Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations
Few movies are more beloved than the shorts and features starring the classic comedy team of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the movies, the films no longer exist in pristine form. In many cases, the negatives were damaged, due to overprinting. Also, like many late silents and early talkies, some of the negatives are missing or have decomposed beyond repair. Several of the team’s movies only exist in 35mm dupe prints (or in some cases 16mm) that are several generations away from the original camera negative.
The UCLA Film and Television Archive has undertaken a years-long restoration of the Laurel & Hardy films, and their painstaking labor has paid off in a new 4-disc Blu-ray set, Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations. Two features (Sons of the Desert and Way Out West) and seventeen of their finest short subjects (including my favorite, Busy Bodies) are presented in 2K and 4K transfers from the finest surviving elements. The set also represents the home video debut of the restoration of the silent short, The Battle of the Century, which contains a full reel of footage previously thought lost.
Unlike most of my reviews, my thoughts on each of the films appears below in the “Video” section. There has been a lot of discussion online about the picture quality of the features and shorts within the collection, so I thought I should address each film individually. Consequently, it made sense to provide my capsule reviews of each film alongside the technical details. In brief, while some of the films are more delightful than others, they are all entertaining, amusing, and precious. How could they not be? It’s Laurel & Hardy. The combination of childlike roughhousing, unbreakable friendship, surprising violence, and large-scale destruction are comedy gold.
If you want a quick capsule review of the Blu-ray set, here it is: This is one of the most important home video releases of the year, and I’m highly recommending it. Unfortunately, the video quality of the shorts is variable, and sometimes this appears to be due to the digital mastering rather than the state of the surviving film elements. Still, many of the films look and sound substantially better than on prior home video releases. The Blu-rays also include previously lost footage and audio tracks that are being presented on home video for the first time. Finally, as the highly delicious icing on the cake, the discs are loaded with over 8-hours worth of extras, including informative audio commentaries, video and audio interviews with cast and crew, scanned scripts, primary documents such as contracts, music tracks, and vintage trailers, that serious Laurel & Hardy fans will salivate over.
USA/B&W-485m./Dir: Various (see below)/Wr: Stan Laurel (uncredited), with contributions by H.M. Walker, Frank Craven, Leo McCarey, Oliver Hardy, Felix Adler, James Parrott, and others/Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, and a motley group of supporting actors (see reviews below for some of the standouts)
For Fans of: If you love the comic violence of The Three Stooges, but you’ve never experienced Laurel & Hardy’s gentlemanly style of slapstick, this collection is the perfect place to start.
Video: The 4-disc Blu-ray set, Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations, from MVD Visual and Kit Parker Films’ Sprocket Vault video label, features new 2K and 4K digital restorations from original 35mm nitrate (or the best available elements) by Jeff Joseph/SabuCat in conjunction with the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Library of Congress.
The image quality varies from film to film, and there have been some complaints online that some of the titles looking digitally scrubbed or waxy. Consequently, I compared the each film in the Blu-ray set with the pre-restoration release in the 2011 DVD box set, Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection, from Vivendi Entertainment. What I found is listed in the disc details below, and admittedly there are some issues (most evident on Disc 3).
However, before we get into the minutiae, I just want to restate that I highly recommend this set. This is a “must own” release for Laurel & Hardy fans, as it contains a wealth of material never offered before, and many of the films look greatly improved over the prior release. While it does appear that someone was a bit too enthusiastic in the digital clean-up of some (but not all) of these films, I don’t think it will detract from most people’s enjoyment of these comedies.
That said, here’s my disc-by-disc breakdown of Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations:
Disc 1:
Sons of the Desert (1933, 65m., Dir: William A. Seiter)
In one of their best-loved features, the boys lie to their wives in order to attend a lodge convention in Chicago. This has never been one of my favorites of the L&H films, as it is one of the more talky of their talkies. I also feel that the boys’ comedy works better in shorter, 20 minute bites. On the positive side, the video is much improved over the prior DVD. The image is the sharper and brighter (which appears more accurate), with more evident film grain and detail. The sound is clean, removing audio splices that marred prior releases.
The Battle of the Century (1927, 19m., Dir: Clyde Bruckman)
The home video premiere of this silent short is reason enough to purchase the Blu-ray set. For sixty years, the second reel of this two-reeler was thought to be lost, until Jon Mirsalis located a 16mm copy in a collection he acquired through an estate sale. There are a couple of minutes at the end of reel one that are still missing, but they have been filled in with still photographs and title cards, so the story is easily followed. The newly reconstructed short is an excellent example of Stan & Ollie’s silent work, and it is one of the funniest films included in the collection. The first reel, derived from 35mm, looks sharper than the second, but it’s a delight to see this film in nearly complete form. A new, jaunty score by Donald Sosin provides the perfect musical accomplishment for the action.
