Reviews (1)

Remember Spanky doing "Friends, romans, countrymen..."?
Volume 1 in the Little Rascals collection features four of the Our Gang comedies from the Hal Roach-MGM years, at least one of which is a certified classic while the rest are at least well above-average. Leonard Maltin introduces the two-reelers, although I am not exactly sure why. It is not like the Rascals are performing Shakespeare (just a speech from one play).

Actually the central character in "Fly My Kite" (1931) is Grandma (Mrs. Margaret Mann), who reads the gang pulp stories, gives them friendly advice, and even puts on the boxing gloves to spar with them. But her son-in-law Dan (James Mason; no, not that one) wants to send the old lady to the County Home so he can move into her house with his new bride. But then it turns out Grandma has some gold bonds now worth $100,000. Dan wants to steal the bonds but Grandma has tied them to the tail of Chubby's kite. This one features Farina, Chubby, Mary Ann, Stymie, Wheezer, and Pete the Pup, as well as some fun stunt work by Grandma's double.

In "Honky Donkey" (1934) Wally's mom sends him home with chauffeur Don Barclay, but the lad wants to meet with his friends at a vacant lot, where they have made a merry-go-round powered by Algebra the mule. Chased from the lot the Barclay drives the gang (and their mule) to the mansion where Algebra engages in predictably but hysterical destructive behavior. It seems Algebra will only move if you sneeze, at which point he chases the offender, and only tops if he hears a bell ringing (Remember, this is supposed to make sense to KIDS). One of the nice touches by director Gus Meins is how he uses Spanky and Scotty to react to the antics of Barclay and the mule. This one also features Stymie, Tommy and Buckwheat.

"Beginner's Luck" (1935) is the classic two-reeler where Spanky is entered in a local amateur contest where he will recite Mark Antony's funeral oration from "Julius Caesar." Of course, Spanky knows "all actors are sissies," and gets the gang to promise to heckle him big time. But then he meets Daisy Dimple (Marianne Edwards), who wants to win so she can buy a new dress. When she gets stage fright Spanky decides to win so he can give her the money. This sets the stage for one of the great scenes in "Our Gang" history, as Spanky has to put up with the verbal and spitball assault from his friends and the frantic attempts by his mom to get her little darling off the stage.

A fitting companion piece to that classic is "Reunion in Rhythm" (1937), where the gang stages a musical show for the Adams Street Grammar School class reunion. The entertainment consists of Darla singing "Baby Face" to Porky, Spanky leading a chorus line singing "Broadway Rhythm," Alfalfa singing "I'm Through with Love" after failing to impress Georgia, and Buckwheat trying in vain to recite "Little Jack Horner." There is some introductory footage of an actual Our Gang reunion, which is rather awkward; but we do get to see "Stymie" with hair.

This is a solid first volume and if the idea here is to parcel our one classic along with several above-average Little Rascal comedies, that is certainly going to work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jackie has a big crush on the new teacher, Miss Crabtree
Volume 3 in the "Little Rascals" collection is quite different from the first two because the first three episodes focus on Jackie Cooper's infatuation with his new teacher, Miss Crabtree. "Teachers's Pet" (1930) finds the gang upset on the first day of school that their beloved Miss McGillicuddy has been replaced by a new teacher which the horrible name of Miss Crabtree. Of course she is a beautiful young blonde (June Marlowe) who happens to pick up Jack and Wheezer on the way to school. They proudly reveal some of the stunts they have for their new teacher: sneezing powder, red ants and a mouse. Fortunately, Miss Crabtree is not only good looking, she is pretty smart too. "Teachers' Pet" is a different type of "Our Gang" comedy, in that there it relies on the story rather than gadgets and action. This one has Jackie, Farina, Chubby, Wheezer, Echo, and Hercules. A fitting companion piece, "School's Out" (1930) is the next "Our Gang" comedy made but now it is the end of the school year and Jackie is passing around a "partition" for school to stay open all summer. Seems he likes Miss Crabtree a lot, which is why Jackie's crush makes him chase off the stranger who is asking after her. Jackie is not going to let this team get married and run away (but it is only her brother). There is a nice bit here involving a Miss Crabtree trying to give the kids a quiz. jackie, Farina, Chubby and Mary Ann have most of the action in this one.

Jackie's love for Miss Crabtree continues to get the better of him in "Love Business" (1931). But now he has some serious competition. Miss Crabtree is now a border at Jackie's house and when Chubby shows up to propose marriage the insanely jealous Jackie sabotages his friends every romantic effort (Chubby had been practicing on a cutout of Greta Garbo). What is interesting here is that Miss Crabtree plays along, actually kissing him when he tells she is pretty; I sure do not remember my teachers being like this. But the fun here is between the romantic rivals, Jackie and Chubby.

