Search - Old Time Comedy Classics, Volume 5 on DVD

Larry, Babe, three Billys, Vernon and Victor

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 08/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The fifth offering in TELEVISTA's OLD TIME COMEDY CLASSICS contains shorts featuring such comedy specialists as Mr.'s Hardy, Gilbert, West, Bevan, Dent and Semon. To date, there are 12 total volumes of this series in print or envisioned by the manufacturer, whose data indicates these 2-reel comedies are all "lovingly restored."

OLD TIME COMEDY CLASSICS Vol. 5 TRIVIA:

THE BELL HOP-- Larry Semon co-wrote, co-directed and starred in this tale of a bumbling bell hop who helps recover stolen government papers, thus foiling a spy ring. With Babe Hardy as the desk clerk. In 1929, Bill Hauber (the detective here) was killed while performing an airplane stunt. Frank 'Fatty' Anderson was a member of the Ton of Fun comedy group.

DANGER AHEAD-- A "Hairbreadth Harry" comedy. Harry hides Belinda's cash to keep Unscrupulous Rudolph and his gang from getting it. Produced by Chaplin-clone Billy West. Earl McCarthy (Harry) was also known as Earl Mack. Max Asher starred (as Mike) in fifteen "Mike & Jake" shorts, in 1913-14.

FLIRTY FOUR-FLUSHERS-- Keystone two-reeler about a waitress trying to land a rich husband. Directed by Eddie Cline, who did the same for W.C. Fields' THE BANK DICK (1940). Sennett favorite Billy Bevan was born in Australia. Vernon Dent appeared as a comedy foil in several 3 Stooges films.

HIS DAY OUT-- Also known as "The Barber." Co-writer (along with Billy West) Bud Ross appears here as The Father. Scenes from this short were used in Robert Youngson's compilation, "The Further Perils of Laurel & Hardy."

THE WRONG MR. FOX-- Two men named "Fox," one a reverend, the other an out-of-work actor, get mistaken for each other. Written by and starring Victor Moore. He was a vaudevillian, appeared in 21 Broadway shows, and even has a NYC bus terminal named for him.


TELEVISTA's OLD TIME COMEDY CLASSICS, Vol. 6 features these rarities: "Away We Go," "Choose Your Weapons," "Grandma's Child" and Skylarking."


Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.

(6.1) The Bell Hop (1921) - Larry Semon/Oliver Hardy/Frank Alexander/Al Thompson/Pete Gordon/Norma Nichols/William Hauber

(6.2) Danger Ahead (1926) - Earl McCarthy/Charlotte Merriam/Jack Cooper/Max Asher

(???) Flirty Four-Flushers (1926) - Madeline Hurlock/Billy Bevan/Vernon Dent/Stanley Blystone/Billy Gilbert

(6.3) His Day Out (1918) - Billy West/Leatrice Joy/Oliver Hardy/Leo White/Joe Bordeaux/Bud Ross

(6.2) The Wrong Mr. Fox (1917) - Victor Moore"