Happy 125th Birthday to Stan Laurel

If he were alive today Stan Laurel would be 125 years young. Stan Laurel was of course one of the greatest comedians in the history of film, and when he was teamed with Oliver Hardy his career only got better. Today we are going to look at four silent short films that celebrate the great talent of this man.

Laurel and Hardy were one of the only (If not the only) comedy teams to first appear together on film (rather than  Vaudeville, Radio, or Broadway). Both in fact had fairly successful film careers before teaming up. Stan Laurel acted in many parodies of famous films of the time. One of the funniest of these films was 1925's Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride. This was a parody of the 1920 film Dr. Jeckel and Mr.Hyde, directed by John S. Robertson an staring John Barrymore. So from 1925, directed by Joe Rock and Scott Pembroke, and staring Stan Laurel, here is Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride:

  

Stan Laurel was not only an actor he was a director as well. One of the films he directed featured Oliver Hardy, an instance of them working together before they teamed up. The star of this film is Jimmy Finlayson who would later play the foil to Laurel and Hardy in some of their best films (Both shorts and features). An expression of his would also be used as an inspiration for Homer Simpson's "Do'h". It is great to see him play the lead in a film and he does it well. Well this may not be the best film any of these talents worked on it is highly amusing in it's own right. So from 1925, directed by Stan Laurel and Clarence Hennecke, and staring Jimmy Finlayson, Oliver Hardy (credited by his nickname Babe), Sue O'Neil, and Jack Gavin, here is Yes, Yes Nanette:

 

Next is the first film in which Laurel and Hardy worked as a team. Although they had appeared together before this they had not worked as a team. This film is called Duck Soup, and one of the film's directors was Leo McCarey who would later direct The Marx Brothers in Duck Soup. The story of this short was based off a sketch written by a music hall comedian named Arthur Jefferson, who was in fact Stan Laurel's father. This film was remade 3 years later also with Laurel and Hardy and called Another Fine Mess. So from 1927 directed by Fred Guiol, and Leo McCarey, and staring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, here is Duck Soup:

 Our last film is a treat considered to be one of Laurel and Hardy's best silent films, directed by James Parrott, and Leo McCarey, and staring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy here is Two Tars:

 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Happy 85th Birthday to Looney Tunes

April 19th, 1930, what would become the greatest series of short films, and the greatest series  of cartoons would enjoy it's first cartoon's first theatrical release. The series would be Looney Tunes, and the cartoon would be "Sinkin' in the Bathtub".

This film was made before the familiar characters of Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, and so on, would be created. The staring character for this cartoon was Bosko. One of the most groundbreaking things about Bosko was the use of synchronized dialog. While sound cartoons had existed before this, none of them, not even Disney, had been able to accomplish with synchronized dialog, what these Bosko cartoon had accomplished.

The Creators of Bosko were Hugh Harmon and Rudolph Ising. Both had worked with Walt Disney, mainly on the Alice Comedies, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons. After they left Walt, they constantly wanted to compete with Disney on his own terms. While these two men were great pioneers of animation, and great talents in their own right, this led them to spend much of there time trying to be as much like Disney as possible. Because of this Bosko, despite being a really likable character, was mostly a Mickey Mouse imitator, and a thinly disguised one at that. On top of that jokes were often reused from Oswald cartoons, they themselves had worked on, such as the joke of a big Bosko breaking into a bunch of little Boskos (used in this film). However despite a lack of originality in this cartoon (Besides the synchronized dialog), this film is a very fun and enjoyable cartoon, even to early Disney fans who might recognize most of this from other cartoons. This is because it is done with such talent it kind of doesn't matter how original or not it is.

This film also has animation by Friz Freling and Robert Mckimson, who would stay with Looney Tunes all the way into the 1960's (Robert Mckimson would in fact direct "Injun Trouble" from 1969, which would be the last Looney Tunes cartoon). Also animating on this cartoon were Norm Blackburn, Ham Hamilton, Paul J. Smith and Carmen Maxwell (also the voice of Bosko)

So here is "Sinkin' in the Bathtub"

-Michael J. Ruhland

Daffy Duck, star of film, video games and comic books, turns 78.