The final episode, "Spooky Hooky" (1936) offers up an entirely different set of Little Rascals: Buckwheat, Porky, Spanky, Alfalfa, and Von the Dog. However, school is still the common denominator, because the circus is coming to town and Spanky has a plan to get them out of class. Irony abounds, not only in that the plan almost backfires big time, but in that fiction comes true in the end. This is only a one-reeler from Roach Studios and the gang's teacher, Miss Jones (Rosina Lawrence) is not as cute as Miss Crabtree, but it does teach the lesson that honesty is the best policy. So, overall, Volume 3 is another first rate collection of Little Rascal comedies, even if they do try to convince young kids that school is an okay place to be during the day. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Hilarious DESTRUCTION silent Classic.
"Two Tars" was released in 1928. Stan and Ollie are under the direction of James Parrott. Its a silent two-reeler short, lasting about 20 minutes. Featured players include Thelma Hill, Ruby Blaine, Edgar Kennedy, Charlie Hall, Edgar Dearing, Thomas Benton Roberts.

Stan and Ollie plays a couple of sailors who are on leave, and they pick up a couple of girls, and they all go driving for the afternoon in the country. They end up caught in a really huge traffic jam, and the people start to lose their patience. They end up completely wrecking every automobile that's in site. Its a great opportunity for some of the funniest moments caught on film.

This is one of my favourite of the silent shorts from Laurel and Hardy. I love the destruction scene, it is unmissable. Just think about the destruction scene in "Big Business", and then watch this, and see the amounts of vehicles that are destroyed. And then theres an amusing part right at the end in a train tunnel. Maybe you can guess what happens there. Highly recommended.

Not an owner of this video edition, so I cannot comment on it. This short is available on a few different DVD editions. In the UK, it is part of a 21 disc box set of Laurel and Hardy movies, that is nearly a complete set of all of their films. Nearly. Other than that, I believe it is included on one of the volumes on the US DVD releases of "Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy". Take your pick.

Pure silly slapstick -- an acquired taste
The 3 star rating is mostly out of respect for Laurel and Hardy as pioneers of the medium, not to mention their multiple talents and charm such as I have rarely seen on the silver screen. But this item is purely a matter of taste. If yours runs to silent slapstick, this is as good a purchase as any. Otherwise, try the Laurel and Hardy talkies such as "Flying Deuces", or the Chaplin or Mae West movies.

Delicious, delerious ROAD RAGE comedy: L&H at their BEST!
Two Tars is a treasure chest of laughs. This 1928 silent comedy appears to be one of Laurel and Hardy's turning points -- and it is probably the earliest film dealing with ROAD RAGE.

In the "Battle of the Century" L&H revolutionized the silent comedy pie fight by slowing down the victims' reactions -- showing shock, THEN anger, then their reaction (feeling victimized, then throwing a pie rather than just being angry). In Two Tars "the boys" slowed down their famous comedy of mutual destruction. The result: the viewer laughs more than ever.

I absolutely LOVED this movie. It's one I had read about but never seen anytime in my life -- not on television, or theater revivals. It's a perfect film for those just starting out to watch L&H AND for their longtime fans.

The plot is barebones basic. Stan and Ollie are a couple of sailors on leave. They meet and pick up a couple of ladies. And, after some problems with a gum machine, they take off with their new friends and get stuck in a traffic jam. There are minor fender benders...and the fun is watching what happens as a result.

Some things about this movie, and why you should buy this video. I was struck by:

--The amazing timing. Each gag works because of when a reaction takes place. It is flawless.
--A young Stan and Ollie. There's a youthful energy about this 20 minute short. Ollie, for instance, is not as heavy as in later years. They're the same characters, but there is a difference.
--An edgier Laurel and Hardy. They are less sympathetic than in later films. Here, they are more instigators than child-like victims.
--Priceless sight gags. Without giving it away, let's just say the studio took a lot of time building props.
--Two for the price of one. This short is really two shorts. The first part involves the boys meeting two ladies and a gum machine. The second is early Culver City "road rage" on a sunny day. Both parts work seamlessly.
--Great supporting cast. Two Tars features the wonderful Charlie Hall (who was in the ultimate L&H destruction comedy shorts Them Thar Hills and Tit for Tat) and "slow burn" foil Edgar Kennedy.
--Oliver Hardy's facial expressions. Watch this once for the fun of it, and a second time to see a comic master at work.

The video's only drawback is the pedestrian musical soundtrack. It works best at the end but is like the kind of bland music in early Hanna Barbera t.v. cartoons, stock background music pulled out of a royalty-free file. It doesn't ruin the comedy, but you can put together a better soundtrack with old CDs (Hal Roach film music, old jazz, honkey tonk piano). Print quality is superb. A MUST for any comedy lover.

Fabulous
This is one of the demolition classics. I laughed uproariously at it the first time I saw it, and it has held up to repeated viewings. Ollie and Stan are much more amoral than they are in their later films, so the humor is partly fueled by surprise as they provoke other hapless drivers. But the timing of the gags is excellent, the comedy clicks on all levels. The film is somewhat similar to Big Business, another demolition classic, though more anarchic and sprawling.

