Eureka are releasing a limited edition (of 2000) two disc set of the silent short films beloved comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy made during 1929, complete with a bunch of extras, collector’s booklet with new writing on each film by comedian Paul Merton and an O-card slipcase. The films are 1080p presentations from 2K restorations by Blackhawk films and here’s what’s on there:
Disc One
We get six short films, all running around 20 minutes and starting with LIBERTY, in which the boys escape from prison and end up wearing each others’ trousers. Much trousers down in public hilarity ensues as they try to rectify the situation, culminating in a climax at the top of a building undergoing construction. There’s the option of the original Vitaphone soundtrack (suggested if you’re watching these for the first time) but there are two others, as well as a commentary track by L&H experts Chris Seguin and Kyp Harness. In WRONG AGAIN the Blue Boy is stolen and Stan & Ollie think they’ve found it and plan to return it for a reward. Unfortunately it’s the painting ‘The Blue Boy’ that has been stolen whereas they think it’s a racehorse that they then take round to the owner’s house, with shenanigans ensuing. This one comes with an alternate score by Neil Brand and a commentary by David Kalat.
THAT’S MY WIFE sees Ollie’s wife leave him and Stan has to dress up in her place to convince a rich uncle to leave Ollie his money, with the highlight being their unsuspecting appearance on stage at a downtown nightclub. There are score tracks by Andreas Benz and Neil Brand and a commentary by Glenn Mitchell. BIG BUSINESS sees the boys trying to sell Christmas trees and ends with wanton acts of destruction. Scores by Robert Israel, Maud Nelissen and Gaylord Carter with commentary by Neil Brand.
In DOUBLE WHOOPEE Stan and Ollie are mistaken for a hotel’s visiting prince and his prime minister before things are cleared up and they cause havoc as a doorman and footman. This one features an appearance by Jean Harlow. Music from Robert Israel, commentary by David Kalat. Harlow also pops up at the very end of BACON GRABBERS, where Stan and Ollie are in the repossession business and are trying to get back a radio. Music by Neil Brand, commentary by Glenn Mitchell.
Extras on disc one include eight minutes of the Hollywood Revue of 1929, Super 8 versions of BIG BUSINESS and DIZZY HEIGHTS (an alternate version of LIBERTY), and three audio recordings: The Wedding Night (16 minutes), Mr Slater’s Poultry Market (29 minutes) and an ad for the National war Disabled Association (2 minutes)
Disc Two
Three short films on here (not including extras). In ANGORA LOVE the duo get into some trouble with a goat. UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE sees Ollie, unbeknownst to his wife, inviting Stan home for dinner and getting into a lot of dress falling off ‘Oh no my husband’s home & he’ll kill you’ fun with Thelma Todd, while BERTH MATES sees them on a train with a double bass. Music is from Robert Israel and Andreas Benz with commentary from Neil Brand, David Kalat and Chris Seguin and Patrick Vasey.
The big extra is a 49 minute visual essay from David Cairns and Fiona Watson that charts Laurel & Hardy’s career from them meeting right up to the end of their silent movies. We also get a couple of sound shorts: THEY GO BOOM! in which Ollie has a cold and Stan tries to help and THE HOOSE-GOW in which the boys get into trouble with the law and end up on a chain gang. HOP TO IT is a silent movie that features Ollie alone and is a kind of forerunner to DOUBLE WHOOPEE.
There’s also a Spanish fragment of BERTH MATES, the super 8 version of THE HOOSE-GOW, newsreel footage of the boys from 1947-1953, the public information film TREE IN A TEST TUBE which features the boys in colour, and an attempted 3D rendering of BIG BUSINESS for which you’ll need anaglyph glasses (it’s not clear if they come in the set).
LAUREL & HARDY: THE SILENT YEARS is out from Eureka on a two disc set on Monday 20th July 2026
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