Berth Marks (1929, 20m., Dir: Lewis R. Foster)
Stan & Ollie struggle to catch a train and share an upper berth. This very funny short suffers from a bit too much of a good thing in the later scenes, when the boys struggle to get undressed in the confined space of the sleeping compartment. The video is a step up compared with the DVD release. It is sharper, with nice contrast, and major frame damage has been cleaned up. However, the most noticeable difference is the audio. Berth Marks was reissued in 1936 with altered music and sound effects. For the first time on home video, the original 1929 soundtrack has been reinstated. The 1936 alternative track is also offered as an option, but it has been paired with a 1929 print, causing the audio to shift out-of-sync at times. If (like me), you only care about the original soundtrack, this isn’t an issue. However, fans that prefer the more familiar 1936 soundtrack may be unhappy.
Disc 1 Bonus Materials:
- Commentaries on each of the films by Randy Skretvedt or Richard W. Bann. It should be noted that the commentary for Battle of the Century runs 27 minutes, eight minutes longer than the film itself.
- Video interviews with L&H co-workers Anita Garvin, Joe Rock, and Roy Seawright
- “Ship’s Reporter” Oliver Hardy Interview (restored)
- Sons of the Desert Spanish-language trailer
- An early script and dialogue continuity for Sons of the Desert (which I personally find fascinating)
- Contracts and other documents associated with Sons of the Desert
- Promotional photos, posters, and stills for each of the films, as well as from Stan and Babe’s early careers
Disc 2:
Brats (1930, 21m., Dir: James Parrott)
Stan and Ollie’s roughhousing was very childlike, so it was only natural that they would eventually play children. In this short, the boys play both the adult Laurel & Hardy and their kids. Split screens are used when all four are in the same shot, and sets built 3-times scale are used when they are playing the kids. The scale is a bit weird, as it makes the Junior Laurel & Hardy look more like elves than children. The short is fun, but it is mostly a novelty. The picture quality isn’t quite as good as the films on Disc 1, likely due to the condition of the surviving elements. However, it does look better than the prior DVD. Both the original 1930 soundtrack and the 1937 revised soundtrack are included.
Hog Wild (1930, 20m., Dir: James Parrott)
Mrs. Hardy wants to hear Japan, so she insists that Mr. Hardy install a radio aerial on the roof of their house. Stan arrives just as Babe is going to work, and beautiful destruction ensues. One the funniest of the team’s comedies receives one of the biggest video upgrades on Blu-ray. Hog Wild was badly served on prior home video releases, and the video on the Vivendi DVD set was even vertically squished. The Blu-ray restores the original Vitaphone aspect ratio, revealing more picture on all four edges. The image is clean, with evident film grain throughout, and none of the actors have been artificially squashed. Fans of the short should be overjoyed with the presentation.
Come Clean (1931, 21m., Dir: James W. Horne)
This domestic comedy takes a weird turn when the boys go out for ice cream and end up saving a suicidal lady (a wonderfully manic Mae Busch) who jumps off a bridge. While this short is a bit strange, the strangeness is quite funny, and there are a lot of inventive gags. Compared with the DVD, a lot of scratches and debris have been removed, and the picture is brighter, with better contrast. Some details that are black-crushed in the DVD are visible in the new restoration. In all ways, the Blu-ray provides a better viewing experience.
One Good Turn (1931, 21m., Dir: James W. Horne)
It’s surprising it took this long for regular L&H supporting actors James Finlayson and Billy Gilbert to show up in this set, but both make an appearance in this Depression-themed short. Stan & Ollie are homeless and try to repay a kindness to an old woman. This isn’t one of the most inspired of the shorts, but it is interesting to see the boys specifically reference the financial crisis of the time. Similar to Come Clean, the Blu-ray video presentation was an obvious improvement over the DVD. The image is brighter, displaying more detail in the boys’ shabby costumes.
Me and My Pal (1933, 20m., Dir: Charley Rogers)
Mr. Hardy’s future appears to be bright on the morning of his wedding to the daughter of an oil baron (James Finlayson). Unfortunately, Stan buys his pal a jigsaw puzzle as a wedding gift, and the puzzle proves to be an inescapable obstacle barring Mr. Hardy’s ability to leave the house. This very funny short looks a little softer than prior films on the disc, but the DVD did not look particularly sharp either. The Blu-ray image is cleaner, so it edges slightly past the DVD in terms of quality, but the upgrade is marginal.
