Laurel & Hardy

#funny #comedy #laurel #hardy

Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical Christmas film released on November 30, 1934. The film is also known by the alternative titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet (the 1948 European reissue title), and March of the Wooden Soldiers (in the United States), a 73-minute abridged version. SYNOPSIS Opposing the evil Barnaby, Ollie Dee and Stanley Dum try and fail to pay-off Mother Peep's mortgage and mislead his attempts to marry Little Bo. Enraged, Barnaby's Bogeymen are set on Toyland. CAST & CREW Virginia Karns as Mother Goose Charlotte Henry as Bo-Peep Felix Knight as Tom-Tom Piper Florence Roberts as Widow Peep Henry Kleinbach as Silas Barnaby Stan Laurel as Stanley "Stannie" Dum Oliver Hardy as Oliver "Ollie" Dee Directed by Gus Meins, Charles Rogers Screenplay by Frank Butler, Nick Grinde Based on Babes in Toyland (operetta), book by: Glen MacDonough, Anna Alice Chapin Produced by Hal Roach Cinematography Francis Corby, Art Lloyd Edited by Bert Jordan, William H. Terhune Music by Victor Herbert, Glen MacDonough, Harry Jackson Production companies Hal Roach Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributed by Loew's, Inc. Release date November 30, 1934 Running time 78 minutes Country United States Language English NOTES Production RKO Pictures considered purchasing the property as an animated feature film to be shot in Technicolor by Walt Disney, however the projected price of the film gave pause to RKO's plans. Hal Roach, who had seen the play as a boy, acquired the film rights to the project in November 1933. The film was completed in November 1934. The village of Toyland was built on sound stages at Hal Roach Studios with the buildings painted in vivid storybook colors, leading Stan Laurel to regret that the film wasn't shot in Technicolor. Reception Critics' reviews were positive. Andre Sennwald of The New York Times called the film "an authentic children's entertainment and quite the merriest of its kind that Hollywood has turned loose on the nation's screens in a long time." Variety proclaimed it "a film par excellence for children. It's packed with laughs and thrills and is endowed with that glamour of mysticism which marks juvenile literature." John Mosher wrote in The New Yorker: "It's certainly far more successful than was last year's Alice in Wonderland, and the children will probably be far less bored by it than they generally are by those films designed especially for them". Film Daily called it "delightful musical fantasy" and "dandy entertainment". The Chicago Tribune review read: "It's been many a long day since I've had so much pure (and I MEAN pure!) fun as I had watching this picture". Copyright status 1950 re-release poster for Babes in Toyland (1934) The original 79-minute film is under copyright to Prime TV Inc., the assets of which as of 2020 are owned by Nexstar Media Group, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (under Orion Pictures, which like MGM is now part of the Amazon corporation) still handling partial distribution rights of the film. In 1950 a 73-minute edited version was distributed by Lippert Pictures, retitled March of the Wooden Soldiers; it was released without a copyright notice. The edited version of the film had the opening tune "Toyland" trimmed and the "Go to Sleep (Slumber Deep)" number cut completely. Also removed were Barnaby's attempted abduction of Little Bo-Peep and his ultimate fistfight with Tom-Tom. March of the Wooden Soldiers has been distributed by many motion picture and home video companies over the decades, as if it were in the public domain; however, because it relies entirely on copyrighted material from the 1934 film, March of the Wooden Soldiers itself falls under the same copyright as its parent film and will not truly enter the public domain until that film's copyright expires in 2030. Nexstar has not enforced its copyright on March of the Wooden Soldiers, effectively making the film an orphan work. History Hal Roach first sold the film to Federal Films. Federal Films, in turn, leased the rights to Lippert Pictures. In the early 1960s, Prime TV took over distribution. Shortly thereafter, Prime TV passed distribution on to WPIX and its eventual owners, Tribune Broadcasting. In the 1970s, Thunderbird Films released 16 mm prints drawn from a heavily spliced (and incomplete) master. In the 1980s, Tribune leased the film to The Samuel Goldwyn Company. The Samuel Goldwyn Company's select holdings (particularly the non-Samuel Goldwyn-produced films) ultimately became part of the Orion Pictures library. Finally, Orion became a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, thus after nearly eight decades, bringing partial rights full circle. #oldmovies #freemovies #4k #4kmovies #comedy #fantasy #freemoviesonline #blackandwhite #lostandfoundfilms

