Parrott, James

Laurel & Hardy (Sons of the Desert/The Music Box/Another Fine Mess/Busy Bodies/County Hospital)

For one-stop convenience, you can't beat this handy compilation of Laurel & Hardy classics. Although it's modestly priced and packaged, this DVD packs plenty of extras along with Stan & Ollie's finest feature and several of the comedy duo's best-loved "talkie" shorts. Sons of the Desert (1933) is the crown jewel in any L&H collection, and with Charley Chase as their stellar comedy costar, the boys reached the pinnacle of their unique partnership, playing a pair of Fez-wearing "Sons of the Desert" sneaking off to a convention in Chicago, but their wives discover the ruse with hilarious results. For L&H fans, it simply doesn't get any better than this, although 1932's "The Music Box" shares equal status--and a 1932 Oscar® for Best Comedy Short--in the L&H pantheon. The remaining shorts on the disc ("Another Fine Mess," "Busy Bodies," and "County Hospital") were produced during the prime of Stan & Ollie's sound-era success (1930-33), each boasting their own timeless bits and flawless routines. Abundant laughs are virtually guaranteed.

Most of the bonus material pays tribute to legendary comedy producer Hal Roach, who first partnered Stan & Ollie in 1926. A film-clip tribute includes interviews with comedy greats like Mel Brooks and Steve Allen, and on-screen articles explore Roach's career in greater detail. A "then and now" photo tour provides an historic tour of Roach Studio locations in Culver City, California, and text biographies are provided for Roach, Laurel, and Hardy. In addition to the films themselves (which never looked or sounded better), these extras make this Laurel & Hardy DVD a perfect choice for old and new fans alike. --Jeff Shannon

Laurel & Hardy and Friends (Featuring "Our Gang")

This hilarious collection of shorts includes Laurel and Hardy's "Be Big!" (1930, 28 min.), the Our Gang comedies "Our Gang Follies of 1938" (1937, 21 min.), "School's Out" (1930, 21 min.) and "Bear Shooters" (1930, 20 min.), an all-star cast headed by Laurel & Hardy, Edward G. Robinson, Buster Keaton and Norma Shearer in "The Stolen Jools" (1931, 18 min.) and Charley Chase and Thelma Todd in "Whispering Whoopee" (1930, 20 min.).

The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy: The Complete Collection, Vol. 7

Mastered from the original 35mm material, this seventh volume of lost films from the great comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy includes: Their first "talkie," "Unaccustomed As We Are" (1929, 21 min.), "Should Married Men Go Home" (1928, 22 min., silent), a special talkie version of the silent "Double Whoopee" (1929, 19 min.) created by the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society with voices by Stan and Ollie impersonator Chuck McCann, "With Love and Hisses" (1927, 24 min., silent), "Sailors Beware" (1927, 26 min., silent), and the "Hal Roach All Star Comedy" series short "Mixed Nuts" (1934, 18 min.).

The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy: The Complete Collection, Vol. 4

The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy - The Complete Collection, Vol. 5

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The Little Rascals 6 Disk Collector's Edition