Blu-ray Review: Laurel & Hardy The Definitive Restorations

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

When you think comedy teams you probably think The 3 Stooges, Abbott and Costello or my favorite Laurel and Hardy. The two are forever linked together. Stan and Ollie go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.

The classic duos films have been released on DVD in many sets. But now many of their best films have been restored in 2K and 4K from original 35mm nitrate prints and preserved on Blu-ray and DVD. Let's take a look at what is included in this set.

Movie Rating:

****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend some time.
*=You haven’t missed anything.

FEATURE FILMS:

Sons of the Desert (1933): Stan and Ollie go to a lodge convention but tell their wives they're going to Hawaii for Ollie's health. ****

Way Out West (1937):  Stanley and Ollie are hired to deliver the deed to a goldmine in a small village, only for it to be stolen. ****

CLASSIC SHORT FILMS:

Berth Marks (1929) Vaudeville stars Stan and Ollie take the train to Pottsville, their next booking. On board, they find themselves in the wrong sleeping compartment. ***

The Battle of the Century (1929) Fight manager (Hardy) takes out an insurance policy on his fighter (Laurel) and then proceeds to try to arrange for an accident so that he can collect. ***

Brats (1930) Laurel and Hardy's try to enjoy a quiet evening at home, but are constantly interrupted by their squabbling children. ***

Busy Bodies (1933) Stan and Ollie do battle with inanimate objects, their co-workers, and the laws of physics during a routine work day at the sawmill. ***

The Chimp (1932) Two bumbling circus performers drive the circus into ruin and then end up in possession of a flea circus and an oversized chimp. ***

Come Clean (1931) Satn and Ollie on their way to get ice cream but are blackmailed by a wanted woman. ***

County Hospital (1932) Ollie is in the hospital with a broken leg. Stan decides to visit him bringing with him hard-boiled eggs, nuts, and trouble. *** 

Helpmates (1932) After a wild party the boys must clean up Ollie's house before his wife gets home. ***

Hog Wild (1930) Ollie and Stan attempt to install a rooftop radio antenna. ***

Me and My Pal (1933) On the day of Ollie's wedding to an oil baron's daughter Stan and Ollie find themselves enthralled with a jigsaw puzzle. ***

Midnight Patrol (1933) Novice policemen Stan and Ollie miss and jewel thief and arrest the chief instead. ***

The Music Box (1932) Deliverymen Laurel and Hardy struggle to push a large crated piano up a seemingly insurmountable flight of stairs. ****

One Good Turn (1931) The boys are down on their luck but are invited into an old lady's house for food. While there they overhear a villainous landlord threatening to evict her not realizing that they are hearing a rehearsal for a play, the boys decide to auction their car to help. ***

Scram! (1932) A mean Judge commands poor Stan and Ollie to "scram" out of town. Instead they decide to spend the night with a sympathetic inebriate's house or is it his house? ***

Their First Mistake (1932) Ollie's wife is mad he spends more time with his friend Stanley than with her. So he has an amazing plan adopt a baby, keep her busy. ***

Towed in a Hole (1932) Although they are successful fishmongers, Stan convinces Ollie that they should become fishermen too - but making a boat seaworthy is not an easy task. **

Twice Two (1933) Stan and Ollie are married to each other's sisters, and plan a dinner party to celebrate their mutual anniversaries. ***

These films are presented in their original full screen format. It would be sacrilegious to stretch the screen like some companies are trying to do. Thankfully that was not done here. These resolutions bring out so much detail to these Hal Roach productions. I never dreamed I could enjoy Laurel and Hardy any more that is until now. I want to say a huge thank you to Jeff Joseph/SabuCat and UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Library of Congress for the job they amazing job they did on these restorations. Laurel and Hardy never looked better.

Now having this collection of restored film of the comedy duo would be enough to make this a must add to anyone's Laurel and Hardy collection, but Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual went above and beyond here loading this 4 disc Blu-ray set with bonus feature. Take a look at what is included;

Audio Commentaries from author Randy Skretvedt and Richard W. Bann are featured on the films. The duo know their history of the duo.

Anita Garvin Interview (9:18) was conducted in 1981. She speaks of her first time at the Hal Roach’s studio and meeting Stan Laurel with Hal. She has a tale of how her hair tonic nearly set her career on fire. She speaks of Stan’s directing ability and his attitude.

Joe Rock Interview (9:35) is from 1981. He speaks of what he had to do to make movies with Stan Laurel. Turns out the studio wasn’t big into Stan’s choice of a leading lady.

Roy Seawright Interview (14:56) has him talk about his time on the Hal Roach studio. He remembers when the rumors spread that Stan Laurel was going to be the next star on the lot. The two met and thought they looked familiar.

Oliver Hardy Interview (3:30) meets up with him on a boat in 1951. He talks about how they had never broken up because they are still friends. They are heading to France to make their final film.

Audio Interviews include chats with Joe Rock, Hal Roach, Anita Garvin Stanley, George Marshall, Roy Seawright, Venice Lloyd, Richard Currier, Bert Jordan, Walter Woolf King, Lucille Hardy Price, Harvin Hately,

Sons of the Desert Trailer (2:35) is the Spanish trailer. It’s the only one surviving.

Trailers are provide 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 (25:52) is the music he composed for various Laurel & Hardy films from the original transcription discs.

Galleries include hundreds of pictures from elements of Sons of the Desert, their early careers, Battle of the Century, Berth Marks, Brats, Hog Wild, Come Clean, One Good Turn, Me and My Pal, Hardy Vim Scrapbook, Hollywood Friends, Catalina July 1934, Music Box, The Chimp, County Hospital, Scram! Their First Mistake, The Midnight Patrol, Busy Bodies, A Short History of the Hal Roach Studios, Supporting Players, Crew Members, Studio Hijinks, Snapshots from UK Vacation, Way Out West, Towed in a Hole, Twice Two, That’s That, The Tree in a Test Tube, Portraits out of Costume, Laurel & Hardy and Golf, Special Occasions, Odd Publicity Shots and Stan in Retirement.

L & H Books by Randy Skretvedt (1:53) is a plug for his 630 book that breaks down there 106 films. There are also books on their scripts, live performances and radio work.

I have all these films on other releases and I did a comparison and the is none. These restoration look stunning! Take a look at this special video side by side comparison.

As you can see this is one amazing Blu-ray set. Hours of family entertainment. It truly is time to expose a new generation to the best in comedy with Laurel and Hardy. And this set is the perfect way to do that. This release is a love letter or a real tribute to the comedy duo.

This collection is on sale on Blu-ray and DVD. If you are a fan of Classic Comedy or Laurel & Hardy this Blu-ray is one I can not recommend enough. Head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today. I think you will be very impressed with the restorations.


Offensive Material: Nothing
Audience: Families
Genre: Comedy
Length: 485 minutes

Blu-ray Value Rating: A