Laurel & Hardy - Sons of the Desert (1933) (1080p) One of the funniest of their full-length features. - JW From IMDB: 10/10 Off To A Convention With Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy Ollie wants to attend the annual convention of THE SONS OF THE DESERT in Chicago & have lodge brother Stan go with him. Their wives, however, have other plans. From such tiny acorns of humor do mighty oaks of hilarity grow... This is a wonderfully funny film, with the Boys at their very best. Watch Stan's face as he eats the wax apple, or Ollie as he attempts to stand-up to his formidable spouse. The Sons themselves are a spoof of every fraternal organization that's ever taken itself too seriously. Hilarious Charley Chase is the epitome of every obnoxious conventioneer you've ever tried to avoid. Mae Busch & Dorothy Christy are good fun as the Boys' wives, while Lucien Littlefield scores as a veterinarian called in to doctor Ollie. Extra-sharp movie mavens will spot Charlie Hall as one of the waiters at the beginning of the 'Honolulu Baby' sequence; they will also recognize the voice of Billy Gilbert as the steamship official giving the announcement about the shipwreck survivors.

Stanley is invited over by Oliver for a cozy home-cooked dinner, but Mrs. Hardy disapproves and leaves. Their attractive neighbor, Mrs. Kennedy, offers assistance, but the duo's clumsiness sets her dress ablaze. As her police officer husband looks into the commotion, Oliver conceals a partially undressed Mrs. Kennedy in a trunk. Unfortunately, Mr. Kennedy's bragging about managing his own philandering goes awry when his wife emerges from the crate and gives him a black eye. In the meantime, a curious Mrs. Hardy returns, wondering about the uproar next door. In their first sound film, Laurel and Hardy introduced two iconic sound-based gags: Officer Kennedy's off-screen altercation with his wife and Stan Laurel's noisy fall down a flight of stairs. Both gags would become classics and be reused in later works. Three versions of this short film were produced due to uncertainty about the sound technology that would prevail. They included a sound-on-disk version, a sound-on-film version, and a silent version with title cards. The original sound-on-film version is thought to be lost. For over 50 years, only the silent version was available. A rare soundtrack discovered in the late 1970s allowed for the reconstruction of the talkie version seen today. Mae Busch first portrayed the feisty Mrs. Hardy in this film, having previously played James Finlayson's ex-girlfriend in Love 'Em and Weep (1927). She reprised her role as Mrs. Hardy in Sons of the Desert (1933) and The Bohemian Girl (1936).

Laurel and Hardy Moments behind the scenes

The Flying Deuces, also known as Flying Aces, is a 1939 buddy comedy film starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Jean Parker, in which the duo join the French Foreign Legion, after Olli finds that Georgette (Jean Parker), the love of his life, is married. It is a partial remake of their short film Beau Hunks (1931). The Flying Deuces is one of two Laurel and Hardy features in the public domain; the other is Atoll K. Remastered by Rueda Books & Arts.

They Go Boom is a comedic short film from 1929, directed by James Parrott and featuring the famous duo Laurel and Hardy. Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy are attempting to sleep in a rented room. Unfortunately, Mr. Hardy suffers from a cold and coughs frequently, while Mr. Laurel snores. Both of them struggle to fall asleep due to these issues. In their efforts to resolve the problems, they end up causing complete chaos. The room's owner, played by Charlie Hall, threatens to evict them. Back in their room, the duo's inflatable air mattress accidentally gets filled with gas, causing it to expand so much that Stan and Ollie are pressed against the ceiling. Upon realizing the danger they are in, they start to panic. Oliver's sneeze causes the mattress to explode, prompting the hotel owner and police officers to enter the room. Oliver sneezes once more, leading to the ceiling collapsing. For a long time, this film was accessible solely as a silent movie. Eventually, a Vitaphone disc was discovered, restoring the sound version. During the production of this film, Oliver Hardy's wife, Myrtle, filed for divorce. This film is the fifth sound short to be released featuring Laurel and Hardy.

