World Famous Comics: TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)
TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)
Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, June Lang, William Janney, Anne Grey Directed By: Charley Rogers, Hal Roach, James W. Horne Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Special Edition, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: April 18, 2006 Running Time: 268 minutes Theatrical Release Date: May 05, 1933
Description: They were one of the movies' most successful and best-loved comic duos, probably because their irresistible slapstick antics were underscored by an indomitable optimism. Beginning with shorts made at the Hal Roach Studios, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy struck a universal chord by sharing a contentious yet benign friendship that always survived whatever indignities their mutual bumbling brought upon them. This TCM Archives two-disc collection focuses on the team at their zenith during the sound era and spotlights two features produced by Roach for MGM. The Devil's Brother (1933) (also known as Fra Diavolo) is a laugh-filled adaptation of the Auber operetta in which "Stanlio" and "Ollio" tangle with a notorious robber baron. The delightful Bonnie Scotland (1935) is a misadventure that takes the boys to Scotland and India.
Amazon.com: Unlike many silent screen comedians, Laurel & Hardy made a seamless transition to talkies, and this TCM Archives double-feature showcases some of their funniest work from the early 1930s. As always, TCM/Warner has packaged this must-have set for true film buffs: The prints are pristine, image quality is crisp and clean, sound quality is the best available (allowing for some hiss and minor drop-offs due to the age of the soundtracks), and bonus features have been chosen with care and authority, including several highlight excerpts from Laurel & Hardy short subjects. While continuing to enjoy their priceless partnership with producer Hal Roach, Stan & Ollie were at their sound-era peak in The Devil's Brother (1933), a hilarious adaptation of the Auber operetta Fra Diavolo (also the film's alternate European title), in which "Stanlio" and "Ollio" find themselves entangled in the exploits of the Marquis de San Marco, a notorious singing bandit named "Fra Diavolo" (played with adequate panache by Dennis King) who's set his sights on the lovely Lady Pamela (played by '30s screen queen Thelma Todd). Plots in Laurel & Hardy films are almost always perfunctory, but this is one of the better ones, lending Stan & Ollie ample opportunity to cut loose with Roach-invented gags and trademark slapstick. The highlight has to be Stan's drunken laughing fit, a miraculously sustained bit of hilarity (with Ollie eventually joining in) that's absolutely infectious and irresistible--it's impossible to watch without laughing right along with Stan.
Bonnie Scotland (1935) finds L&H in Gunga Din territory (or if you prefer, The Lives of a Bengal Lancer) as they arrive in Scotland hoping to collect "MacLaurel's" inheritance, only to end up recruited into a Scottish infantry regiment in the Indian desert. The comedy is mildly compromised by a standard-issue romance plot involving costars June Lang and William Janney, but whenever Stan and Ollie are onscreen, the laughs are consistently plentiful and timelessly entertaining. Adding expert context to the comedy, audio commentaries by film historians and lifelong L&H fans Leonard Maltin and Richard W. Bann are packed with knowledgeable information out each film, the careers of the cast members, working methods at Hal Roach studios, shooting locations, and fascinating anecdotal details (such as the fact that long-time L&H supporting player James Finlayson was the direct inspiration for Homer Simpson's beloved exclamation, "D'Oh!" on TV's long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons. The package is rounded out by "Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story," an excellent TCM feature-length documentary, narrated by Chevy Chase, that extensively chronicles the many varieties of short subjects produced during the 1930's and '40s--essentially an extension of Vaudeville and newsreels that gave rise to many of Hollywood's finest performers during the golden age of the studio system. All in all, this is a perfect DVD set for longtime Laurel & Hardy fans, or newcomers to their classic brand of comedy. --Jeff Shannon
Love these movies These movies are a must have for Laurel and Hardy fans of all ages. Nothing like classics!
Not a good introduction to the team The Hal Roach film library, which includes the vast majority of Laurel and Hardy's material, has been largely ignored by its owners for years. Only a few features and shorts starring Laurel and Hardy lie outside of that collection. Warner Home Video owns the two features in this collection plus Laurel & Hardy - Air Raid Wardens / Nothing but Trouble, which were actually made at MGM. The two feature films in this collection are products of Hal Roach Studios, but WHV obtained the DVD rights, probably a product of the fact that Hal Roach products were released through MGM at the time.
Laurel and Hardy are not a comedy team where you can just wander into any feature film they did and get a full appreciation for it. First, IMHO, you need to watch their comedy shorts. Start in the silent era if you can, but definitely try to view their evolution in their sound shorts through the early 1930's. Once you've got a feel for their subtle brand of humor, then you can appreciate the two feature films in this set more. "Bonnie Scotland" is more of your typical Laurel and Hardy film, if there is such a thing. "The Dev il's Brother" is most unusual with all of the music involved. This was something Hal Roach liked, but Stan Laurel always thought it threw the comedy off of its pacing, and I think time has proved Stan right. If you are a fan of Hal Roach shorts you'll recognize and appreciate Thelma Todd in "The De vil's Brother" and James Finlayson in "Bonnie Scotland".
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story - This is a good featurette, but it doesn't focus on Laurel and Hardy at all. Maybe this had to do with WHV's limited rights to Laurel and Hardy material. * Commentaries by aficionados Richard W. Bann and Leonard Maltin - These were very well done and enhanced the films greatly. * Introduction by Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne - The same high quality introduction you'd get from Mr. Osborne if he were introducing these films in primetime on TCM. * Vintage Excerpts from: The Hollywood Revue of 1929 - Laurel and Hardy have a very short magic act here that isn't very good. This could just be because the pair were new to sound. Rogue Song - The whole film is lost. Only fragments remain, and you get one here that barely does more than prove that the boys were indeed in the film, a fact that was disputed for years. Hollywood Party, and Pick a Star - The small guest spots that Laurel and Hardy had in these films. * Theatrical Trailers
Don't introduce a potential fan to Laurel and Hardy using these films. This is for someone who is already a convert. As always with Warner Home Video products, the quality of the audio and video of these old films are excellent.
Laurel and Hardy I was very dissapointed when I immediately wrapped gift that was in brand new pack and took it to my Uncle for his birthday. What a disappointment to find one disc missing. I did get a new one a few days later but still quite an inconvenience and disappointment. When we finally got to view it ,it was in good shape and very funny. Sue
Top-Notch Laurel and Hardy, prior to the 1940s, could do no wrong. They were exploited in later years -- understandable if one wants to have an income to buy food, etc. However, this archival work is a demonstration of The Boys at their best!
Laurel & Hardy better movies I really like the Laurel & Hardy feature length films. However, few are available in DVD format. About 15 years ago (before DVD were popular) the VHS format L & H films disappeared, some flap about copyright? The films available were very poor technically. I hope that era is over. These two films are well done in DVD. I am not a film critic.
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