Disc 2 Bonus Materials:
- Commentaries by Randy Skretvedt
- Audio interviews with L&H co-workers Billy Bletcher, Joe Rock, Hal Roach, Anita Garvin, George Marshall, Roy Seawright, Venice Lloyd, Richard Currier, Bert Jordan, Walter Woolf King, Lucille Hardy Price, and Marvin Hatley
- Audio performance of “Honolulu Baby” and “Lovey-Dovey” by Marvin Hatley
- Photo galleries for each of the films, as well as personal photos of the boys
Disc 3:
Helpmates (1932, 21m., Dir: James Parrott)
The night after hosting a wild party, Mr. Hardy receives a telegram that his wife is coming home early from a visit to see her mother. With the house in a shambles, Babe calls his pal Stan to help him clean up the mess, with expected results. This film is one of the boys’ very best, but the video quality is the worst of the films included in the Blu-ray collection. Scratches and debris have been removed. However, the picture quality, which was never particularly sharp to begin with, looks even softer on the Blu-ray. Film grain is nonexistent, showing signs of having been digitally cleaned up too much. This is the first short where I would say it was debatable whether the DVD or the Blu-ray look better.
The Music Box (1932, 29m., Dir: James Parrott)
“Heave!” “Ho!” This Oscar winner for “Best Live Action Short (Comedy)” is a deserved classic. While it isn’t my favorite Laurel & Hardy film, it certainly is in the top tier of their comedies. The video is a mixed bag. It’s cleaner, and some shots look sharper than the DVD, but other shots look a tad softer than they should. Any variants in video quality aren’t distracting, unless you are specifically looking for them. Overall, I prefer the look of the Blu-ray. I should mention that the audio is much clearer than the DVD. In fact, it is startlingly clear at times.
The Chimp (1932, 26m., Dir: James Parrott)
When Stan & Babe are overshadowed by Charles Gemora in a gorilla suit, you know you are watching one of the weaker shorts in the set. However, this short has excellent picture quality. The image is sharp and clean, with evident film grain, and nice contrast. It is a marked improvement over the heavily scratched print that appeared on the Vivendi DVD set.
County Hospital (1932, 19m., Dir: James Parrott)
Ollie begins this classic short in the hospital with a busted leg. However, his troubles have just begun, because his buddy Stan is about to pay a visit. The doctor (Billy Gilbert) doesn’t have the best bedside manner either. Some mighty violent slapstick ensues. The video presentation of the Blu-ray is cleaner than the DVD, due to scratch removal. However, the image does look too soft and lacks film grain. When you add up the pluses and minuses, the presentation is about equivalent.
Scram! (1932, 21m., Dir: Raymond McCarey)
The first half of this short is an absolute scream, due mainly to the hilarious antics of character “drunk” Arthur Housman. It isn’t politically correct, but it’s very funny. The video is roughly equivalent in sharpness to the prior DVD release, which means that the Blu-ray is a bit softer than it should be. The Blu-ray presentation of this short also contains a video anomaly, which is a true error. During a scene where the boys are laughing convulsively with actress Vivian Oakland, there is a quick video flash. By pausing the disc, and stepping slowly through the sequence, I was able to see that the flash was a single frame from another scene, depicting the butler in the hallway. This out-of-place camera shot did not appear in prior video releases.
Their First Mistake (1932, 21m., Dir: George Marshall)
Ollie’s wife (Mae Busch) complains that Mr. Hardy cares more about Mr. Laurel than he does about her, so Stan suggests that Ollie adopt a baby to give his wife something else to focus on. However, Stan & Ollie find themselves responsible for the child when Mrs. Hardy sues for divorce. There are some funny gags in this short, but the idea of child endangerment occasionally gets in the way of the fun. The print on the Vivendi DVD looked tired and overly dark, so the Blu-ray presentation is superior.
The Midnight Patrol (1933, 20m., Dir: Lloyd French)
Usually the boys are running from the cops, so this short, which depicts Stan & Babe as policemen is a funny change of pace. The ending line of this film is darkly funny in a way that makes me laugh well after “The End” title card has disappeared from the screen. Unfortunately, like Helpmates, this is one of the softer transfers. The picture is clean, but it is lacking in detail and film grain.
Busy Bodies (1933, 20m., Dir: Lloyd French)
The plot to my favorite Laurel & Hardy film is simple — The boys happily arrive at their new job… IN A SAWMILL!!! A nice mess results. I previously reviewed this hilarious classic in full detail HERE. Overall the video looks quite nice on the Blu-ray. It isn’t the sharpest transfer in the set, but I believe it is superior to the DVD.
Disc 3 Bonus Materials:
- Commentaries by Randy Skretvedt or Richard W. Bann. The commentary for The Music Box extends nine minutes beyond the end of the film.
- Photo galleries for each of the films, as well as personal photos of the boys and the supporting actor
Disc 4:
Way Out West (1937, 65m., Dir: James W. Horne)
While feature films were not the best format for Laurel & Hardy’s brand of comedy, Way Out West is one of the best. It is fast-moving and full of outlandish, cartoonish gags. Even the musical padding that is prevalent in the features is more enjoyable than usual, especially when the boys sing and dance themselves. The video and sound on the Blu-ray is much cleaner than prior releases. Occasionally, the video looks a little overly smooth, but the appearance is preferable to the DVD throughout.