Laurel & Hardy in a Classic Comedy Traffic Jam
In "Two Tars," Laurel & Hardy are a couple of sailors on leave who rent a car and pick up a couple of girls for a pleasant ride in the country in one of the absolute best silent comedies by the delightful duo. After an initial encounter with drug store owner Charles Hall as a prelude, the boys and girls head off for a relaxing day only to end up in a massive traffic jam because of roadwork. With tempers already frayed, Stan and Ollie precipitate a riot amongst the motorists in general and Edgar Kennedy in particular before being chased into a train tunnel. Originally three reels and called "Two Tough Tars," this comedy was pared down to two reels and became this comedy classic. This film was directed by James Parrott while the camera was operated by George Stevens, who went on to direct "The Greatest Story Ever Told" among other films. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I hope you laugh as much as I do
The simple ideas are the best, that's what they say. So two men trying to deliver a piano works out to be one of the funniest films. But it isn't any two men. You could give the same script and direction to some very talented people - say John Candy and Steve Martin, and it wouldn't work. This is for me because of the precise balance that Laurel and Hardy achieved in their partnership. Years of experience, knowing each other socially and working together gave them a marvellous instinct for timing and repartee when together on screen. Credit too must be given to James Parrot whose direction and (presumably) supervision of the editing makes for a polished production. It may only be short, but it's twenty of the best minutes of screen comedy. The coloured version is a little odd-looking, but it's not badly done and might help Laurel & Hardy find a new audience among the monochromophobes!

Real Comedy in Two Reels
It is astonishing that there is no review yet (2-18-99). This Oscar winning two-reel short has Stan and Ollie as delivery drivers setting up a player piano. The pratfalls and gags have never been equalled. Billy Gilbert is great as the professor who isn't very enthusiastic about his musical birthday gift. It is high art watching the timing of two of the greatest comedians of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Perfect Day=The Perfect Comedy short!!
"Goodbye! Goodbye!"
Those words will NEVER sound the same to you after you watch The Perfect Day, a perfect 1929 Laurel & Hardy short.
In comedy terms, these words actually make show biz history, or sorts: they reflect one of the first-ever sound cinema uses of a highly effective comedy technique called the "callback."
Modern day funnyman David Letterman is today's master of this technique: he will often repeat a key phrase that got a laugh through his show, often with irony.

In this wonderful Laurel and Hardy flick -- one of their BEST and one seldom shown on t.v. (but then, you hardly see ANY of their classic fresh-as-ever comedy shorts on t.v. these days -- who is sitting on those film rights???????!) -- the "perfect day" truly ain't: "the boys" simply want to go on a picnic with their wives on sunny, perfect day. But there are, ahem, complications......
Here are several reasons why this is the PERFECT short to get (if it ever comes back on the market or if you can get a used copy):

1. Timing: Every gag, every glance is perfectly timed. Students of comedy should watch and rewatch this short. Timing really is how many seconds between a look, move or
"take" are needed to generate the PERFECT comedy reaction from viewers.

2. The (in)famous Edgar Kennedy method acting blooper. L&H books note that slow burn master Kennedy says an "expletive" -- and he most definitely does. You can hear it in the section where he, L&H and their wives high-tail it out of the car. Listen closely (this early "method acting" is worth the price of this tape!"

3. Use of the callback phrase. "GOOD BYE!" Watch how it's used and when...sheer genius.

4. LA in the late 20s. The colorized version enhanced this short and turned it into a trip in a time machine.

5. The music sound track added in the late 30s. It enhances the film.

It is a huge tragedy that the work of these two comedians -- which inspired so many comedians of so many generations -- is now almost impossible to buy and difficult to find and view. Whoever is sitting on these rights is doing an enormous disservice to not only and L&H fans, but to the shape of future comedy, which will be determined by what younger viewers see and what influences them. It's hard to be influenced by work that is
not available on t.v. or on video.

These shorts are as fresh as the day they were made -- and the Perfect Day is the perfect example.

Very funny L & H short
Stan and Ollie are going on a family picnic. Of course, they never GET there, what with packing the lunch at the film's beginning and having car problems for the rest of the movie. A very funny 20 minutes, with the boys constantly getting in each other's way. This is one of Laurel & Hardy's first sound films (1929), and the dialogue is enjoyably casual (listen for Edgar Kennedy's uncensored expletive late in the film!). The excellent music track was added in 1936. The video version is colorized, and the added tints look great.