"Beau Hunks" is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film directed by James W. Horne and produced by Hal Roach. It stars the legendary comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, popularly known as Laurel and Hardy. The film is an adaptation of the 1927 novel "Beau Geste" by P.C. Wren and serves as a parody of the various adaptations of the novel, particularly the 1931 film "Beau Geste." The plot revolves around the duo joining the French Foreign Legion to forget a woman, only to discover that she has numerous identical sisters. The film starts with Oliver Hardy heartbroken over a woman named Jeanie-Weenie, who has left him for another man. In an attempt to forget her, Hardy and his best friend, Stan Laurel, decide to join the French Foreign Legion. Once enlisted, they are sent to a remote desert outpost under the command of the strict Sergeant Hippo, who relentlessly drills them. Throughout the film, Laurel and Hardy's comedic mishaps and inability to follow orders lead to humorous misadventures and near-disasters. "Beau Hunks" has been well-received by both audiences and critics. The film showcases Laurel and Hardy's impeccable comedic timing and ability to create laughter out of even the most ordinary situations. Additionally, the film effectively parodies the romanticized notion of the French Foreign Legion often portrayed in literature and film, providing a lighter, more humorous perspective on the military organization. The film remains a classic example of early 20th-century comedy and is a testament to the lasting impact of Laurel and Hardy's humor on the genre. Trivia: Initially intended to be a two-reeler, producer Hal Roach expanded the comedy in this film, ultimately financing it at twice its proposed length. The title "Beau Hunks" is a play on the term "Bohunk," which combined "Bohemian" and "Hungarian" and was a pejorative term for a person, typically male, at the time. The title also references the 1924 novel "Beau Geste," which was adapted into a film in 1926. The film's director, James W. Horne, appears as the chief of the Riff Raff under the pseudonym Abul Kasim K'Horne. The film's credits humorously list an excessive number of supporting cast members, including "3897 Arabs, 1921 Riffians, and four native Swede guides." Jean Harlow, who had played minor roles in three previous Laurel and Hardy films, agreed to let the filmmakers use her photo as Jeannie Weenie, who drives the film's plot without physically appearing. Marvin Hatley, the composer and head of Hal Roach's music department, filled out the film's ranks of the "ruffians." He also wrote "The Cuckoo Song," which became Laurel and Hardy's theme. Though Roach intended this four-reeler to compete with double features in theaters, it was too short for shorts and features, making it the only Laurel and Hardy comedy produced at this length. At 37 minutes, it is their most extended "short." Interestingly, the barracks set was reused for the 1935 film "Bonnie Scotland," Hal Roach later named this film his favorite of all he had made when he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1992 at the age of 100.

In "Any Old Port," Stan and Ollie find themselves at a run-down hotel, assisting a young girl in evading the menacing landlord, Long. They hastily leave the hotel with no funds, and Ollie sets up a boxing match for Stan to earn $50. However, Stan faces Musgy, an opponent with a rigged glove. Amidst the bout, the glove is exchanged, leading to Stan's victory. Unfortunately, they discover that Ollie wagered their earnings on Stan's defeat. Trivia Unfortunately for us James Finlayson fans, this movie was a three-reel film, and the first reel has been lost. It now only exists through still images. The missing reel occurred on a ship and starred James Finlayson and Tiny Sandford. As Mugsie Long (Walter Long) drags the Bride (Julie Bishop) away from the pool table and out of the frame, the boom mic's shadow briefly appears at the top of the screen before disappearing. When Ollie slams into the kitchen wall, it noticeably moves. The same wall also moves when Mugsie touches it for support. Mugsie chases Stan and Ollie around a long table to retrieve a key. Stan hops onto an end chair and runs along the table with Mugsie in pursuit. As Mugsie reaches the center, Ollie pulls the extension out from his end, causing Mugsie to fall through the gap and break a section of the table. However, when Stan and Ollie push the extensions back in place, trapping Mugsy by the neck, there is no visible damage to the table or broken pieces in a sidelong shot. After Mugsie Long is struck by the weighted glove on Stan's right hand, it falls to the boxing ring floor along with Long. In the next scene, Stan is wearing both gloves as the weighted glove hits the referee. As Stan removes his robe before the fight, his boxing gloves accidentally come off. He quickly puts them back on, but the laces on his left glove hang down, unlaced. In the subsequent shot, his laces are suddenly laced up as he enters the fight. Dick Gilbert, who acts as Walter Long's assistant during the boxing sequences, was a real-life boxer. The $50 that Stan and Ollie were supposed to earn from the fight is equivalent to more than $1000 in 2022. References I highly recommend this excellent write-up on the movie: https://beauchumps.wordpress.com/any-old-port/