In the days before digital, Two-reelers were a major form of entertainment in the movie industry in the 1920s and 30s.
A single 35 mm film reel is approximately 10-13 minutes in running-time. Many dramas or comedies were 10-23 minutes long during this era. Most of Laurel and Hardy films lasted between 18-22 minutes, hence, Two-reel shorts, or as I prefer, their Two-reelers.
Laurel and Hardy officially became a comedy team in 1926. By 1929, the comedy team starred in more than 29 silent Two-reelers. Their first sound movie, (All-talking), a Two-reeler, "Unaccustomed As We Are" was released in 1929. From 1930 on, all their movies were sound.
Many of Laurel and Hardy's short films began with an opening title, including their debut sound film, "Unaccustomed As We Are." The opening title in their talkie debut read; "The world over-a wife loves to have her husband bring a friend home to dinner-as a surprise."
In "Unaccustomed As We Are," Oliver is married to Mae Busch, and Stanley is the single friend Ollie brings over for dinner without notice. While Stan and Ollie's debut sound movie is not a classic, it still holds up to the test of time. The time-less humor of a husband hanging out with one of his single friends on a regular basis is a good receipt for comedy.
This year's movie, "Stan & Ollie," starring Steve Coogan (Stan Laurel) and John C. Reilly (Oliver Hardy) is geared for the devote fans of Laurel and Hardy. In the 1930s, Hardy was going through a costly divorce, and in the movie, "Stan & Ollie," Stan, (Coogan) jokes to Ollie (Reilly), I'm going to find a woman I hate and give her my house and half my money.
Laurel and Hardy movies are funny, and even laugh out hilarious to this day. The comedic chemistry between the two will never be matched. Both actors possessed the sagacious skill of non-dialog gestures. I think a lot of that came from making dozens of silent movies together and alone.
"Two Tars," a 1928 Two-reel silent film is arguably their best silent movie, if not one of their best all-time shorts. In the 1920s, decades before TV was mainstream, the standard for movie patrons was the showing of a news-reel, or cartoon, depending on the audience, a short One or Two-reel comedy /drama, and then, the feature film.
When "Two Tars" was first released, audiences across the globe cheered and laughed so much, that the Two-reeler was re-ran back to back for its theater patrons.
Despite being nearly a 100-years-old, "Two Tars" is indeed a laugh fest. In this film, Stan and Ollie portray two sailors on leave driving around in a Model T in a down town area. While at a stop sign, Hardy notices a couple of cute women walking on the side-walk. One of the women looks at him. Hardy smiles in a way no other man on the planet is able too, and he and the woman begin flirting.
The smiles and the gestures by Stan and Ollie while their admiring the two women is hilarious. As my dad said laughing many moons ago, their (Laurel and Hardy) the only two on the planet who can get away with this.
The two women get in the car with Laurel and Hardy, and the foursome encounter a massive traffic jam on the free-way. Cars are at a dead stop, and soon everyone is getting out of their cars and into a comical fight. The drivers, including Laurel and Hardy begin to vandalize other peoples cars, tearing off bumpers, breaking head lights and par taking in a slew of other comical shenanigans.
There's five other Laurel and Hardy silent Two-reelers from the mid 20s that can compete with any comedy sitcom currently being aired. I won't review all five, but 1928s "The Finishing Touch" really needs to be digitally remastered with carpentry sound affects.
"The Finishing Touch" has Laurel and Hardy portraying two carpenters who build a house, and the house looks fantastic when it's all finished. At the end of this short, a bird lands on the chimney and the whole house collapses.
There are more then 30 other Laurel and Hardy Two-reelers I deem comedy classics by American actor Oliver Hardy and English icon Stan Laurel. If vintage black and white film comedy arouses your funny bone, I highly recommend watching 1932s "Helpmates."
Opening title" "When the cats away, mice start looking up telephone numbers." "Helpmates" begins with cartoonish music and the camera floating across the inside of a completely trashed house littered with empty bottles of booze.
While Hardy's wife was out of town, he catered a raucous party. He is awakened by his door-bell and the mail man delivering him a telegram which states his wife is coming home later that day. He convinces Stan to help him clean up the house before his wife gets home.
A married man drinking excessively with friends at his house while his wife is in another state visiting her family is A plus comedy, especially when it's Laurel and Hardy administering the entertainment.
Laurel and Hardy were true friends on and off the screen and the two shared a marvelous penchant to entertain other people. In the early 1900s, when Stan Laurel was just a school boy in England, many of his teachers / Headmasters would drink whiskey after classes, and Stan Laurel would entertain them with various monologues and skits he wrote. ("Laurel and Hardy," a 1975 book by John McCabe and Al Kilgore.)
The Boys, Stan (left) & Oliver
Oliver Hardy enjoyed golfing and the camaraderie outside of Hollywood. Stan Laurel was the consistent professional, writing and giving his in-put on set designs. In between shooting movie scenes and working on other aspects of their movies, Oliver would sometimes leave the set to go golfing or be with other friends.
In one of the duos Two-reelers, all but the last scene had been filmed and Oliver Hardy was out golfing. Stan Laurel and the rest of the crew decided not to bring Ollie back until they had an ending. In this one particular film, Stan could not come up with a way to end the movie, but he took Oliver away from his golf game and simply told Ollie to look into the camera and react naturally to what he's told. With the camera rolling and a close-up of Hardy, Stan told Oliver; we don't know how to end this movie! The look on Hardy's face was priceless and a fitting end to one of over a 100 movies they made together. ("Laurel and Hardy" text by McCabe / complied by Kilgore)
Mark Schurr