CLASSIC LAUREL AND HARDY
THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST LAUREL AND HARDY SHORTS OF ALL TIME. IT STARTS OUT WITH THE INTENTION OF L AND H AND THE WIVES GOING OUT ON A PICNIC WITH UNCLE EDGAR, WHO HAS THE GOUT. THEY GET A FLAT TIRE, A SPAT WITH A NEIGHBOR, BRICKS THROWN THROUGH WINDOWS, AND FINALLY A MODEL T SINKING IN THE MUD BEFORE THEY EVER GET TO THE PICNIC! I RATE THIS 5 STARS! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Prisoners again.....
"The Hoose-Gow" is another early talkie from Laurel and Hardy, released in 1929, and another with director James Parrott. Featured players include Tiny Sandford, James Finlayson, Dick Sutherland and Ellinor Vanderveer. A two-reeler lasting 20 minutes.

Stan and Ollie are newly arrived prisoners in a labor camp. They have a guy who has set up an escape plan for them, of which all they have to do is throw an apple over the wall, and two guys will chuck a ladder over for them (not a wooden ladder). This doesnt go to plan, when a guard sees them with these apples, and keeps taking the away from them. The guard chucks them over the wall, and over comes this flexible ladder, and thats the end of that plan. The guard runs out, beyond the wall, to see whos doing it, and Stan and Ollie make a quick, but unsuccesful getaway. They get pulled back in. After a bit of hard work, the prisoners go for lunch. Stan and Ollie, being new, get directed to a table, a guards table, by one of the other prisoners. Ruining the lunch, the guard comes back and, you know. They then go to the cook, and make a deal. If they get wood, the cook gives them food. They start cutting down a tree, and, not knowing its a watchtower with a guard in it, falls to the ground, right on top of the tent. Governor Finlayson happens to come by with some girls) to take a look at the camp. The boys accidentally shove a pick axe right into the front of his car, and try to fix the leak in the car radiator, by filling it with rice. When the governor comes back, and starts up his car, the rice comes flying out of it, and it ends in a nice little rice throwing fight.

This is a good early talkie from Stan and Ollie, but it includes many routines that have either been done before, or are to be done in later films, better. But overall, I think this is a must see for fans of the great comedy duo, and its certainly worthwile to own a copy of. Its one I can recommend.

Not seen this video edition, but it can be found on a few DVD editions, like the great 21 disc boxset in the UK (Region 2) of a near complete Stan and Ollie collection from Universal on DVD. I would think there are other DVDs out there in the US which have this short on it, otherwise, get this video if you cant play Region 2, or if it just is not available on DVD in US.

Hilarious L&H short that clearly inspired The Three Stooges!
Three Stooges fans (and I admit I am one) take note: this wonderful, beautifully colorized Laurel and Hardy short is CLEARLY the inspiration for some of that team's most (in)famous pie fights. You can actually see how the Stooges duplicated some of these individual shots, right down to the timing.

The big difference here: this highly slapstick 1929 L&H "talkie" short features a rice fight -- instead of a pie fight.

So this slapstick extravganza (those that prefer the L&H movies that are more like situation comedies might not appreciate the zany GENIUS in this short) should please older L&H fans, newer L&H fans -- plus any authentic Stooges fanatic of any age. It really moves (it's one of their shorter shorts) and the laughs are big ones. It truly is one of the teams funniest shorts and is an ABSOLUTE MUST for fans of the team (plus this colorized version is truly wonderful).

The plot? In a nutshell: the "boys" wind up on in a prison work-camp and their bungling expands from there. Oliver Hardy is at his comedic best in this flick, with his weary glances to the camera. Hilarity revolves around seemingly innocent items such as a tree and...of course...rice.

According to one book, this short's script was only a four page outline. Much of the dialogue as well as the sight gags were ad-libbed. This is such an early talkie that it opens with the 20s hit "That's My Weakness Now" instead of the L&H theme. Another tidbit: in this short Stan is dangerous with a pickax...and according to one account Hardy's painful cry was 100 percent REAL (he carried a scar to prove it).

The good news is that this arrived with a Hallmark label, versus Cabin Fever, suggesting that the version I quickly received from Amazon was a re-issue by Hallmark, which bought out Cabin Fever. So maybe "the boys" work will still be available in these tastefully colorized versions as we move more into the 21st century. L&H have influenced generations of comedians and it'd be a pity their influence needlessly wanes.

More good news: I watched this with [my kids]. Both roared with laughter and insisted on seeing MORE L&H so we watched several hours of this team's immortal, unmatched work.

L&H at their early best....and remember, Stooges fans, this one is of special interest to YOU!!!!!

Stan & Ollie on a prison road gang throwing rice around...
In this 1929 two-reeler directed by James Parrott for Hal Roach-MGM, Laurel & Hardy are newly arrived convicts who are simply trying to survive behind bars. After an attempted escape the boys are sent to work on a road gang. The two main gags in "The Hoose-Gow" are when Laurel is told to cut down a tree for firewood and chops down the guard tower by mistake and when the boys accidentally make a whole in the radiator of the prison inspectors car which they then cover up by stuffing rice into the radiator. James Finlayson and Tiny Sanford are back as the comic foils for the boys. Unless you consider an all-out fight involving rice rather than pies to be particularly innovative, there is really nothing new in "The Hoose-Gow" and it ranks as a below average short by Laurel & Hardey.

