its' debut in /39.The sound is improved and the contrast has been totally restored.It is not the washed out thing we've been used to seeing ad nauseum on release after wretched release on video and DVD here in North America.
Also included with this is a couple of short reels of their English /32 trip,the "This is Your Life" show from /54,The "Stolen Jools" from /31 and "Tree in a Test Tube" from /45.All this material is from better than average to good prints.I thought they could have done alot more with them considering the technology now but they are at least better than I have seen any of them previously.
Also included is a brief statement about "Flying Deuces" from the president and co-founder of Lobster films.And the original French trailer and various pictures of the North American and European posters for it.
In conclusion I recommend this DVD very highly.It has alot of extras but the main attraction hands down is the print itself.A revelation."