OT: New Laurel and Hardy DVD

[Vdubdavid]

There's a new Laurel and Hardy DVD out with the features "Way Out West", "Block-Heads" and the short "Chickens Come Home". Has anyone bought this yet? More importantly, is it any better than the last "official" L&H release that had poor film quality, reissue titles and faux "commerical" blackouts?

[Paul Penna]

There's a new Laurel and Hardy DVD out with the features "Way Out West", "Block-Heads" and the short "Chickens Come Home". Has anyone bought this yet? More importantly, is it any better than the last "official" L&H release that had poor film quality, reissue titles and faux "commerical" blackouts?

Randy Skretvedt, author of the highly-regarded "Laurel and Hardy, The Magic Behind the Movies," has just chimed in on the Home Theater Forum with his opinion that it's a big improvement on the first disc, and generally likes the transfers. No broadcast-modified prints this time, for one thing.

Now I'll have the courage to check out my copy. It's been sitting around here for over a week, still sealed, receiving only apprehensive glances from yours truly.

[Shemp]

Randy Skretvedt, author of the highly-regarded "Laurel and Hardy, The Magic Behind the Movies," has just chimed in on the Home Theater Forum with his opinion that it's a big improvement on the first disc, and generally likes the transfers. No broadcast-modified prints this time, for one thing.


CHICKENS COME HOME has no title card in the open credits.

Specifically, Hallmark used a Film Classics reissue print of the short... but, the Film Classics reissue prints are mis-titled "Chicken Come Home." Hallmark clipped the mis-title, and didn't replace it with anything. (sigh.)

[corey3rd]

i heard that the only reason these discs have come out is because an executive at Wal-Mart demanded it. And it shows in the lack of enthusiam with the quality of the prints and the "push." Instead of putting out a top notch collection that would get the critical notice like the Chaplin collections, they threw out a few bones that rival a PD disc.

But what can you do when the rights owner could care less with their, "We put it out - be thankful" attitude?

[rodney]

It's completely ridiculous that we're forced to deal with this garbage while Europe gets such amazing sets.


I have DVD transfers from Nostalgia Merchant prints, and so far, they're better than what Hallmark has released.

[Jon Cooke]

I saw this at Target the other day and was going to ask if it was worth picking up. I will probably pick it up at some point anyway, I already have Volume 1 and I am just discovering the L&H comedies (believe it or not) so all the shorts are new to me.

I am really looking forward to TCM's April Fool's Day marathon.:tweety:


-Jon

[Nelson]

I am really looking forward to TCM's April Fool's Day marathon.:tweety:


-Jon
Jon is there any way we can make a special post for the TCM april comedy fest, so we can share thoughts and comments?

[Jon Cooke]

Jon is there any way we can make a special post for the TCM april comedy fest, so we can share thoughts and comments?

I don't think that would be a problem. :)


-Jon

[Nelson]

I don't think that would be a problem. :)


-Jon
That will be great jon and it will be a lot of fun as well.Thanks:)

But on a serious note, Hallmark Entainment has done a very poor job with the handling of the Hal Roach film library and the only single time the company(Hallmark) did a great job with the Roach comedies, was when the old Odyssey Channel(now the Hallmark Channel) aired the Roach series "Leonard Maltin Presents" every week a few years ago.Not only did they show Laurel And Hardy, but presented other rare Roach "talkies" including, Charley Chase, The Boy Friends, Thelma Todd & Zasu Pitts and Patsy Kelly and The Taxi Boys.

IMO, Hallmark could do a much better job in releasing the Roach material on dvd and there is a online petiton aimed directly at Hallmark on getting the Charley Chase MGM "talkies" over at the Charley Chase website.And the lack of Our Gang comedies with Hallmark(along with Artistian home video) released a few Our Gang dvds but nothing else.

Come on Hallmark, get it together.