Early L & H talkie is a funny prison-camp short
Stan and Ollie's misadventures in a prison camp make for an amusing 20 minutes, with a raucous rice-throwing finale. This was one of the team's earliest talkies, so the cast members are ad-libbing dialogue as they go along (a charming touch for fans). The added colorization is very well done. ... Read more

Description

Ollie and his spouse are enjoying a bit of togetherness when their least favorite visitor, Stan, shows up and innocently starts destroying the house. Hardy's wife kicks the boys out and they hook up with a pair of golfing cuties to make the required foursome at the local course. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Actually, Hardy gets Laurel into this particular fine mess
"Another Fine Mess" is not just something Hardy is always accusing Laurel of having gotten them into, it is the title of a 1930 three-reeler directed by James Parrott starring the screen's greatest comedy team. James Finlayson is a wealthy big-game hunter, Colonel Wilburforce Buckshot, who is off for the wilds again, leaving his staff to rent out his mansion. Laurel & Hardy are fleeing from the police and hide out in the mansion. When Lord Leopold Ambrose Plumtree (Charles K. Gerrard) and his young American bride (Thelma Todd) show up as the renters, Oliver pretends to be the owner while Stanley gets to be both the butler and the maid. "Another Fine Mess" relies less on slapstick and more on situational humor: Hardy does not know his way around the house and Laurel does not always manage to make complete costume changes as he switches back and forth between being the butler and the maid. The best bit is when Laurel "the maid" engages Lady Plumtree in some girl talk, which is pretty risque for 1930. Besides, any comedy that ends with a goat riding a bicycle has got to be good.

Fine Or Nice, It's A Gem
Stan and Ollie, once again marginally homeless during the Depression, somehow land in a vacant mansion. In order to subsist there long enough to evade the Police, they take on the roles of Colonel Buckshot and Agnes The Maid when an aristocratc couple arrive to discuss renting the place.(do I have to reveal who plays what?). The three-reeler contains some of the most brilliant bits ever developped by L & H & Co. I'm undecided about the colorization process here - what I most enjoy is the "depth of field" which it provides.

I have never watched this film before
I will appreciate having a copy of this film from you. I am very much interested in Laurel & Hardy Collections. In fact, it is my best commedy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not what you could call "Great!".
"They Go Boom" is a two-reeler, lasting around 20 minutes in total time length, released in 1929. It's a very early sound short from Laurel and Hardy, only their fifth one. It was directed by James Parrott, and the short co-stars Charlie Hall and Sam Lufkin.

The story is very simple. It's basically as follows: The two are staying in this small apartment. Ollie has a bad cold, and Stan is trying to make him feel better. He tries so many different things, none of them working, and he actually makes Ollie a lot worse. The guy who they are renting the apartment from, has to keep coming in complaining, since other people staying there are becoming annoyed with the noise the two are making. It ends with them blowing up the bed, but they accidently leave the pipe going, and it gets so huge, it bursts and wrecks the whole building.

I think this is an enjoyable short, but they did a number of much better ones. This is entirely in this one small apartment throughout, but they manage to get a lot of jokes in with what small things they have to use. It is an under-rated short, which is worth watching, if you're a fan of the comedy duo.

This, like most of the Laurel and Hardy films, can now be found on numerous DVDs in different countries. If you can play UK (Region 2) DVDs, then you will want to pick up the 21 Disc Box Set of Laurel and Hardy shorts, and features (which is near complete). So I can recommend this short, anyways.

Stan takes care of sick friend Ollie in this early talkie
In this 1929 Hal Roach-MGM two-reeler directed by James Parrott from a story by Leo McCarey, Ollie has a bad head cold and his friend Stan waits on him. Unfortunately, this ends up pretty much destroying their small rented room to the consternation of their landlord Charlie Hall. As with several other of these early Laurel & Hardy talkies, "They Go Boom" relies on a single situation exploited for comic effect because that made it easier for the microphone to pick up the sound. Consequently, this film represents a transitional period for the boys and explains why it is one of their lesser efforts.

Sub Par L & H
"Lost" for over two decades, L & H's fifth talkie offers little to talk about, unless you're a very serious fan/historian. One might expect some fun with Stan playing Male Nurse to Ollie's "patient", but the depressing premise, lame gags, and "claustrophopbic" set are not conducive to the kind of comedy the boys are capable of. I am happy to own this videocassette but I've watched it only a few times. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the Best Early Talkies
"Night Owls", is a hilarious Laurel and Hardy talkie, that was released (like most Laurel and Hardy films) by Hal Roach/MGM. A two-reeler lasting 20 minutes. With Edgar Kennedy and James Finlayson.

