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Laurel and Hardy Restorations Coming to Blu Ray and DVD (1 Viewer)

Rob_Ray

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Randy Skretvedt, the author of “Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies” posted this on his Facebook page yesterday:
“Whew! At last I can post something about this beautiful, wonderful project that I and others have been working on since October 2018. The films are ASTONISHING. You won’t believe how clear and clean they look, as if they were filmed yesterday. Well, maybe the day before yesterday, but I guarantee you have never seen “Come Clean” or “Hog Wild” or the others in such wonderful quality. As for the eight hours of special features, I have contributed multitudes of material from my own collection, as has Richard W. Bann. There are many exclusives here, such as my filmed interviews with producer Joe Rock, special-effects wizard Roy Seawright and actress Anita Garvin Stanley. Also Babe Hardy’s personal scrapbook of his “Vim Comedy” days in Jacksonville in 1916-17, as well as his own photos from L&H’s 1932 tour of the UK. Marvin Hatley music tracks are here, along with...

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Rob_Ray

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Where does he state that it'll be DVD and/or Blu-ray?

From Thad Komorowksi's Post:

So that Laurel & Hardy restoration project I'm involved with is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD. Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations. June 16, 2020, from Kit Parker and Sprocket Vault. These are the versions Jeff Joseph produced with UCLA and LoC. I helped oversee these new digital restorations. You will love it.

Contents as follows:

Feature Films:
Sons of the Desert
Way Out West

Short Subjects:
Berth Marks (both the original and reissue soundtracks)
The Battle of the Century (with new music track by Donald Sosin; virtually complete and restored)
Brats (both the original and reissue soundtracks)
Busy Bodies
The Chimp
Come Clean
County Hospital
Helpmates
Hog Wild
Me and My Pal
Midnight Patrol
The Music Box
One Good Turn
Scram!
Their First Mistake
Towed in a Hole
Twice Two

Bonus Materials:
Commentaries by Randy Skretvedt and Richard W. Bann
Never before seen video interviews as well as audio interviews with L&H co-workers
Over 2,500 rare photos, posters, scripts and studio files
Alternate Soundtracks
Music Tracks
"Ship's Reporter" Oliver Hardy Interview (restored)
"That's That" (restored/first time on video)
"Tree in a Test Tube" (restored from 16mm Kodachrome)
L&H off-camera pix from Hardy's collection
Restored Trailers

---

I'm fully prepared for the onslaught of "Why isn't it complete and in order?" questions. For the same reason the Warner Archive Tex Avery discs aren't, I suspect. There is a lot of work involved restoring and releasing classic films (even the most in-demand titles like these), and a lot of obstacles to overcome, so we have to do the best with what we got, when we can. But, I can guarantee that good sales on this will ensure further volumes. Pre-order details coming soon.
 

mark brown

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Is the project still a work in progress or is it complete? From what elements were the restorations made? Will there be any separate screenings of any of the films? CANNOT WAIT!
 

Rob_Ray

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Is the project still a work in progress or is it complete? From what elements were the restorations made? Will there be any separate screenings of any of the films? CANNOT WAIT!

The transfers have been completed. As far as the source elements are concerned, you'd have to ask someone who is knowledgeable about the UCLA restorations. They have been screened at various film gatherings, such as UCLA's Festival of Preservation and Cinecon in Hollywood and at various classic film gatherings in other parts of the country, but for most of the country, these have not been seen before and are a revelation. For just one example, the print of Hog Wild contains visual information on the left side of the screen that hasn't been revealed since the last time the short was screened with sound on disc. All sound on film prints since then were visually cropped.

I have before never seen SONS OF THE DESERT look virtually pristine, with no overly tight overscanning cropping off the sides. This is a big deal for all L&H fans!
 

Traveling Matt

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This sounds amazing! I'm much more interested in the restorations continuing, where they are in the process, how funding is going, etc than I am about these releases being in volumes rather than one big box.
 

Mysto

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marv long
Been a huge L&H fan since owning a lot of their films on Super 8mm.

Anything restoration like this is most welcomes and appreciated!
It was L&H that got me into Super 8mm film collecting. We wait ... but it's not easy.
The last time I was this happy about a release was when the Thin Man Blu Ray finally came out.
 

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