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Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

#31
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2/21/08 at 5:21pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

While the masters for the silents aren't quite as good, the R2 Universal complete Hal Roach L&H set is fantastic. I think it was about $100 (paid 49 British pounds) and it has 80+ films, plus a lot of alternate language and extended cuts. Across 21 discs, too. While a lot have colorized versions, the combined length on discs for the B&W material is about 100 minutes, which is fine for a single layer. It may not have the other Hal Roach stuff (besides a few bonus shorts on disc 21), but it does pick up the slack of both Agee and Hallmark.

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
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#32
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2/22/08 at 11:58am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

I have all (I think) of the L&H issued in Germany by Kinowelt. I plan to sometime soon, make a list of all the films. Has anyone done what with the L&H issued in the UK. For comparison, would anyone be interested in my list?
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#33
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2/22/08 at 9:16pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

The Laurel & Hardy Forum has a thorough list of what films have been released and in what regions. This is all that's missing from the 21-disc boxset

The March of The Wooden Soldiers (AKA Babes in Toyland)
Fra Diavolo (AKA The Devil's Borther)
The Flying Deuces
Bonnie Scotland
Air Raid Wardens
Nothing But Trouble
The Big Noise
Nothing But Trouble
Great Guns
Hollywood Party
Hollywood Revue of 1929
Jitterbugs
Dancing Masters
Atoll K (AKA Utopia, Robinson Crusoeland)
A-Haunting We Will Go
The Bullfighters

The "classic" era L&H films are held by different distributors, and the Fox films are a given.

The 21-disc set is the way to go.
Matt

Mobu? Sounds like some sort of damn car polish.
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#34
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2/23/08 at 7:04am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

The problem I see with buying the 21 disc box set from the UK is two fold... the price is almost 100 pounds at Amazon UK, which makes it a pretty expensive set for us with the weak American dollar, and apparently the set no longer includes booklets that were a feature of the first printing of the set. Apparently you can purchase the set from other places in the UK, but I don't have any idea where to look.

I'd love to see a similiar set for us Americans!

Jack
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#35
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2/23/08 at 1:13pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew H
The Laurel & Hardy Forum has a thorough list of what films have been released and in what regions.

Do you have the url in their website that points to this info?
I have the ?complete? set issued in Germany. I have seen some DVDs here issued in Holland and I would like to see IF I already have that. The british set comes fronm the German company that produced the german DVDs - hopefully the versions in the UK have better menus etc.

I have the Warner 2 DVD sets (I believe 1 DVD in the US). On that set are the important excerps of L&H from Hollywood party (which I hope will someday be released. The German version (and probably the UK version) extras are not directly from the film but rather from the NTSC which causes a bad picture on a PC screen. My XORO player play the extras on a LCD screen without using the progressive scan mode and the picture is OK.
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#36
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2/24/08 at 8:48am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan-S
The UK set is currently only £50, half the Amazon price, at hmv.co.uk (and it's in stock at time of writing). HMV appear to ship worldwide.

The booklets were very skimpy anyway - just a few lines about each film. They were written by Glenn Mitchell, author of The Laurel and Hardy Encyclopedia, which gives much more detail if you can find it.


OK- Thanks for this info- I took the plunge and bought this from hmv.com. Of course my DVD players don't support the region 2 PAL format, which means if I want to watch them, I need a new DVD player... Are the new Blu Ray DVD players region free? I suppose if I'm going to buy a new one, I ought to be forward thinking regarding my buy. I know this post may be slightly off topic with this question, but I was hoping I could get a pretty basic answer without too much shift from Laurel and Hardy! Thanks!

Jack
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#37
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2/27/08 at 10:44am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sumnernor
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matthew H
The Laurel & Hardy Forum has a thorough list of what films have been released and in what regions.
Do you have the url in their website that points to this info?
I have the ?complete? set issued in Germany. I have seen some DVDs here issued in Holland and I would like to see IF I already have that. The british set comes fronm the German company that produced the german DVDs - hopefully the versions in the UK have better menus etc.
A useful site is this one that lists the contents of the German, Dutch and UK DVDs. I don't think it has been updated since 2004 but it may be of some help.
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#38
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2/27/08 at 4:55pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

A lot of Region 1 NTSC players will also play PAL discs fine if they're region free, too.

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
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#39
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2/27/08 at 11:13pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan-S
Jack - others will be able to advise you better than me on this, as I'm neither North American based nor have much knowledge or interest in Blu-ray.