Edgar Kennedy plays a police officer, who is not any good at his job, and is going to be fired if he doesnt catch any criminals. He finds Stan and Ollie sleeping on a bench in a public park, and he gives them two choices. They can either go to jail for some time, or they can help him out. He wants them to break into the chief of police's house, and then he will come in and arrest the two (and release them later on). It does not all go to plan.

This one is full of hilarious moments, inparticularly when Stan and Ollie pretend to be cats (Cats who can throw things into peoples bedroom windows, LOL). I love this short, it really is hilarious and a must see for fans of Laurel and Hardy.

I do not own this video edition, but I suspect it is a colourized version. If you like colourized versions, then thats ok, your choice. I personally cant stand them. I would recommend though, if you can play DVDs from the UK (Region 2) to buy the 21 disc box set from Universal. It is almost complete, and includes all of the shorts in there original black and white, and for those other people, you can also view them in colour.

A cop hires Laurel & Hardy to break into his chief's house
At first it just seems like cop Edgar Kennedy will not let Laurel & Hardy sleep on a park bench. But Kennedy has a better idea. It seems there have been a rash of robberies in his neighborhood and his chief is not happy with him. So Kennedy hires the boys to break into his chief's house so he can chase them away. Of course, even fake crime does not pay as all three find out in the end. This 1930 two-reeler directed by James Parrott from a story by Leo McCarey might be twice as funny if it was half as long. The routines, such as breaking into the house, go on for too long. "Night Owls" is okay, but we have seen much better from Laurel & Hardy. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Hilarious DESTRUCTION silent Classic.
"Two Tars" was released in 1928. Stan and Ollie are under the direction of James Parrott. Its a silent two-reeler short, lasting about 20 minutes. Featured players include Thelma Hill, Ruby Blaine, Edgar Kennedy, Charlie Hall, Edgar Dearing, Thomas Benton Roberts.

Stan and Ollie plays a couple of sailors who are on leave, and they pick up a couple of girls, and they all go driving for the afternoon in the country. They end up caught in a really huge traffic jam, and the people start to lose their patience. They end up completely wrecking every automobile that's in site. Its a great opportunity for some of the funniest moments caught on film.

This is one of my favourite of the silent shorts from Laurel and Hardy. I love the destruction scene, it is unmissable. Just think about the destruction scene in "Big Business", and then watch this, and see the amounts of vehicles that are destroyed. And then theres an amusing part right at the end in a train tunnel. Maybe you can guess what happens there. Highly recommended.

Not an owner of this video edition, so I cannot comment on it. This short is available on a few different DVD editions. In the UK, it is part of a 21 disc box set of Laurel and Hardy movies, that is nearly a complete set of all of their films. Nearly. Other than that, I believe it is included on one of the volumes on the US DVD releases of "Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy". Take your pick.

Pure silly slapstick -- an acquired taste
The 3 star rating is mostly out of respect for Laurel and Hardy as pioneers of the medium, not to mention their multiple talents and charm such as I have rarely seen on the silver screen. But this item is purely a matter of taste. If yours runs to silent slapstick, this is as good a purchase as any. Otherwise, try the Laurel and Hardy talkies such as "Flying Deuces", or the Chaplin or Mae West movies.

Delicious, delerious ROAD RAGE comedy: L&H at their BEST!
Two Tars is a treasure chest of laughs. This 1928 silent comedy appears to be one of Laurel and Hardy's turning points -- and it is probably the earliest film dealing with ROAD RAGE.

In the "Battle of the Century" L&H revolutionized the silent comedy pie fight by slowing down the victims' reactions -- showing shock, THEN anger, then their reaction (feeling victimized, then throwing a pie rather than just being angry). In Two Tars "the boys" slowed down their famous comedy of mutual destruction. The result: the viewer laughs more than ever.

I absolutely LOVED this movie. It's one I had read about but never seen anytime in my life -- not on television, or theater revivals. It's a perfect film for those just starting out to watch L&H AND for their longtime fans.

The plot is barebones basic. Stan and Ollie are a couple of sailors on leave. They meet and pick up a couple of ladies. And, after some problems with a gum machine, they take off with their new friends and get stuck in a traffic jam. There are minor fender benders...and the fun is watching what happens as a result.

Some things about this movie, and why you should buy this video. I was struck by:

--The amazing timing. Each gag works because of when a reaction takes place. It is flawless.
--A young Stan and Ollie. There's a youthful energy about this 20 minute short. Ollie, for instance, is not as heavy as in later years. They're the same characters, but there is a difference.
--An edgier Laurel and Hardy. They are less sympathetic than in later films. Here, they are more instigators than child-like victims.
--Priceless sight gags. Without giving it away, let's just say the studio took a lot of time building props.
--Two for the price of one. This short is really two shorts. The first part involves the boys meeting two ladies and a gum machine. The second is early Culver City "road rage" on a sunny day. Both parts work seamlessly.
--Great supporting cast. Two Tars features the wonderful Charlie Hall (who was in the ultimate L&H destruction comedy shorts Them Thar Hills and Tit for Tat) and "slow burn" foil Edgar Kennedy.
--Oliver Hardy's facial expressions. Watch this once for the fun of it, and a second time to see a comic master at work.

