Laurel and Hardy DVD

review of Laurel & Hardy DVD (1933) – DVD compilation of Laurel and Hardy’s best talking films – Sons of the Desert, The Music Box, Another Fine Mess, Busy Bodies, County Hospital

Editorial review of Laurel & Hardy DVD (1933) – courtesy of Amazon.com

For one-stop convenience, you can’t beat this handy compilation of Laurel and Hardy classics. Although it’s modestly priced and packaged, this DVD packs plenty of extras along with Stan & Ollie’s finest feature and several of the comedy duo’s best-loved “talkie” shorts. Sons of the Desert (1933) is the crown jewel in any Laurel and Hardy collection, and with Charley Chase as their stellar comedy costar, the boys reached the pinnacle of their unique partnership, playing a pair of Fez-wearing “Sons of the Desert” sneaking off to a convention in Chicago, but their wives discover the ruse with hilarious results. For Laurel and Hardy fans, it simply doesn’t get any better than this, although 1932’s “The Music Box” shares equal status – and a 1932 Oscar® for Best Comedy Short – €”in the Laurel and Hardy pantheon.
The remaining shorts on the disc (“Another Fine Mess,” “Busy Bodies,” and “County Hospital” ) were produced during the prime of Stan and Ollie sound-era success (1930-33), each boasting their own timeless bits and flawless routines. Abundant laughs are virtually guaranteed.
Most of the bonus material pays tribute to legendary comedy producer Hal Roach, who first partnered Stan & Ollie in 1926. A film-clip tribute includes interviews with comedy greats like Mel Brooks and Steve Allen, and on-screen articles explore Roach”€™s career in greater detail. A “then and now” photo tour provides an historic tour of Roach Studio locations in Culver City, California, and text biographies are provided for Roach, Laurel, and Hardy. In addition to the films themselves (which never looked or sounded better), these extras make thisLaurel and Hardy DVD a perfect choice for old and new fans alike. —Jeff Shannon
From the Back Cover
Five original black and white films collected on one DVD. Films are:

• Sons of the Desert (1933) – The boys sneak off to a convention, telling their wives that Ollie requires a restful cruise to Hawaii to recuperate … but all is not peaceful when the suspicious wives discover the ship sank. The boys sneak off to a convention, telling their wives that Ollie requires a restful cruise to Hawaii to recuperate … but all is not peaceful when the suspicious wives discover the ship sank.
• The Music Box (1932) – The Laurel and Hardy Moving Company struggles to deliver a piano to a house at the top of an insurmountable staircase. Winner of a 1932 Oscar ® for Best Comedy Short.
• Another Fine Mess (1930) – Stan and Ollie hide from the police in the seemingly safe confines of a deserted mansion, that is until some tenants show up! Ollie must pretend to be the owner while Stan becomes both the butler and the maid!
• Busy Bodies (1933) – Being employed as carpenters, Stanley and Oliver stumble through a hilarious parade of self-inflicted mishaps, only to retreat hastily … and drive their car into a band saw.
• County Hospital (1932) – Oliver is peacefully recovering from a broken leg, when Stan decides to bring him a present of hard-boiled eggs and nuts. That’s not all he delivers, however, and proceeds to almost destroy the place and the people in it.

DVD also contains tributes, biographies and photo features.

Trivia about Laurel and Hardy DVD

Trivia about Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert

• The role of Stan Laurel‘s wife was originally slated for Patsy Kelly, but Hal Roach had loaned her to MGM for Going Hollywood (1933), which was running over schedule when shooting for this film began. Dorothy Christie joined the cast as Stan’s wife four days into filming.
• Lillian DeBorba was drafted into filling a seat in the theater sequence. She was on the lot with her little daughter Dorothy DeBorba who was “Echo” in the Our Gang comedies.

Trivia about Laurel and Hardy’s The Music Box

• The mansion at the top of the stairs was not really at the top of the stairs but was a set on the Roach Studio lot. The stairs lead to a cul-de-sac, at the time of filming.
• The film was reportedly half-improvised and was made mostly as a contractual obligation between Laurel and Hardy and Hal Roach.
• The crate that Laurel and Hardy wrestle with was empty, but the one shown sliding down the staircase really did have an upright piano in it. As it careens down the steps, muffled, discordant tones can be heard.
• This Short won Oscar as “Best Short Subject” of 1932, the only such honor bestowed on a Laurel & Hardy film.
• This is reported to be a remake of one of their earlier silent films, Hats Off (1927), which is presumed lost.
• The monumental staircase in the film still exists, in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles, between 923 and 937 Vendome Street. There are 131 steps.

Trivia about Laurel and Hardy’s Another Fine Mess

• Based on a 1908 sketch written by Stan Laurel’s father.

