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The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
The Lost Films of Laurel Hardy The Complete Collection Vol 1
Actors: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Lillian Rich, Tyler Brooke, Bull Montana
Directors: Clyde Bruckman, Frank Terry, Fred Guiol, James Parrott, James W. Horne
Genres: Classics, Comedy, Kids & Family
NR     1998     2hr 4min

Mastered from the original 35mm material, this first volume of lost films from the great comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy includes all silent shorts: "Big Business" (1929, 21 min.), "Do Detectives Think?" (1927,...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actors: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Lillian Rich, Tyler Brooke, Bull Montana
Directors: Clyde Bruckman, Frank Terry, Fred Guiol, James Parrott, James W. Horne
Creators: H.M. Walker, Hal Roach
Genres: Classics, Comedy, Kids & Family
Sub-Genres: Silent Films, Comedy, Classics, Family Films
Studio: Image Entertainment
Format: DVD - Black and White
DVD Release Date: 12/15/1998
Original Release Date: 10/15/1927
Theatrical Release Date: 10/15/1927
Release Year: 1998
Run Time: 2hr 4min
Screens: Black and White
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 8
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English
Subtitles: English

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Member Movie Reviews

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 9/24/2023...
Classic Black and White Laurel & Hardy. Great if you are a fan of them!

Movie Reviews

A marvellous treat and a surprise for those who are under 40
George Grellas | Cupertino, CA USA | 06/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Laurel and Hardy were giants of the cinema in their day not only because of their immense talent but also because of the more leisurely paced times of the late 1920s and the 1930s. People in small towns could scarcely wait for the next L&H film short, much as a child can't wait for his favorite uncle to pay him a day visit and then utterly delight in the magic of the time spent with that uncle. These L&H films capture that sense of delight perfectly, because they have brought back the best available prints in DVD format of the whole range of 15-20 minute shorts that so captured the nation's fancy on a mass scale 70 years ago. Do not be misled by the unfortunate title of "lost films" -- this is not a knock-off series (it is planned as an omnium gatherum of their films); nor is it "small town" in the sense of being simpleton comedy; nor is it mere nostalgia (though it is a great throw-back to the past); nor is it a poor-quality series such as the many L&H offerings that have plagued the VHS market. This is from the source (Hal Roach Studios), and it truly does bring back great films that, by their nature as short silents, could not easily have been separately marketed and have not therefore been otherwise accessible now for decades. While these films are silent, you will discover by them just how visual artistry alone has the power to delight. Masterpieces are included (such as "Big Business"), but the whole grouping is also a delight: it is wholesome, it is clean, and it is funny, often hilariously so. I can watch these movies any time and never tire of the subtly recurring themes, the "slow burns," the tit-for-tat exchanges, and, above all, the larger-than-life characters projected by L&H that do not simply please for the moment, in a given place or culture, but rather transcend all bounds to tell all of us -- young, old, or in between, of any era and in any culture -- something about what we are as people. For the over-stimulated times in which we live, these films are most welcomed."
The beginning of a wonderful series of DVDs
Mark Bowen | 03/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volume 1 in what is planned to be a 10 volume series of the early Laurel & Hardy films, most of which have been either unavailable on commercial video for years or have never been available before - that alone is reason to rejoice and praise the DVD format. What you get on this initial volume are four L&H originals (one featuring Max Davidson - "The Call of the Cuckoo" - where L&H are in more of a supportive role) as well as two super rare pre-L&H Stan Laurel shorts. Having these "bonus" films from before the advent of Stan and Ollie is almost more than a fan could ask for! I'm shocked to see actual reviews of this series here on Amazon actually COMPLAIN (! ) about them being silent or missing frames or not up to the film quality of "The Matrix" - these folks are simply missing the point and denying themselves the rare beauty and enjoyment of these truly maverick film-makers. Hal Roach Studios in tandem with Image Entertainment (and Richard Feiner and the Nostalgia Company) have done a splendid job on this series - restoring these titles from the original 35mm material and in the case of "Big Business", from the original nitrate camera negative. In addition to the lovingly remastered films, you get some excellent DVD packaging as well. The case features a fold-out section with the original movie posters for the three team films ("Call of the Cuckoo"'s poster is missing and replaced with a couple of stills) as well as detailed source information and full descriptive notes on all six films. I would NEVER say that if you consider yourself a casual Laurel & Hardy fan, that these DVDs are for collectors only - because just about every second of film with the boys should be essential viewing. Fans who are "more than casual" obviously need no review to tell them they need these discs. However, for those who are merely interested in Laurel & Hardy, there really can't be a more wonderful introduction as these films are presented in as close to original form as possible, and it's the magic of Laurel and Hardy's screen presence that will infect your life with sincere joy and laughter."
Wish I could give it more stars
W. Barrett | Saginaw, MI United States | 01/22/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you aren't familiar with the silent films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, this is the best place to start. The first film on the DVD is worth the price alone, "Big Business" from 1929 (shot December 1928, released April 20, 1929) is probably THE FUNNIEST FILM EVER MADE...the boys are door-to-door Christmas tree salesmen (not in July) who should never have rang James Finlayson's doorbell. Other highlights include "Do Detectives Think?" (1927) in which the boys wear their trademark outfits for the first time...the real treat is Fin's reactions to killer Noah Young. "Call Of The Cuckoo" (1927) is a fairly odd piece with Max Davidson trying to sell his house to get away from his neighbors (Laurel, Hardy, Finlayson, and Charley Chase)...Spec O'Donnell is the real stand-out in this film as Davidson's dim-witted son. "The Finishing Touch" (1928) is classic Laurel & Hardy, the boys as carpenters has never been better...also starring the great Edgar Kennedy. Also included on this DVD are two Stan Laurel solo shorts, "On The Front Page" (1926) very amusing. and "Hustling For Health" (1918) one of Stan Laurel's earliest films.
The restoration for these films is amazing, all-in-all, this is a wonderful collection...don't just stop at volume one, all ten volumes are worth picking up."