Laurel and Hardy

Sunnyisland · 16-01-2016 07:54AM

Laurel and Hardy were a comedy double act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema. The team was composed of thin Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and heavyset American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). They became well known during the late 1920s through the mid-1940s for their slapstick comedy with Laurel playing the clumsy and childlike friend of the pompous Hardy.[1][2] The duo's signature tune, which is known variously as "The Cuckoo Song", "Ku-Ku" or "The Dance of the Cuckoos", was played over the opening credits of their films and has become as emblematic of the duo as their bowler hats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_and_Hardy

MonsterCookie · 15-02-2016 10:02PM

thanks for reminding of Laurel and Hardy OP. I used to watch them a lot as a kid and loved them. Since seeing your post, I've introduced my kids (9, 9, & 7) to them and they love it.

Liberty had them in stitches.

Filmer Paradise · 15-02-2016 10:50PM

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Are they doing a new series? Got to stay relevant

They're making a comeback. Only 3 feet to go!

Filmer Paradise · 15-02-2016 11:01PM

The Golden Miller wrote: »

You'd wonder why they took them off for good to begin with when you consider some of the other sh1te they play. I can't speak for anyone else, but as a kid I found Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin silents far funnier than anything else on. As you point out, I don't see why it would be any different for young kids today, and indeed even adults

Loved Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd & the 3 Stooges. Charlie Chaplin no. Couldn't see why he was seen as such a genius. Totally lost on me.

All this stuff was on TV when I was a kid ('70s/'80s). I never saw it as dated really. Just good entertainment.

I'm glad this thread was started. I must find some DVDs & play them for my own kids.

Can't be any worse than the gunge they watch on TV now.

Wibbs · 15-02-2016 11:13PM

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

Loved Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd & the 3 Stooges. Charlie Chaplin no. Couldn't see why he was seen as such a genius. Totally lost on me.

+1. Could never get the whole Chaplin thing at all TBH.

Filmer Paradise · 15-02-2016 11:53PM

Faye Ripe Stork wrote: »

Abbott and Costello were another great duo.

Aye, but to the 10 year old me they seemed like a Yellow Pack version of Laurel & Hardy.

Get you out in a tight spot 'till you had the brads for the real thing.:D

The Golden Miller · 16-02-2016 12:18AM

MonsterCookie wrote: »

thanks for reminding of Laurel and Hardy OP. I used to watch them a lot as a kid and loved them. Since seeing your post, I've introduced my kids (9, 9, & 7) to them and they love it.

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

I'm glad this thread was started. I must find some DVDs & play them for my own kids.

Glad to hear that you's are exposing the next generation to them. Liberty is brilliant too, was nearly going to post it instead of "the Finishing Touch" which just shades it for me. Couldn't believe that there was never a dedicated Laurel and Hardy thread created on boards.ie before this considering it's been around for years and the wealth of topics covered.

As for the Chaplin thing, I found his silents funny as a kid but not really anymore since I've gotten older. In comparison I still find the Laurel and Hardy talkies brilliant. Silents are a bit dated for the older generation alright, but the L&H talkies aren't in my opinion. Still as good as anything around now, if not better in most cases

Zaph · 16-02-2016 12:22AM

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

Loved Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd & the 3 Stooges. Charlie Chaplin no. Couldn't see why he was seen as such a genius. Totally lost on me.

Agree with you on Charlie Chaplin, just not funny at all. Wasn't a lover of The 3 Stooges either, but I loved Buster Keaton as well as the others you mentioned. Some of the stunts were just incredible.

Pinch Flat · 16-02-2016 12:23AM

That's another fine mess you've gotten me into, op

Owldshtok · 16-02-2016 12:26AM

While were on vintage comedy don't forget the Marx Brothers - the best!
And Norman Wisdom.

Filmer Paradise · 16-02-2016 12:53AM

Zaph wrote: »

Agree with you on Charlie Chaplin, just not funny at all. Wasn't a lover of The 3 Stooges either, but I loved Buster Keaton as well as the others you mentioned. Some of the stunts were just incredible.