Funny movie quotes from Laurel and Hardy DVD

• Funny movie quotes from Laurel and Hardy’s Sons of the Desert

• • Oliver : Now isn’t this nice?
    Stan : It sure is. We’re just like two peas in a pot.
  • Oliver : To catch a Hardy they’ve got to get up very early in the morning.
    Stan : What time?
    Oliver : Oh about half-past – “What time.” Hmph.
  • Stan : I’ve certainly got to hand it to you, Ollie.
    Oliver : For what?
    Stan : Well for the meticulous care with which you have executed your finely formulated machinations in extricating us from this devastating dilemma.
    Oliver : Get in bed.
    Stan : What?
    Oliver : Get in bed. “Meticulous.” Hmph.
  • Oliver : Where is she?
    Stan : Maybe she went to the mountains.
    Oliver : I’ll bet she did. You know she makes me sick.
    Stan : Well if she didn’t go to the mountains, then Mohammad would have to come here.
  • Oliver : Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.
  • Lottie : Have you anything else to say?
    Oliver : Why no. That’s all there is. There isn’t anymore. Is there Stanley?
    Stan : No, that’s our story and we’re stuck with it. In it.
  • Lottie : You’re going to Honolulu if you have to go alone.
    Oliver : If I have to go to Honolulu alone
    [Points to Stan ] He’s going with me.
  • Oliver : What did Betty say?
    Stan : Betty said that honesty was the best politics.
  • Oliver : Now why did you hire a veterinarian?
    Stan : I didn’t think his religion would make any difference.
  • Oliver : Why didn’t you want to take the oath?
    Stan : I was afraid.
    Oliver : Of what?
    Stan : I was afraid that if I took the oath, that my wife wouldn’t let me go. And the Exhausted Ruler said that if … you took an oath, it would have to be broken for … generations and … centuries of …hundreds of years and my wife would let …
    Oliver : Do you have to ask your wife everything?
    Stan : Well if I didn’t ask her, I wouldn’t know what she wanted me to do.
    Oliver : Why don’t you pattern your life after mine? I go places and do things and *then* tell my wife. Every man should be the king in his own castle.
  • [on the telephone ]
    Lottie : Charley tells me you’re from Los Angeles. What part?
    Oliver : All of me.
  • Betty : Stanley wouldn’t dare lie to me. I hate to think what would happen if he ever did.
  • Stan : I may not be king of my castle, but I certainly wouldn’t allow my wife to wear any pants. I’d like to see my old woman throwing things. It’s disgraceful. Never heard of such goings off. On. If my old ball and chain ever talked to me …If she even dared …You know what I’d say?
    Oliver : What?
    Stan : I’d say … [Sees Betty ] Hello, honey. I … [Double takes ]
  • Stan : If you don’t be careful, she’s going to get the upper hand of you.
  • Lottie : I’ll show you, you Son of a Desert! Go to a convention on me, ha! ha!

• Funny movie quotes from Laurel and Hardy’s The Music Box

• • Nursemaid : And not only that, he kicked me.
    Policeman : He kicked you?
    Nursemaid : Yes, officer, right in the middle of my daily duty.
    Policeman : Oh, he kicked you did he?
  • Stan : What do you want?
    Policeman : I don’t want you. I want that other monkey.
    [Stan whistles to Ollie ]
    Ollie : What?
    Stan : He doesn’t want me! He wants the other monkey!
    [Ollie looks around ]
    Stan : You!
    Ollie : Oh.
  • Nursemaid : Of all the dumb things!
  • Stan : Don’t you think you’re bounding over your step?
  • Ollie : Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
  • Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen : [ the piano is blocking his path ] Well? Either of you two numbskulls going to take this thing out of the way?
    Ollie : What’s it to you?
    Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen : I should like to pass.
    Ollie : Why don’t you walk around?
    Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen : Walk around? Me? Professor Theodore Von Schwarzenhoffen? M.D., A.D, D.D.S, F.L.D, F.F.F und F should walk around? Get that thing out of my way! Go on, out of the way!
    [Stan slaps his hat off. It flies into the street and is flattened by a truck ]
    Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen : Very nice. I’ll have you arrested for this! I’ll have you thrown in jail! I’m professor T.D.A!

• Funny movie quotes from Laurel and Hardy’s Another Nice Mess

• • Ollie: Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.
  • Officer: Say, Kelly, did a couple of guys come through here?
    Other Officer: Yeah, a couple just ran in there, why?
    Officer: Well, they was in the park and they had put a couple of benches together so they could have twin beds and when I asked them to move on, the little fella tips his hat and says “yes ma’am.” That’s what I’m sore about!
  • Stan: [as Agnes the Maid] Bedrooms, let’s see, there’s mine and the master’s and the master’s and mine. That’s four.
    Lady Plumtree: No no, there’s the master’s then yours. That’s two.
    Stan: Oh, yeah. Then there’s the nursery.
    Lady Plumtree: A nursery? I didn’t know the colonel was married.
    Stan: Oh, he has that in case of accidents.
  • Ollie: Agnes, call me a cab.
    Stan: Huh?
    Ollie: Call me a cab.
    Stan: You’re a cab.
  • Lord Leopold Plumtree: Tell me, Agnes, are you of any relation to the butler?
    Ollie: Oh, yes, yes, they’re twins. See, one was born in Detroit, the other in Miami.
    Lord Leopold Plumtree: I don’t quite understand.
    Ollie: That’s all right. Neither do they.

• Funny movie quotes from Laurel and Hardy’s County Hospital (1932)

• Oliver: Why didn’t you bring me a box of candy?
  Stanley: They cost too much.
  Oliver: What’s that got to do with it?
  Stanley: You didn’t pay me for the last box I brought you.
• Stanley: I brought you some hard boiled eggs and some nuts.