I tried to do a search, but am surprised that I can't seem to find

1) most L&H sound shorts. Only a couple were released with the sub-par Koch discs. They had DOZENS of these made - many are hilarious.

2) their silents. Image had a 10 disc, bare bones set years ago, and these are now OOP. Think there is almost 40 of these silents made.

It seems that only available are the later full length movies, which are the worst examples of their incredible career.

Chaplin, Keaton, even Arbuckle and Chase are out on DVD..

Where is L&H?

Or are these available and I just can't seem to find them?

Most of their sound films are owned by Hallmark and they don't understand or respect the value of their classic film holdings. The silents are privately held and their status is a mystery to me.

The only solution is to buy a multi-region player that does PAL conversion, then read this thread:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/internation...tion-info.html

then go to Amazon UK and buy the box set which is currently selling for less than $60 US shipped.

thanks. ordered the UK set for $47 shipped..

I believe the UK set is missing the following

Fra Diablo
Bonnie Scotland
Jitterbugs
Dancing Master
A haunting we will go
Bullfights (aka Atoll K)
Big Noise
Babes in Toyland
Flying Dueces

All but the last 2 are available in R1 from WB.

so ..

1)what about Babe in Toyland? Didn't see that in R1. ?? The only version I know of is a R2 Swedish version! Is this really true?

2) And Deuces has crappy PD and even the Kino version hasn't gotten good reviews. Any advice for that one?

The last two films re betterthan not having them at all, but yes, I heard rave reviews on the 21-disc L&H British set, but you'll need a multi-regio DVD player, which you can get for about 50-100 bucks, depending on the name brand and featuresnyou want on the thing.

MGM put out a great looking Babes in Toyland just a couple of years ago. Try looking under it's alternate title of "March of the Wooden Soldiers". Legend Films also has a colorized version available, if you're into that sort of thing.

I can second the MGM release of Babes in Toyland / March of the Wooden Soldiers

AFAIK, the Kino version of Flying Deuces is the best available in R1. I have it and I think is ok, but could be better. I haven't revisited this title in a long time so I don't know if a better version exists.

Thanks. Looks like I have a complete wish list now!

Steve,

You'll really like that British set...you can't get any more complete of L&H than that set and the way it's being distributed around here and for that price, how can you go wrong? But again, multi-region players are also on the cheap now as Amazon.com has a Toshiba one for about 45 bucks last I saw.

I just ordered the 21-disc set myself right now from Amazon.uk. I hear the set doesn't come with the booklets anymore and the packaging is different (cheaper looking). Oh well.....

Btw, I saw a Laurel & Hardy (short or feature) years ago where they r both sitting on a bench in a hedge maze (like in THE SHINING) and this guy dressed up as a ghost is taunting them from behind. Which film is that (or short)?

Pbishop69

Btw, what's the best Region 1 version of MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS?


Pbishop69

IMHO it's the MGM, hands down.

Having never seen either so I can't comment on the MGM vs. Legend but the Legend version does include the B&W version as well. (you may not be implying it is only the color version, just thought I would throw it in there).

I didn't really consider the implication that Legend is only a color version. However, if the B/W is of interest, then there's really no point to getting the Legend release as it's inferior to the MGM. So, in that sense, color seemed to be the only draw to me.

Price could be a draw too. Unsure of these specific release prices, but they could be drastically different. Also, the Legend release may have Mike Nelson commentary.

my box set just shipped from UK! Can't believe I am getting this SHIPPED for $47. Insane deal.. heck with the booklets, just me and my daughter watch these films!!

Yipee!

Understood. Was really just throwing it out there.

I think they are both pretty cheap through secondary sources. I don't have it right in front of me but it isn't a riff trax.

PBishop69,

The short you're referring to is The Live Ghost. Steve, you won't regret it as you and your daughter will just love this set and at that price, I'm tempted to buy it as well.

You're probably confirming there that it isn't what I'm about to mention, but just to be safe, and to bring the matter to light:

I know there are a few Legend releases that aren't official Rifftaxes, but have a Mike Nelson solo commentary. I know a Three Stooges disc they did has one, and at least a couple others.

Next time I'll just be more thorough with my explanation. The MSRP for both the Legend version and the MGM are identical, so price is not a factor. The MGM is bare bones and the Legend includes a trailer and some public domain stuff. Neither have a commentary. At the end of the day, I concluded that the extras in the Legend release didn't overcome the superior MGM presentation. It is certainly possible that someone else could come up with a different conclusion, but when asked which version is better, it seemed like an easy answer.

A Chump at Oxford

Thanx RKillgore!! Rmw650 says it's THE LIVE GHOST. So it's definitely A CHUMP AT OXFORD then?


Pbishop69

I think the previous poster is right PBishop, as you didn't metnion the maze part of it...my fault and error. It was Chump at Oxford, which is a film.

Just got my UK box set.. Didn't realize they were in slim cases. Box not any where near as big as I expected (which is a good thing to me).

Watched Tit For Tat. Great transfer!

My only beef with this set is that they are not done chronologically - and I didn't anything that gave an overall index to what is on what disc.. so it's a pain to find a particular short.

But there is even a stills gallery from hats off - which i didn't think ANYTHING survived on that film!!

Truly a great box set!!

I get mine tomorrow, Steve. I really wish they would still include the booklet with a possible index of what is on each disc. It would just make things easier. Oh well...



Pbishop69