By Doug Gerbino
Flicker
Alley’s recent Blu-Ray release of “Laurel & Hardy Year One-The Newly
Restoed 1927 Silents” is the start of a ground-breaking project which is a joy
for all film fan,s especially Laurel & Hardy aficionados. Produced by film
historians and restoration specialists Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange in
conjunction with Lobster Films, Blackhawk Films and The Library of Congress,
this 2-disc set contains the first 15 extant films that feature Stan Laurel and
Oliver Hardy in the casts. A number of the films can just boast having Laurel
& Hardy in the same film-not yet a team.
Many
of these films are being seen in their most complete versions thus far due to
the collaboration of various film archives and collectors. This is the seminal
period of the teaming of Laurel & Hardy. They are not quite a team in the
earliest films in this collection. This set gives us the opportunity to study
their evolving partnership.
In
typical Flicker Alley fashion the set is chock full of wonderful bonus
materials. Each film has newly recorded audio commentary by Laurel & Hardy
scholar Randy Skretvedt. There are three documentaries: Restoring Laurel
& Hardy, Laurel & Hardy on Location & Hats Off!-a slide show
presentation of the only completely lost Laurel and Hardy film. There are
Multiple Image Galleries, additional music scores for three of the shorts and a
very informative 35-page booklet.
If
you have seen any previous Flicker Alley releases, you know the image quality is
superb. This initial release is an exciting start to a multiple year project.
Year Two (1928) is next. We will have the opportunity to watch the teaming of
one of the greatest comedy teams mature into legends. Very much recommended.
Films
included in the set:
Lucky
Dog (1921)
45
Minutes from Hollywood (1926)
-1927-
Duck
Soup
Slipping
Wives!
Love
‘Em and Weep
Why
Girls Love Sailors
With
Love and Hisses
Sailors,
Beware!
Do
Detectives Think?
Flying
Elephants
Sugar
Daddies
The
Second 100 Years
Call
of the Cuckoo
Putting
Pants on Phillip
The
Battle of the Century
Click here to order from Amazon