I don't care if Abbott and Costello were good; these two men were the best of friends as well as foils for one another. I loved this movie - and then years later God gave me a Hardy look-alike for a hubby; I'll Stanley to him anytime!
Back to the movie - you also get a *gasp* moral - tell the truth and you get treated like a king! (Hint fellas!)
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Laurel and Hardy deserve a better release on DVD. The Artisan L&H compilation is awful. Maybe no good prints of "Sons Of The Desert" exist, but the Artisan print appears to be one used for television broadcasts. Save your $15, don't buy it!
shareHaving grown up watching Stan and Ollie, and finding my appreciation of them has grown tremendously through the years, I agree they were the best comic duo, then and since. However, in my experience, I find them to be a tough sell to modern audiences, especially the youth. Their best work is over 70 years old, and looks it; the editing and pacing of some of their films leaves something to be desired by the post-MTV crowd. TV programmers apparently agree -- not even vintage movie channels such as Turner Classic Movies seem to revive their films. I hope I'm wrong, but it seems that Laurel and Hardy are in danger of being forgotten by the coming generations, eclipsed by the passage of time and the changing of taste.
share"a tough sell to modern audiences"......well yes, and no.........
some people will always see black and white movies as a problem (some of the same people won't watch films with subtitles). Some people will only watch films which will extend their super duper home cinema system and show off its sonic capabilities.
BUT.....I'm not sure its always to do with their age. Sometimes its due to their family background as well.
My father-in-law (god rest his soul) was always incredulous that I was apparently perfectly happy to sit through old black and white features - he never would. He thought his colour television did exactly what it said on the packet - was never destined to show anything in black and white! (and I'm going back 25 years here!). I guess he'd seen 'em first time around - but he didn't want to see them again!
Whereas my son (who's 18) will tell you that he won't watch "old" black and white movies, and only wants to see the latest slam-bang actioner. However, he's perfectly happy to watch Laurel and Hardy........and Keaton........and some Chaplin (i.e he loves "The Gold Rush").
So my point is, as long as we keep showing 'em to our kids, some of the love will rub off, and these films stand a chance of being shown for generations. They have been so far.........
I'm 15, and i love stan and ollie. I've got almost every movie they made!
shareGradually becoming forgotten and overtaken by new fashions is the fate of many examples of great art. Bach was forgotten, Mozart's stature was diminished, who remembers Jeroen Bosch or Jacob Van Eyk? Hardly anyone ever sees a Lubitsch movie. That's life. I wouldn't want anyone to 'airbrush' a Rembrandt painting just to 'sell it to young people'.
Let's enjoy Laurel & Hardy movies while we can. And tell the world about them. But there's no point in demanding them to last up until the 23rd century. That's not going to happen. Thinking that that is a necessity is sheer cultural arrogance. Each new epoque is entitled to its own choice of 'works of art'. I don't care about the fashions my grandchildren will be subjected to when they will be 43 years old.
Michel Couzijn (43 y.o.)
The Netherlands
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They are the best duo ever hands down.
"People like him have something inside. Something to do with death."
Once Upon a Time in the West
Even speaking as somebody who loves their stuff and actually watches it pretty often, they are headed for being kind of a cultural museum piece.
No fault of their own! People were, are and always will be sheep, and will naturally gravitate to whatever everybody is talking about.
People aren't generally talking about Stan and Ollie these days, but just in the way that people aren't talking about Shakespeare either, they are classics, and will always have some place.
-even if it is an occasional one.
You only have to look at the low number of posts for this film, largely regarded by critics (though not me personally) as their best, on this site to see just how sadly neglected Laurel and Hardy are these days. When I was young (80's) you could guarantee their films would be shown on most bank holidays on BBC2 in the UK. No Laurel and Hardy film has been shown on UK terrestial TV for years. They were so much funny than some of the crude and lewd efforts you see released today e.g. Judd Apatow films.
shareI think many of the earlier actors are getting lost in the massive amount of products being released. The other day, I think I posted the first message about Chester Conklin - who was in quite a few silent comedies.
shareWell you know I think it's natural for Laurel and Hardy not to get the top of mind awareness that we'd love to have for them. I mean we are talking a number of years, aren't we? I do my share by watching some of their films particularly "Sons of the Desert". I usually have to go the doctor after watching it because my heart can't take it!!!...;-)..It's a movie from another time showing what kind of time that was like. It's hilarious to see them running for their lives from their wives and trying to sneak stuff past them!
And I also find Abbott & Costello to be up there too who don't get as much recognition today but I can understand with the passage of time. That's how things go. But Seinfeld saw their genius and he made a hit show based on what he filtered through watching their crazy skits. So there are some out there today who know comedy!
L&H are unquestionably the best. They're even better in subsequent viewings since you know where the deadpan pantomime sections are leading. Unfortunately, in most modern video formats the music track is too loud. It was much more effective in the originals when it was more subtle.
These two aren't just funny...they're lovable. And many of their situations and conflicts are those of Everyman.
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For me, Abbott and Costello are not in the same league.
L&H are the greatest of them all from the 20's, 30's and 40's including Chaplin, Lloyd, Stooges etc..
I went to watch them at the pictures last night as part of their celebrations for 125 years since Stan was born. On the bill was 'County Hospital' followed by 'Son's of the desert' what a hoot although I ate far too much sweets and popcorn.
I agree and this film was hilarious!
shareNo. Burns and Allen.
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