Towed in a Hole (1932, 21m., Dir: George Marshall)
“Fresh fish!” In one of the boys’ best-loved shorts, they are fish salesmen who decide to buy and fix up a boat. Not only is this short delightful; it looks and sounds absolutely pristine in the new Blu-ray set. This and Hog Wild are the best looking shorts in the set. I doubt either looked this good when they were originally released.
Twice Two (1933, 21m., Dir: James Parrott)
Stan plays both Mr. Laurel and Mrs. Hardy, and Babe plays both Mr. Hardy and Mrs. Laurel, in this novelty short. There are cute gags from start to finish, as well as impressive use of split-screen photography. While not quite as pristine as Towed in a Hole, the Blu-ray image is pleasant overall and a step up from the DVD.
That’s That (1938, 8m., Compiled by Bert Jordan)
The final two shorts on Disc 4 are not true Laurel & Hardy shorts. They are really part of the Bonus material. This compilation film of clips, outtakes, and bloopers (some of which wouldn’t have gotten past the censors) was assembled for Stan Laurel’s birthday in 1938. It was never meant to be seen by the general public, and it’s kind of a mess. Still, it is an interesting novelty, and the video quality is quite good for what it is. I don’t believe this was ever previously released on home video.
The Tree in a Test Tube (1943, 11m., Dir: Charles McDonald)
The boys make a guest appearance in color in this World War II propaganda film from the Department of Agriculture Forest Service, which promotes the wood industry. Other than seeing the boys in color, there’s not much to recommend in this film, but the video quality is nice.
Disc 4 Bonus Materials:
- Commentaries by Randy Skretvedt or Richard W. Bann
- Trailers for Way Out West, Beau Hunks, Pack Up Your Troubles, Babes in Toyland, The Flying Deuces, A Chump at Oxford, and Saps at Sea
- Marvin Hatley music tracks from multiple films (25m.)
- Original 63-page script, synopsis, dialogue continuity, cue sheets, and letters for Way Out West
- Original sheet music to “At the Ball That’s All” and “Trail of the Lonesome Pine”
- Promotional photos, posters, and stills for each of the films, as well as later-career personal photos
I can see why critics have found Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations a difficult collection to review. The best of the restorations are phenomenal, and the bonus materials are absolutely top notch. So much love went into the creation of this Blu-ray set, I hate to say anything negative regarding the discs. However, the video quality varies widely between films. I realize that some of the films and individual shots were filmed in softer focus than others, and the quality of the surviving elements is variable, due to overuse and decay. However, when you see how pristine Towed in a Hole and Hog Wild look, it is hard to imagine that some of the shorts lacking in film grain and detail look as good as they should. To be fair, I am in no way an expert on film restoration or digital mastering, so my opinion should be taken as that of an uninformed fan, and nothing more.
Despite variants in video quality, overall the Blu-ray collection is an upgrade over the 2011 Vivendi DVD set. Laurel & Hardy fans are highly encouraged to add these Blu-rays to their collections. As a fan of Stan and Babe, I can tell you that when I revisit these films, I will re-watch this Blu-ray set, rather than the Vivendi DVDs, which I also own.
Streaming: Most of these films are unavailable through any streaming services, and you certainly cannot find the newest restorations anywhere except this new Blu-ray set (which is also available as a DVD set).
More to Explore: Stan Laurel and Oliver “Babe” Hardy made 107 films as a team (72 silent and sound short subjects, 23 features, and 12 cameo appearances in films starring others), so there are a lot more restorations that the team could tackle. Hopefully, additional restorations will be completed while Blu-rays are still being produced. In the meantime, the best of the rest of the films can be viewed in the Vivendi DVD set Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection. In addition, the silent shorts were released in a series of sadly out-of-print DVDs from Image Entertainment known as The Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy. Finally, due to rights issues, a handful of films, including The Devil’s Brother (1933), March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934), Bonnie Scotland (1935), and The Flying Deuces (1939), are available separately on disc.
Trivia: Normally, I would add a piece of trivia regarding a particular film that I’m reviewing. However, there are so many golden tidbits of information to be found in the commentaries and documents included in this set, I’ll just say, “Buy the Blu-rays and dig in.”
For More Info: There have been a number of excellent books on the comedy team of Laurel & Hardy, but the gold standard is the beautifully illustrated 632-page tome Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies by Randy Skretvedt, which provides copious behind-the-scenes information on the production of these classic films. Mr. Sketvedt also edited The Laurel & Hardy Movie Scripts: 20 Original Short Subject Screenplays (1926 – 1934) which allows fans to see how some of the shorts changed from the script stage to the final filmed product.