Yeah. Charlie just didn't cut for me at all. Didn't seem to be much going on there, just lots of quick walking & 'pathos'. (Whatever:rolleyes:). The 3 Stooges was funny to me cos of their absolute violence to each other. Myself & my siblings used to be like that to each other & thought it perfectly normal behaviour.

I'm sure the few visitors we had to our house were shocked at the casual violence we as a family showed to each other.:eek:

Having said that, I recently saw the remake of the 3 Stooges & thought it was great. Tears of laughter stuff! But that's just my taste.

Filmer Paradise · 16-02-2016 01:08AM

Owldshtok wrote: »

While were on vintage comedy don't forget the Marx Brothers - the best!
And Norman Wisdom.

The Marx Bros. They were OK in my mind. Groucho's patter went over my 10 year old head & then there was that blondie lad who couldn't speak. Just honked a Car Horn & played a harp sometimes. Lame.

Norman Wisdom used to turn up regularly on those 'Matinee' things on RTE when I was a kid. I liked him.

Iron Curtain countries, as a rule didn't show Western films years ago. However in Romania, Chauchecu their Iron Fist leader loved Norman & allowed his films to be shown there.

Norman is still a cultural icon there I hear.

murpho999 · 16-02-2016 01:33AM

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

The Marx Bros. They were OK in my mind. Groucho's patter went over my 10 year old head & then there was that blondie lad who couldn't speak. Just honked a Car Horn & played a harp sometimes. Lame.

Norman Wisdom used to turn up regularly on those 'Matinee' things on RTE when I was a kid. I liked him.

Iron Curtain countries, as a rule didn't show Western films years ago. However in Romania, Chauchecu their Iron Fist leader loved Norman & allowed his films to be shown there.

Norman is still a cultural icon there I hear.

Sorry to correct you but it was Enver Hoxha in Albania and not Ceaușescu in Romania.

Zaph · 16-02-2016 01:34AM

Filmer Paradise wrote: »

Iron Curtain countries, as a rule didn't show Western films years ago. However in Romania, Chauchecu their Iron Fist leader loved Norman & allowed his films to be shown there.

Norman is still a cultural icon there I hear.

Actually it was Albania that he was big in. Enver Hoxha reckoned that Wisdom's proletariat worker standing up to his capitalist boss in most of his films was similar to the class war that the communists had fought.

whisky_galore · 17-02-2016 09:45AM

Zaph wrote: »

Agree with you on Charlie Chaplin, just not funny at all. Wasn't a lover of The 3 Stooges either, but I loved Buster Keaton as well as the others you mentioned. Some of the stunts were just incredible.

Buster Keaton's ones were potentially life threatening...sitting up on a moving steam locomotive connecting rod in The General, if it ever slipped he would have 'bought it' and Harold Lloyd got a finger and thumb blown off by a bomb, it was assumed to be fake but got mixed up with a real explosive used for special effects.

The Master · 17-02-2016 10:01AM

In the words of Blackadder

Chaplin is a genius.
He certainly is a genius, George.
He invented a way of getting paid a million dollars a year for wearing a pair of stupid trousers.

wexandproud · 17-02-2016 11:59AM

mickrock wrote: »

Laurel and Hardy dance to "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qgoWYUS4eM

fcuk me , who comes up with stuff , nearly wet myself laughing ,pure class. I can still remember my first time at the pictures in the early seventies , double bill of john wayne and l & h

LDN_Irish · 17-02-2016 12:06PM

Sure they're only copying the Chuckle Brothers. No originality at all at all.