On April 17th, 1937, movie going audiences were introduced to one of the silver screen's greatest stars (ask him yourself and he'll agree). This star however did not appear in a feature film that day, but rather in a short film accompanying that picture. This film was called Porky's Duck Hunt, and the star it introduced was Daffy Duck. As many film and animation historians have noted this was the character that put the looney in Looney Tunes. rarely before had a movie going audience seen this level of wackiness in a cartoon.

However Daffy's debut was not the only important historical note about this film. This cartoon also marked the first time Mel Blanc voiced Porky Pig. Previously Porky's voice had been done by Joe Dougherty. Dougherty really stuttered and unfortunately could not control it. This ate up to much film and these were short films to begin with, so not much time could be spared. So he was with this cartoon replaced by Mel Blanc, who also did the voice for Daffy.

This cartoon was directed by Tex Avery (credited as Fred Avery). Tex was known for revolutionizing the style of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. With his influence these series got away from imitating Disney, and went on to do things Disney would never do (breaking the 4th wall, exaggerated gags). With him these series and the whole cartoon industry changed.

One of the animators on this cartoon was Bob Clampett (later to become a great director). Tex told him to have Daffy exit anyway Bob could think of. His idea was to having Daffy jump across the screen "Woo-Hooing" This would of course become one of Daffy's trademarks.

So here is Porky's Duck Hunt:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=porky%27s+duck+hunt+1937&view=detail&mid=C15AE904AD10F3399685C15AE904AD10F3399685&FORM=VIRE

-Michael J. Ruhland

Charlie Chaplin Carnival #2

We are going to start our second look at Chaplin's work with an early Keystone short from 1914. This film was directed by Mabel Normand (one of the forgotten greats of silent comedy). Chaplin and her did not see eye to eye on comedy. Mabel and Charlie's arguments got so heated that Mack Sennet (Boss at Keystone) considered firing Chaplin. However Sennet got messages asking for more Chaplin shorts, so he couldn't fire Charlie. He instead tried to patch thing up between director and actor. It worked and the film turned out to be a quite enjoyable one. However, in hindsight, you can see where this film differs for Chaplin's sense of comedy. The character he plays here makes it seem like Charlie is doing an imitation of Ford Sterling (leader of the Keystone Kops). The next film with Chaplin would be "Twenty Minutes of Love", which would mark the first time Charlie would direct himself. So from 1914, here is "Mabel At The Wheel".

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBH3Mj2wxaE

Before his film career Charlie Chaplin was a part of the Karno Company (Along with Stan Laurel), an English comedy group that performed on stage. One of their most popular skits was called Mumming Birds. In 1915 Chaplin starred in, wrote and directed a film version of this skit, entitled "A Night in the Show", and here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvdy1qxqlrE

Last for this look at Chaplin is the film that he considered his best short. This is also his last short film (The Pilgrim is technically a feature). While it is hard to say whether or not this is his best short (Some of his other shorts are just too good to say that for sure). This is also a completely comedic film with no drama. While this may seem normal for comedy films, Chaplin was at this time excelling in combining comedy and drama, so it is a bit strange that he would make this film at this time. However funny is funny regardless of drama, and this is a really funny film. So from 1922, and directed by Chaplin himself, here is Pay Day.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ast6629RiVg

-Michael J. Ruhland

Classic Film Comedy Short Stories #5

German Expressionist director F.W. Murnau, who is known for films such as Nosferatu, Faust, Sunrise, and The Last Man, directed only one true comedy film. This film was 1924's "Finances of the Grand Duke". While this may not be as great of a work of art, as those previous films I mentioned, it is a very entertaining, and interesting experiment, that shows a different side to one of Germany's greatest film makers.