The video's only drawback is the pedestrian musical soundtrack. It works best at the end but is like the kind of bland music in early Hanna Barbera t.v. cartoons, stock background music pulled out of a royalty-free file. It doesn't ruin the comedy, but you can put together a better soundtrack with old CDs (Hal Roach film music, old jazz, honkey tonk piano). Print quality is superb. A MUST for any comedy lover.

Fabulous
This is one of the demolition classics. I laughed uproariously at it the first time I saw it, and it has held up to repeated viewings. Ollie and Stan are much more amoral than they are in their later films, so the humor is partly fueled by surprise as they provoke other hapless drivers. But the timing of the gags is excellent, the comedy clicks on all levels. The film is somewhat similar to Big Business, another demolition classic, though more anarchic and sprawling.

Laurel & Hardy in a Classic Comedy Traffic Jam
In "Two Tars," Laurel & Hardy are a couple of sailors on leave who rent a car and pick up a couple of girls for a pleasant ride in the country in one of the absolute best silent comedies by the delightful duo. After an initial encounter with drug store owner Charles Hall as a prelude, the boys and girls head off for a relaxing day only to end up in a massive traffic jam because of roadwork. With tempers already frayed, Stan and Ollie precipitate a riot amongst the motorists in general and Edgar Kennedy in particular before being chased into a train tunnel. Originally three reels and called "Two Tough Tars," this comedy was pared down to two reels and became this comedy classic. This film was directed by James Parrott while the camera was operated by George Stevens, who went on to direct "The Greatest Story Ever Told" among other films. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Laurel & Hardy out on the town (but without their wives)
In "Their Purple Moment," Laurel & Hardy simply want to go out bowling, but their wives never leave them any pocket money. Stan has been sneaking a little cash each week and hiding it in a special hiding place, which, of course, their wives are watching when he explains this to Ollie. After the wives replace the cash with cigar coupons, the boys are sent out on the town. Before they can discover the switch, they hook up with a couple of young ladies who have been stood up by their dates and decide to invite the boys to take their place. Laurel & Hardy take them to a fancy restaurant, leaving the cab with the meter running (ouch). Once the boys discover they have no money, things quickly deteriorate until the climatic soup fight involving the boys, their wives, the waiter, the cabbie and everyone else in sight. This 1928 two-reeler for Hal Roach-MGM was directed by James Parrott and has the additional credit of being "supervised" by Leo McCarey while the cameraman was George Stevens, both of whom would go on to cinematic fame in their own rights. All things considered this is a solid Laurel & Hardy effot, not quite a classic, but certainly presenting the boys in fine form. Besides, how many really great soup fight scenes have you seen?

Laurel & Hardy on a night out on the town (w/o their wives)
In "Their Purple Moment," Laurel & Hardy simply want to go out bowling, but their wives never leave them any pocket money. Stan has been sneaking a little cash each week and hiding it in a special hiding place, which, of course, their wives are watching when he explains this to Ollie. After the wives replace the cash with cigar coupons, the boys are sent out on the town. Before they can discover the switch, they hook up with a couple of young ladies who have been stood up by their dates and decide to invite the boys to take their place. Laurel & Hardy taken them to a fancy restaurant, leaving the cab with the meter running. Once the boys discover they have no money, thinks quickly deteriorate until the climatic soup fight involving the boys, their wives, the waiter, the cabbie and everyone else in sight. This 1928 two-reeler for Hal Roach-MGM was directed by James Parrott and has the additional credit of being "supervised" by Leo McCarey while the cameraman was George Stevens, both of whom would go on to cinematic fame in their own rights.

Great music track helps this silent L & H comedy
This is among the best of the recent restorations of Laurel & Hardy's silent comedies. The 1928 film has a new synchronized soundtrack, edited from various vintage-1929 musical scores. The music is as funny as the comedy, as henpecked husbands Laurel & Hardy sneak off for a disastrous "night out." The picture quality is very clear and sharp.

