L&H Productions

As a big fan of Laurel and Hardy, let me recommend Dan Callahan's short essay on their career. Callahan is the best sort of film writer--knowledgeable, rational and, while opinionated, not over-opinionated.

Laurel and Hardy were already experienced film comedians when they joined up in the late 20s at Hal Roach Studio. It took them a few shorts to establish their characters, but from then on they did good work, more in shorts than features, all the way through the 30s. Alas, their films after that at Fox and MGM, where they had no control, are pretty bad--I'd hate to think of newcomers being introduced to the team through them.

Callahan admits their style is old-fashioned. That's true, but even back then, they were different. Where most physical comedians got by through speed, Laurel and Hardy slowed things down. They were as destructive as any clowns, but they did it deliberatetly, with a certain refinement, even daintiness, that set them apart.

Alas, there's a problem all L & H fans have. As Callahan puts it:

It's hard to see their movies on DVD; there are too many scattered collections here and there, and it's about time some reputable company restored and released their silent and talkie shorts in chronological order, in affordable boxed sets.

Since DVDs and other modern media may already be the main way they're seen, I can only hope someone who can do something about it reads Callahan and responds.