Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations

As comedy teams go, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were subtler than most.  Oh, that’s not to say that their humor didn’t rely on pranks, pratfalls and comic misunderstandings.  The formula was much the same as successful solo acts like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd.  But Laurel and Hardy had a bit more patience, stretching out a gag with a slower pace for a bigger payoff.  Of course, it’s all a matter of taste.  But those (like myself) who feel the duo never quite got their due, Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorationsis a set worth losing your **** over!

Featuring two features (Sons of the Desert and Way Out West) and 17 shorts, the 4-disc set offers up a comprehensive look at the Hal Roach Studios’ output, including the home video debut of The Battle of the Century, a L & H silent reconstructed in its most complete version.  If you’re expecting scratchy, public domain quality prints, think again.  Most of the material has been restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Library of Congress to a level of presentation level that bests the original release prints by a widemargin.  We’re talking 2K and 4K scans that look like 2K and 4K scans!

 

Extras are overflowing as well, with a commentary track on each title, alternate soundtracks, copious image galleries and interviews.  But even if you ignored the special features, the set is a treat.  L & H’s style of comedy has aged particularly well.  Dodging most of the sexism, racism or any-ism that tends to offend, the duo poked fun at an easy target – themselves – crafting characters with forgivable faults and endearing bad habits.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong with getting hit over the head with something once in a while too.

 

 

 

 

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