However, the DVD Beaver site has useful information about going region-free and, according to Gary Tooze on that site:

"North American made and sold HD players play only region 1 (or region 0) NTSC SD discs. European HD DVD players play only region 2 (or region 0) PAL SD DVDs... and so on. HD players are not region free for SD DVDs – nor are Blu-ray players. I suspect a hack will eventually evolve to combat this and give new format players region free (for SD) capability."

Until this happens, Blu-ray players are not - as far I'm concerned - backwards-compatible, as my SD collection is around 50% R2 (where I live) and 50% R1 (with a few from other regions).

I should think for now at least you need to go for a SD region-free player, about which the Beaver has useful info, though according to a friend of mine (who recently moved from the UK to the States) the recommended Malata players are no longer sold. He bought a Philips multi-region player and is very happy with it.

OPPO players are the way to go now for standard def DVD. Forget about Malata. I just got an OPPO DV-980H, PAL-to-NTSC converting out of the box, and easily hackable to region-free with a simple remote hack. Upconverts through HDMI. A real beaut.
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#40
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2/28/08 at 8:37am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Does the Oppo have the variable scaling feature of the Malata N996---a handy feature if there ever was one for improperly mastered discs. I've been wondering about a replacement if my N996 should give out at some point; I've been very, very happy with it though--wish they still made them.
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#41
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2/28/08 at 4:17pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Could this discussion be moved to an appropriate hardware section? I keep getting my hopes up for new news on the L&H set every time this thread pops up only to find it's off topic.
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#42
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2/28/08 at 5:13pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike*HTF
Could this discussion be moved to an appropriate hardware section? I keep getting my hopes up for new news on the L&H set every time this thread pops up only to find it's off topic.


Hi- Since I asked the question originally, I am going to open a new thread in Hardware/ Audio/Video section- marked OPPO DV-980H
Sorry folks-

Back to Laurel and Hardy discussion!
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#43
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3/17/08 at 1:24pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Box set 21 Discs for $111.00 + S/H over at dvd.co.uk...
run don't walk and get these while they last! They have hit the $300 mark on Ebay...
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#44
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3/18/08 at 11:34am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Considering the exchange rate that's a steal. Jump on it if you don't have this box yet.
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#45
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3/18/08 at 3:34pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

I considered the advice of Brian and Mark -- and then I took the plunge.

I'll use a portion of my tax rebate to pay for the set.

Thanks to all for the good advice.
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#46
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6/25/08 at 8:27pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

I spoke with a member of SONS OF THE DESERT that knows Mr. Agee and it appears from his response that nothing is happening with this proposed set anytime soon. He did say he didn't recommend upfronting any money to Agee for pre-orders as Agee was wanting people to do. In fairness, Mr. Agee's health is poor which affects his ability to work on it.

However, I can't imagine Mr. Agee is the ONLY person interested in seeing this come out. Does he refuse all offers of assistance, does he want too much money from a distributor, or is his ego so big that he wants to control all this personally? Apparently his deal with Image fell throught due to money squabbles. Surely there are other people who have the necessary expertise and interest to enable this to come to retail as something other than a garage mail order business.

Mr. Agee seemingly makes virtually no effort to keep potential consumers updated as to the status of these projects (website down, doesn't post anywhere, etc.) which adds an air of suspicion to the whole project.

Not to be morbid, but I have no idea how old Mr. Agee is or what is prospects for continued life are, but if he is indeed the rights holder of this material I hope to goodness that there is a clearly defined and legally binding succession plan with regards to the rights. If the rights become tied up in the courts after Mr. Agee's passing then some of the finest silent comedy ever produced could be effectively hidden from the masses. Likewise if the rights pass to someone with no interest in the material nor the means to exploit it then they will be buried.

Surely TCM would have some interest in showing some of these shorts as part of their Silent Sunday Night series or as time fillers. They probably can't pay much but it would give Mr. Agee some capital to work with.

With Sony finally marketing the Stooges properly to apparent great success surely the time is also right to start a similar program of L&H releases??

Sorry for the long post, the absence of legit high quality L&H short subject releases in R1 (silent and sound) continues to be a sore spot with me. Thank goodness the Fox and MGM features are out even if they're not their best work.
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#47
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6/26/08 at 11:57am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

It seems that RHI properties are now distributed by Genius Entertainment instead of Lionsgate now.

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
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#48
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6/26/08 at 7:24pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
It seems that RHI properties are now distributed by Genius Entertainment instead of Lionsgate now.

Please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe RHI only controls the sound L&H shorts. The silents are under the domain of Hal Roach Studios/Michael Agee.

