Note: for easier reference, I have put the UK set volume number after each title.
Pardon me,
I just checked out PARDON US (UK19) color version and now realize the scene with the burning building is not in it and that it was spliced into the B/W version from a foreign language release. It would have worked better as an extra with an explanation of what it was.
There are SO many ways a US set could improve the L&H cannon. Lets hope it gets done some day.
The first thing I would do is to dump the worthless color stuff. If they were at Legend quality, I wouldn’t mind them being there, but these are terrible.
Question: If anyone is able to do it, which ones shown on TCM recently were of better quality and did any have original opening credits where they had Film Classics credits on the UK set? I wish I had recorded them so that I could compare them.
I should also mention that PUTTING PANTS ON PHILIP (UK15) was atypical L&H, but a great silent short. A classic! Stanley at his best. Two of my talkie faves: BLOTTO (UK18) and BRATS (UK21).
One of the funniest things ever filmed: James Finlayson wrestling with the Christmas tree in BIG BUSINESS (UK12). Oh, and Anita Garvin slipping and getting a pie-in-the-arse in BATTLE OF THE CENTURY (UK19). She doesn't seem to know what it is, but she knows it is something nasty. As she is walking off shaking a leg you can almost hear her think: "I hope it wasn't dog s---t!"
Another funny bit is in LIBERTY (UK20) where the boys are trying to switch pants in a taxi and a young couple unknowingly try to get in it. As the girl (Jean Harlow in a very early bit) tries to enter, out come the boys tucking in their shirts and Laruel's pants falling down.
Before the couple get in the taxi, the man checks to see if anything obscene has been left behind before they will get in. A hilarious brief half a second, which you will miss if you blink. The rest of the short is also amazing as the boys get into Harold Lloyd thrill comedy territory.
I have also compared the silent version of UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE, which is on the Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy set, to the Talking version (UK7) and, HANDS DOWN; the talkie version is so much better. For example the bit where Hardy plays a record to drown out his wife’s nagging and she starts nagging to the beat of the record only works if there is sound. Love Mae Busch!!
I am so glad that Joe started this thread! It was the push I needed to grab this set. I can see this going for tons of money if it goes oop.