Anita Garvin's in this one!
This is another great Laurel and Hardy film! One of the main reasons I love this one so much is because it also stars the gorgeous, the sexy, the unbelievable Anita Garvin. To the uninitiated, Anita appeared in many shorts in the late 20's and early 30's and as far as I'm concerned, she was the best L & H female co-star. I say she far outshines a Mae Busch any day! Also, for more Anita, check out "Blotto"! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Laurel & Hardy out on the town (but without their wives)
In "Their Purple Moment," Laurel & Hardy simply want to go out bowling, but their wives never leave them any pocket money. Stan has been sneaking a little cash each week and hiding it in a special hiding place, which, of course, their wives are watching when he explains this to Ollie. After the wives replace the cash with cigar coupons, the boys are sent out on the town. Before they can discover the switch, they hook up with a couple of young ladies who have been stood up by their dates and decide to invite the boys to take their place. Laurel & Hardy take them to a fancy restaurant, leaving the cab with the meter running (ouch). Once the boys discover they have no money, things quickly deteriorate until the climatic soup fight involving the boys, their wives, the waiter, the cabbie and everyone else in sight. This 1928 two-reeler for Hal Roach-MGM was directed by James Parrott and has the additional credit of being "supervised" by Leo McCarey while the cameraman was George Stevens, both of whom would go on to cinematic fame in their own rights. All things considered this is a solid Laurel & Hardy effot, not quite a classic, but certainly presenting the boys in fine form. Besides, how many really great soup fight scenes have you seen?

Laurel & Hardy on a night out on the town (w/o their wives)
In "Their Purple Moment," Laurel & Hardy simply want to go out bowling, but their wives never leave them any pocket money. Stan has been sneaking a little cash each week and hiding it in a special hiding place, which, of course, their wives are watching when he explains this to Ollie. After the wives replace the cash with cigar coupons, the boys are sent out on the town. Before they can discover the switch, they hook up with a couple of young ladies who have been stood up by their dates and decide to invite the boys to take their place. Laurel & Hardy taken them to a fancy restaurant, leaving the cab with the meter running. Once the boys discover they have no money, thinks quickly deteriorate until the climatic soup fight involving the boys, their wives, the waiter, the cabbie and everyone else in sight. This 1928 two-reeler for Hal Roach-MGM was directed by James Parrott and has the additional credit of being "supervised" by Leo McCarey while the cameraman was George Stevens, both of whom would go on to cinematic fame in their own rights.

Great music track helps this silent L & H comedy
This is among the best of the recent restorations of Laurel & Hardy's silent comedies. The 1928 film has a new synchronized soundtrack, edited from various vintage-1929 musical scores. The music is as funny as the comedy, as henpecked husbands Laurel & Hardy sneak off for a disastrous "night out." The picture quality is very clear and sharp.

Anita Garvin's in this one!
This is another great Laurel and Hardy film! One of the main reasons I love this one so much is because it also stars the gorgeous, the sexy, the unbelievable Anita Garvin. To the uninitiated, Anita appeared in many shorts in the late 20's and early 30's and as far as I'm concerned, she was the best L & H female co-star. I say she far outshines a Mae Busch any day! Also, for more Anita, check out "Blotto"! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not what you could call "Great!".
"They Go Boom" is a two-reeler, lasting around 20 minutes in total time length, released in 1929. It's a very early sound short from Laurel and Hardy, only their fifth one. It was directed by James Parrott, and the short co-stars Charlie Hall and Sam Lufkin.

The story is very simple. It's basically as follows: The two are staying in this small apartment. Ollie has a bad cold, and Stan is trying to make him feel better. He tries so many different things, none of them working, and he actually makes Ollie a lot worse. The guy who they are renting the apartment from, has to keep coming in complaining, since other people staying there are becoming annoyed with the noise the two are making. It ends with them blowing up the bed, but they accidently leave the pipe going, and it gets so huge, it bursts and wrecks the whole building.

I think this is an enjoyable short, but they did a number of much better ones. This is entirely in this one small apartment throughout, but they manage to get a lot of jokes in with what small things they have to use. It is an under-rated short, which is worth watching, if you're a fan of the comedy duo.

This, like most of the Laurel and Hardy films, can now be found on numerous DVDs in different countries. If you can play UK (Region 2) DVDs, then you will want to pick up the 21 Disc Box Set of Laurel and Hardy shorts, and features (which is near complete). So I can recommend this short, anyways.

Stan takes care of sick friend Ollie in this early talkie
In this 1929 Hal Roach-MGM two-reeler directed by James Parrott from a story by Leo McCarey, Ollie has a bad head cold and his friend Stan waits on him. Unfortunately, this ends up pretty much destroying their small rented room to the consternation of their landlord Charlie Hall. As with several other of these early Laurel & Hardy talkies, "They Go Boom" relies on a single situation exploited for comic effect because that made it easier for the microphone to pick up the sound. Consequently, this film represents a transitional period for the boys and explains why it is one of their lesser efforts.

Sub Par L & H
"Lost" for over two decades, L & H's fifth talkie offers little to talk about, unless you're a very serious fan/historian. One might expect some fun with Stan playing Male Nurse to Ollie's "patient", but the depressing premise, lame gags, and "claustrophopbic" set are not conducive to the kind of comedy the boys are capable of. I am happy to own this videocassette but I've watched it only a few times. ... Read more