The famous Hollywood comedy director Ernst Lubitsch (To Be or Not to Be, The Shop Around the Corner) began his career in Germany as an an actor, mostly appearing in shorts.

 After being accused of rape (probably falsely) silent film comedian Fatty Arbuckle no longer appeared in front of the camera. However he would direct some films under the name William Goodrich. His friend Buster Keaton suggested the name Will B. Good, but Arbuckle thought that would be too obvious.

There is a joke in the Marx Brother's film The Big Store in which Margret Dumount says to Groucho, "I'm afraid after we're married awhile, a beautiful young girl will come along, and, uh, you'll forget all about me" to which Groucho replies "Don't be silly. I'll write you twice a week.". Producer L. K. Sidney did not like this joke (for unknown to me reasons) and wanted it taken out of the movie. Director, Charles Reisner however insisted the joke stay in. Since this was an MGM picture, this argument was brought to Louie B. Mayer. When asked about the joke Louie B. Mayer replied "greatest line in the picture". The joke is still in the movie.

Comedy producer extraordinaire, Hal Roach (Harold Lloyd, Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang (Little Rascals), Charley Chase) is credited (On IMDb) with producing 1,198 films and 8 TV Series.

 Friends and colleges of Charlie Chaplin tried to talk him out of making his film Shoulder Arms. Shoulder Arms was a comedy about WW1, made during WW1, and most of his friends and colleges felt it was too sensitive a subject to be made into a comedy. However Chaplin made it anyway, and it became his biggest hit up to that point.


Shoulder Arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyZzEH85FKM

-Michael J. Ruhland

Happy PI Day, and "Battle of the Century" (1927)

Happy PI day everybody. Why not celebrate with a Pie Fight. In fact why not celebrate with film histories greatest Pie fight.

This film is "Battle of the Century" (1927) staring Laurel and Hardy and directed by Clyde Bruckman (Who did much writing for Harold Lloyd and The Three Stooges), and Leo McCarey (Who directed "Duck Soup" with The Marx Brothers as well as "The Awful Truth" with Irene Dunn and Cary Grant). The pie fight scene in this film used some 3,000 pies. Lou Costello is an extra in the boxing scene. While sadly incomplete this film is a hilarious example of Laurel and Hardy during the silent era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIXByXcUHw

-Michael J. Ruhland

Classic Film Comedy Short Stories #4

"Punch Drunks" was the only film with The Three Stooges that they wrote themselves. This is because they were unhappy with their previous film for Colombia "Woman Haters" since it was not their style of humor, and wanted to show them how a Three Stooges film should work.

Buster Keaton wanted the film "Spite Marriage" to be a talkie. However MGM (The studio he was working for) wanted it to be a silent for budget reasons. "Spite Marriage" was Buster Keaton's last silent, and sadly the last film which would grant him any creative control (Which with this film was already slipping away).

The ending of "The Graduate" was inspired by the ending of 1924's "Girl Shy". "Graduate" director Mike Nicholas, had ""Girl Shy" actor/producer Harold Lloyd on set to somewhat supervise the scene.

In "The Big Noise" Laurel and Hardy repeated a sketch (About trying to sleep in a train berth) that they had previously done in the film "Berth Marks". Stan Laurel suggested they change the location from a train to an airplane to improve on what they had done before, but producer Sol Wurtzel told them they would do it as  they had before. This is a sign of how much creative control Laurel and Hardy had lost once the moved to 20th century fox. Also during that scene if you listen closely you can clearly hear the crew laughing offstage.

The films "The Cococonuts" and "Animal Crackers" were both originally stage plays that also stared the Marx Brothers (Just like the films), these were also the first two films with The Marx Brothers.

In 1940's "One Night in the Tropics", we first hear Abbott and Costello's voices before we see them. This is because this was the film debut of the classic comedy duo. However they were already famous radio comedians, so this was a cleaver way to introduce them as film stars.

-Michael J. Ruhland