OU812 · 17-02-2016 05:12PM

New biopic just after being green lit starting Steve Coogan & John C Rielly, doc using on their UK tour.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-eone-jumps-aboard-steve-866616?mobile_redirect=false

bodhrandude · 17-02-2016 06:44PM

Someone mentioned Tom and Jerry earlier, this is my favourite of theirs. Tom's photo finish.

http://onlineplayer.eu/Tom-and-Jerry/toms-photo-finish-109.html

Filmer Paradise · 17-02-2016 08:11PM

murpho999 wrote: »

Sorry to correct you but it was Enver Hoxha in Albania and not Ceaușescu in Romania.

Zaph wrote: »

Actually it was Albania that he was big in. Enver Hoxha reckoned that Wisdom's proletariat worker standing up to his capitalist boss in most of his films was similar to the class war that the communists had fought.

Sorry lads. My bad.

I'm always getting my Iron Curtain dictators mixed up.

Posy · 17-02-2016 09:09PM

Wibbs wrote: »

+1. Could never get the whole Chaplin thing at all TBH.

"He's as funny as a vegetable that's grown into a rude and amusing shape."

The Royal Marine in Dun Laoghaire has 'Hardy's Bar and Bistro' and 'Laurel's Bar' since the boys stayed there in 1953.

I was just reading about Stan Laurel, after seeing this thread- his number was in the phone book. Fans could just ring him, and he'd answer and speak to them!

Rothko · 17-02-2016 09:40PM

Very surprised at the amount of people in here who don't like Charlie Chaplin.

Grandeeod · 17-02-2016 09:42PM

From 2006. A BBC drama based on Stan Laurel visting Ollie on his death bed. I found it to be decent enough even though it had artistic license. This is EP 1. follow the episodes after that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_HubxC-Ip8

The Golden Miller · 17-02-2016 09:50PM

OU812 wrote: »

New biopic just after being green lit starting Steve Coogan & John C Rielly, doc using on their UK tour.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-eone-jumps-aboard-steve-866616?mobile_redirect=false

Dunno what to make of this news

OU812 · 17-02-2016 10:09PM

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Dunno what to make of this news

Looking forward to it. Looks like inspired casting & I'd say it'll be extremely interesting, hopefully have some flashback stuff also

The Golden Miller · 17-02-2016 10:14PM

OU812 wrote: »

Looking forward to it. Looks like inspired casting & I'd say it'll be extremely interesting, hopefully have some flashback stuff also

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to anything with or about L&H. I think Reilly could pull off Ollie as Ollie was funny mainly due to his exasperation of Stan, but I don't see how Coogan will pull off playing Stan and his facial expressions. But we'll see I guess. BBC are normally pretty decent with this sort of thing

J Cheever Loophole · 19-02-2016 08:55AM

Yamanoto wrote: »

My Dad recalls being completely star-struck as a kid, on spotting Stan & Ollie strolling along on O'Connell St. during their long visit to Dublin in the early 1950's.

Bit of background here:

http://www.broadsheet.ie/tag/laurel-and-hardy/

I remember my own father talking about seeing them in the Opera House in Belfast. Frank Carson used to recount a story from that time about meeting them in the street in Belfast City Centre, stopping them to say hello and telling them about how much he enjoyed their work. The subsequent conversation then went along the lines of;

Olly - "What a nice young man, Mr Laurel."

Stan - "He certainly is Mr Hardy."

Olly - "Shall we shake his hand?"

Stan - "Let's."

Olly shakes Frank's hand, then Stan shakes Frank's hand, and then they turn and shake each others hands before starting to slap each others hands down in pretend anger / disgust.

Looking back on their career, the term 'comic genius' is probably the most apt description.

OU812 · 19-02-2016 11:36PM

Grandeeod wrote: »

From 2006. A BBC drama based on Stan Laurel visting Ollie on his death bed. I found it to be decent enough even though it had artistic license. This is EP 1. follow the episodes after that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_HubxC-Ip8

Just watched all four parts. Wonderful production

Ice Maiden · 19-02-2016 11:40PM

They could write a frying-pan gag that'd really make you think.

Laurel and Hardy

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