LAUREL & HARDY:
THE DEFINITIVE RESTORATIONS VOL. 2 (1929-1935)
Label: Kit Parker Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 361 Minutes
Audio: English PCM 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Director: Lloyd French, James Parrott, Charles Rogers, George Stevens
Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Thelma Todd, James Finlayson, Edgar Kennedy, Charlie Hall, Mae Busch, Jean Harlow, Walter Long, Billy Gilbert
Synopsis: Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations Volume 2. Eight restored classic short subjects with loads of extras, over six hours of laughs--Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy like you've never seen them before! LAUREL & HARDY: THE DEFINITIVE RESTORATIONS Volume 2 returns the beloved comedy duo to their full brilliance in this restored Blu-ray collection. Sourced from the original 35mm archival elements, this set offers fans an opportunity to see long unavailable original release versions and previously unseen materials - over six hours of timeless laughter!
Shorts:
Men O' War (1929,20:02)
Perfect Day (1929, 20:58)
Perfect Day: Reissue Version (1937)
Blotto (1930)
Blotto: Silent Version (1930)
Blotto: Voice & Effects Track Only (1930)
Another Fine Mess (1930)
Another Fine Mess: Silent Version (1930)
Dirty Work (1933)
Going Bye-Bye! (1934)
Them Thar Hills (1934)
Tit for Tat (1935)
Audio/Video: These shorts arrives on Blu-ray, sourced from "restored in 4K from the original archival 35mm nitrate elements", looking superior to past DVD versions I have watched, there does look to have been some light filtering applied to some of the shorts, smoothing some textures, but grain is indeed visible and I was quite pleased overall with the texture and details. Black levels are solid, grayscale is pleasing, contrast and clarity are nicely improved. There are a couple of variances, but there is little doubt that these restorations are the best the shorts have ever looked on home video. Audio comes by way of uncompressed PCM 2.0, like the video presentation there are variances and age-related hiss, the occasional pop or click, but given the age of the elements I found them to sound quite remarkable
The set is stuffed with bonus content, including Audio Commentary tracks from authors Richard W. Bann and Randy Skretvedt, plus Previously Lost Versions of Blotto and Brats with scores by accompanist Andrew Earle Simpson, and Alternate Audio Tracks for Perfect Day, Blotto, and Another Fine Mess, plus a selection of 'Pardon Us', 'Fra Diavolo', 'Bohemian Girl', 'Our Relations', and 'Swiss Miss' .
More extras Recently 'Ship's Reporter' (1952) featuring both Laurel & Hardy, and interview with Laurel & Hardy aboard the Queen Mary , plus a classic TV episode of This Is Your Life: Laurel & Hardy (1954) from 35mm kinescope negative.
Next up, 4-min of 'There Goes My Heart' Silent Trailer and Outtakes, a cool 5-min Hal Roach Studios Backlot Interview, and a couple of extensive Galleries with a motherlode of studio stills, scripts, posters, lobby cards, and other archival materials for Dirty Work, Going Bye-Bye!, Them Thar Hills (7:41), and Tit for Tat (6:48).
There's also a hefty 32-Page Illustrated Booklet that features disc contents, notes on the preservation and restoration by Jeff Joseph, production notes on the shorts by Randy Skretvedt, and a 'Behind the Scenes at Hal Roach Studios' essay by Richard W. Bann.
Special Features:
- Previously lost silent versions of Blotto and Brats (20:07) with scores by accompanist Andrew Earle Simpson
- Alternate audio tracks for 'Perfect Day', 'Blotto', and 'Another Fine Mess'
- Alternate version of Blotto and Another Fine Mess with Voice and Effects Track Only
- The 1937 Reissue Version of Perfect Day (20:58)
- Rare Trailers: Pardon Us (German Version, 2:40), Fra Diavolo (British Version, 2:49), Bohemian Girl (1:45), Our Relations (1:07), and Swiss Miss (2:24)
- Galaxy of Stars (1936) - An MGM promotional film for foreign exhibitors! (8:36)
- Recently rediscovered 'Ship's Reporter' (1952) featuring both Laurel & Hardy (5:47)
- This Is Your Life: Laurel & Hardy (1954) from 35mm kinescope negative (29:23)
- 'There Goes My Heart' Silent Trailer and Outtakes (3:59)
- Hal Roach Studios Backlot Interview (4:50)
- Commentary tracks from authors Richard W. Bann and Randy Skretvedt
- Galleries of fascinating studio stills, scripts, posters, lobby cards, and other archival materials for Dirty Work (7:52), Going Bye-Bye! (4:11), Them Thar Hills (7:41), Tit for Tat (6:48)
- 32-Page full color booklet with rare photos, original production information, restoration notes, and more!
Screenshots from the Kit Parker Films Blu-rays:
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