Laurel and Hardy Classic Shorts (Volume 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)Laurel and Hardy's best films were made at the Hal-Roach-Studios in the 1930's, because Stan Laurel wrote the scripts, directed the films, and Laurel & Hardy ad-libbed, created the comedy beyond the script as the cameras were rolling (50% was ad-libbed). This 10-volume set of talking-shorts (20-minute-films) is from the Hal-Roach-Studios. When L&H went to MGM, the big corporation, in the 1940's; other-people wrote the scripts, other-people directed, and L&H were not allowed to ad-lib.
L&H feature-films, their earliest full-length-talking-films (1-hour plus) made at the Hal-Roach-Studios are excellent too. I list these under the "comment"-button below; noting which are Hal-Roach films.
There are L&H silent-films in the public-domain made before L&H came to the Hal-Roach-Studios, which are not good, because they were made before the two became friends and teamed-up. They play different characters, and some films only have Laurel and not Hardy, or vice-versa. There are some excellent, L&H silent-films, which are not in the public-domain, and which were made at the Hal-Roach-Studios. These are on the DVD-series "The Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy"; about ten volumes. They are expensive on DVD. Many are on VHS cheap. You can find the titles on said DVD-series and then search VHS. Two excellent, L&H silent-short-films (20-min.) are "Big Business" and "Soup to Nuts" (Only a VHS search of "Big Business" brings it up).
On this DVD:
"The Music Box", 1932
Laurel and Hardy attempt to carry a piano up the longest flight of stairs you have ever seen. Good.
"County Hospital" 1932
Ollie is in the hospital. Stan tries to make him more comfortable with unexpected results. Later antics on their drive home from the hospital.
The comedy scenes in the hospital are excellent.
"The Live Ghost" 1934
Laurel and Hardy are shanghaied (kidnapped) onto a ship set to sail for distant lands. The sailors believe the ship is haunted.
"Twice Two", 1932
Laurel and Hardy marry each other's sister, who look like a female them.
I have also seen volume-10 of this talking-shorts-series, which also has 4-shorts. "The Hoose-Gow" was very good. "They go Boom" and "Unaccustomed As We Are" are pleasant. "The Chimp" is not believable for not using a real chimp.
Volume-5 has the short "Helpmates", which is my favorite.
All these talking-shorts are from the Hal-Roach-Studios; though all the shorts are not excellent. From the four volumes that I have purchased; it looks like they put at least one excellent short on each four-short DVD, two of the shorts will be pleasant, and one not good.
Check out the DVD: "Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection" here on Amazon, which I discovered in July 2011. This 10-disc set includes most of Laurel & Hardy's talkie shorts and features produced by Hal Roach between 1929 and 1940.
Under the "comment" button below; I categorize their films with a description of each, and some recommendations.


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