Laurel & Hardy

[DetroitSquirreL]

Anyone know why there is no Laurel & Hardy on BD or even rumored??

[madridista8700]

I think there are 6 or 7 released here in Denmark.

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by DetroitSquirreL

Anyone know why there is no Laurel & Hardy on BD or even rumored??

It's simply because an awful lot of restoration work would be needed for there to be a notable improvement in HD. What makes matters worse is that, unlike their contemporaries, Laurel and Hardy seem to be largely forgotten in the US. I don't think even the recent, long-awaited DVD set sold particularly well so it's a dodgy commercial option. The best spur would be for fans to invest in the DVD set for now.

BABES IN TOYLAND is the only BD I know of. I think the Danish releases may be the later, inferior 20th Century Fox films. They are still popular in Europe, which is something.

There is, I believe, a private initiative to restore their work but it relies on private donations and will take a long time to complete. I suspect we might see one or two of the Roach features on Blu within the next five years but otherwise the future isn't too bright for these comic geniuses.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

It's simply because an awful lot of restoration work would be needed for there to be a notable improvement in HD. What makes matters worse is that, unlike their contemporaries, Laurel and Hardy seem to be largely forgotten in the US. I don't think even the recent, long-awaited DVD set sold particularly well so it's a dodgy commercial option. The best spur would be for fans to invest in the DVD set for now.

BABES IN TOYLAND is the only BD I know of. I think the Danish releases may be the later, inferior 20th Century Fox films. They are still popular in Europe, which is something.

There is, I believe, a private initiative to restore their work but it relies on private donations and will take a long time to complete. I suspect we might see one or two of the Roach features on Blu within the next five years but otherwise the future isn't too bright for these comic geniuses.

The Max Roach stuff with 'Our Gang / Little Rascals' need release as well. I have the 2 volumes that came out on DVD and were nice...at least put those out!

'Babes in Toyland' is the least of L&H films I wanna see on BD

[DetroitSquirreL]

BTW - Mr Mod...why put it in the 'wish list' section...it was a question...and it was answered that there are some available, so its not a wish, its reality in Denmark (so he says)

[madridista8700]

The Dancing Master


A Haunting We Will Go


Great Guns


Jitterbugs


The Big Noise


The Bullfighters

[duggie walker]

Yeah, all the Fox films. So far from their best work. Better than nthing, I suppose. What's the quality like?

EDIT: Actually, some slightly better news. The initiative I talked about is a UCLA project, which is even inviting public donations. Read about it here:

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/support/laurel-and-hardy

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Yeah, all the Fox films. So far from their best work. Better than nthing, I suppose. What's the quality like?

EDIT: Actually, some slightly better news. The initiative I talked about is a UCLA project, which is even inviting public donations. Read about it here:

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/support/laurel-and-hardy

cheers ....Im doing the minimum donation of $25 USD

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by madridista8700

[Show spoiler]
The Dancing Master


A Haunting We Will Go


Great Guns


Jitterbugs


The Big Noise


The Bullfighters

how much are they each? Can I order them online? Or can you get them for me?

[HDMe]

From a historical perspective... one important reason why Laurel & Hardy is not in more demand here in the US...

Laurel & Hardy were getting feature films... The Three Stooges always wanted feature films, but kept getting shorts instead. BUT that turned out to be a bonus in disguise (note no bonus paid to the Stooges, however)...

Once TV hit, it was far easier to repackage Stooges shorts than Laurel & Hardy films... and for syndication, when that took off, Stooges shorts were a gold mine because it was really easy to wedge them into small timeslots when you didn't have time for a movie.

So the Stooges got a lot more TV play, and thus more familiarity with US audiences.

I would like to see Laurel & Hardy (at least the early and the better stuff) come to Blu-ray... but I haven't heard much in that area either.

[Atreyu]

I too would love to see Laurel and Hardy on blu ray. IMO, the best comedy team of all time. True some are in rough shape, but I still would love to have them on blu.

[Atreyu]

Originally Posted by madridista8700

The Dancing Master


A Haunting We Will Go


Great Guns


Jitterbugs


The Big Noise


The Bullfighters

Note: I believe these are Region B locked.

[madridista8700]

Originally Posted by DetroitSquirreL

how much are they each? Can I order them online? Or can you get them for me?

They are priced roughly between $12 and $18 here: http://www.moviezoo.dk/blu-ray-film/...%25F8g%20gokke

They do ship worldwide.

They are Region B locked, but I see you have a regionfree player.

[EricJ]

Think it's more a question of "Who OWNS them?"
Apart from the fact that most of the best known ones (eg Flying Deuces) have sunk into public domain, since DVD, we've seen exactly two professional restoration collections, and think that was from the late, lamented Artisan.

The first restoration volume had a good-looking copy of "Sons of the Desert" and "Music Box", but where it is today, someone else will have to answer.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Think it's more a question of "Who OWNS them?"
Apart from the fact that most of the best known ones (eg Flying Deuces) have sunk into public domain, since DVD, we've seen exactly two professional restoration collections, and think that was from the late, lamented Artisan.

The first restoration volume had a good-looking copy of "Sons of the Desert" and "Music Box", but where it is today, someone else will have to answer.

if you click on each title on that site the back will come up and it says '20th Century Fox presents...' and has the FOX logo. The pics on the back of the box look sharp from what I can see....I might just gamble and buy them

[DetroitSquirreL]

BTW - This just popped up from Germany next month

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Laure...Blu-ray/54590/

[Yojimbo68]

I have the Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection DVD that was released at the end of last year and it's terrific. I usually put on a L & H short and a cartoon before I watch a main feature. A few years back I was lucky enough to see Babes in Toyland (AKA March of the Wooden Soldiers)projected on film in a theatre in New Jersey. What a great time! The same theatre also played their slilent short Big Business accompanied by a live organ performance. The audience loved it! Laurel and Hardy are still great. Always will be. The problem is that didn't get the TV air time that say the Three Stooges did due to legal issues on some of their films. I recommend The Essential Collection DVD. It was a long time coming but it was worth it.

[Akijama]

From Criterion Twitter page:

The films of Laurel & Hardy are in desperate need of preservation. Help @UCLAFTVArchive with a donation

http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/support/laurel-and-hardy

So,if you're feeling generous,you can donate to cause.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by Akijama

From Criterion Twitter page:



http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/support/laurel-and-hardy

So,if you're feeling generous,you can donate to cause.

I saw that, and I did