It is still potentially good news though if Genius is distributing RHI. Lionsgate certainly had no interest in marketing the L&H material.
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#49
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6/27/08 at 6:21pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve...O
Not to be morbid, but I have no idea how old Mr. Agee is or what is prospects for continued life are, but if he is indeed the rights holder of this material I hope to goodness that there is a clearly defined and legally binding succession plan with regards to the rights. If the rights become tied up in the courts after Mr. Agee's passing then some of the finest silent comedy ever produced could be effectively hidden from the masses. Likewise if the rights pass to someone with no interest in the material nor the means to exploit it then they will be buried.

As far as I know, Agee is just a licensee, from the infamous Richard Feiner & Co. Supposedly, they went to Hallmark and said "we own the silents," and Hallmark said "okay." (Actually, I'm pretty sure the films originally released through Pathe Film Exchange, pre-MGM, are actually public domain, but that won't stop one from being the subject of, ahem, "legal action," if one releases them.)

Some contract dating back to the 1950s had wording in it stating that Feiner owned the rights to L&H's "non-speaking" films. That phrase has been twisted and contorted to the point where they claim the rights to "Unaccustomed As We Are" and "They Go Boom" (because at one point the soundtrack discs were missing), as well as Charley Chase's "On The Wrong Trek" and Our Gang's "Wild Poses" (because L&H have cameo appearances in which they have no lines).

Very dubious, but at least it got these films out on DVD!
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#50
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7/15/08 at 7:11pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Given that Sony has apparently struck a goldmine with their chronological Stooges releases does anyone else find it highly annoying that RHI (or whoever owns the sound shorts) hasn't followed suit?

L&H only made 40 sound shorts. They could easily be released in their entirely in two volumes:

Volume 1 (1929-1931)

1929
Unaccustomed As We Are (might be owned by Agee)
Berth Marks
Men O' War
Perfect Day
They Go Boom (might be owned by Agee)
The Hoosegow
Night Owls
1930
Blotto
Brats
Below Zero
Hog Wild
The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case
Another Fine Mess
Be Big
1931
Chickens Come Home
Laughing Gravy
Our Wife
Come Clean
One Good Turn
Beau Hunks
Helpmates
Any Old Port



Volume 2 (1932 - 1935)
1932
The Music Box
The Chimp
County Hospital
Scram!
Their First Mistake
Towed in a Hole
Twice Two
1933
Me and My Pal
The Midnight Patrol
Busy Bodies
Dirty Work
Oliver the Eighth
1934
Going Bye-Bye!
Them Thar Hills
The Live Ghost
Tit for Tat
1935
The Fixer-Uppers
Thicker Than Water

Certain of these run longer than two reels so it would possibly take more than two discs per set. Still, that's not too much to ask, is it?

Thanks for letting me vent. Maybe someday we'll get a top notch R1 L&H collection.

Steve

PS - still no news on the Agee front?
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#51
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7/17/08 at 10:40am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

The Agee Project should be considered dead at this point.. the set has been put on indefinate hiatus, so who the hell knows.

Now RHI is releasing a complete Our Gang collection.

When's L&H's turn?
Matt

Mobu? Sounds like some sort of damn car polish.
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#52
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7/17/08 at 10:59am
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

Is the Our Gang set going to be complete and chronological?
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#53
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9/16/08 at 12:59pm
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"Hollwood Party" is now on DVD

Today in Munich, I saw that Warner Brothers has issued the black & white film "Hollywood Party" which has the very funny "egg scene" with Laurel & Hardy. The film includes the color Disney cartoon "Red Hot Chocolate Soldiers". I would expect this to be soon issued in the US. The DVD has no extras.

Also issued on 2 DVDs are the L&H film "Nothing But Trouble" and "Air Raid Wardens.
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#54
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9/16/08 at 1:01pm
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"Hollywood Party" is now on DVD

Today in Munich, I saw that Warner Brothers has issued the black & white film "Hollywood Party" which has the very funny "egg scene" with Laurel & Hardy. The film includes the color Disney cartoon "Red Hot Chocolate Soldiers". I would expect this to be soon issued in the US. The DVD has no extras.

Also issued on 2 DVDs are the L&H film "Nothing But Trouble" and "Air Raid Wardens.
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#55
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11/13/08 at 7:52pm
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Re: Any Updates On the Ultimate Early Laurel and Hardy Boxset?

I thought this might be of interest here:

According to the link below, it appears that Michael Agee is very ill. It's mentioned incidentally at the very bottom of the page.

SilentComedians.com :: View topic - Little Rascals DVD Press Release + Cover Art

I wish Mr. Agee a speedy recovery.

George
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