Stan Laurel (1890 - 1965)
and
Oliver Hardy (1892 - 1957)
Chaplin might have been the greatest
comedian, Keaton the most inventive, Lloyd the most exciting but it is
unlikely any of them delivered as much laughter and genuine love as
Laurel and Hardy. It is not surprising that in the midst of war Stalin
and Churchill were fond of screening their comedies. Their secret was
the dignity with which they faced life, grown up children yes but
dignified in their genuine regard for each other. Stan and Ollie were a
unified whole in every picture unlike other comedy teams who often
swindled each other.
They were both excellent actors and although Ollie was the nominal straight man he was so much more than that, often he delivered as many laughs as Stan with his classic "camera looks" of exasperation that any human being could be so dumb !
Stan Laurel born Arthur Stanley Jefferson came from an English Music Hall background (he was Charlie Chaplin's understudy in a Music Hall act which came to the US in 1910). Stan found little success as an individual silent comedian and before he teamed with Ollie was beginning to think gag-writing and direction was more his forte. Oliver "Babe" Hardy was in great demand in the silent era as a comedy heavy working for Chaplin imitator Billy West and Larry Semon.
By the mid 20s both men were under contract to Hal Roach studios. They began appearing together in supporting roles in several films and a chemistry began to build. The contrast between them was obvious and director Leo McCarey encouraged the growth of Laurel and Hardy into a team. It took them perhaps a couple of years to solidify those dumb but dignified characters but they made several excellent silent shorts including : The Battle of the Century (1927), You're Darn Tootin' (1928), Two Tars (1928) and Big Business (1929).
Their first talkie Unaccustomed As We Are (1929) revealed that their voices were perfect. Sound gave new reality to their world of crooked policemen and nagging wives. The early 30s represented the peak of their careers with a succession of classic shorts : Hog Wild (1930), Laughing Gravy (1931), Helpmates (1931), The Music Box (1932) and Towed In A Hole (1932).
Stan later believed they never should have made feature films but film economics made it a necessity. The features haven't lasted as well as the shorts but they are still entertaining and they made two practically flawless ones : Sons of the Desert (1933) and Way Out West (1937).
After Saps at Sea (1940) the team left Roach, Stan had contract disputes with Hal dating back to 1934 but Roach at least gave them creative freedom, meaning they could portray the characters pretty much as they liked. This changed when they worked at the factories of 20th Century Fox and M-G-M in the Forties where studio writers reduced Stan and Ollie to mindless cretins in need of medical attention. They toured the music halls of Europe in the late Forties and early Fifties, making one final film in France, the completely forgettable Atoll K (1951).
Despite the fact they hadn't made any great films since the Thirties the Boys were cheered wherever they went. Worldwide fans had a chance to give them a final farewell. Thankfully Laurel and Hardy films are still shown regularly on TV at least in the UK allowing new generations to discover the magic of their work.
They were both excellent actors and although Ollie was the nominal straight man he was so much more than that, often he delivered as many laughs as Stan with his classic "camera looks" of exasperation that any human being could be so dumb !
Stan Laurel born Arthur Stanley Jefferson came from an English Music Hall background (he was Charlie Chaplin's understudy in a Music Hall act which came to the US in 1910). Stan found little success as an individual silent comedian and before he teamed with Ollie was beginning to think gag-writing and direction was more his forte. Oliver "Babe" Hardy was in great demand in the silent era as a comedy heavy working for Chaplin imitator Billy West and Larry Semon.
By the mid 20s both men were under contract to Hal Roach studios. They began appearing together in supporting roles in several films and a chemistry began to build. The contrast between them was obvious and director Leo McCarey encouraged the growth of Laurel and Hardy into a team. It took them perhaps a couple of years to solidify those dumb but dignified characters but they made several excellent silent shorts including : The Battle of the Century (1927), You're Darn Tootin' (1928), Two Tars (1928) and Big Business (1929).
Their first talkie Unaccustomed As We Are (1929) revealed that their voices were perfect. Sound gave new reality to their world of crooked policemen and nagging wives. The early 30s represented the peak of their careers with a succession of classic shorts : Hog Wild (1930), Laughing Gravy (1931), Helpmates (1931), The Music Box (1932) and Towed In A Hole (1932).
Stan later believed they never should have made feature films but film economics made it a necessity. The features haven't lasted as well as the shorts but they are still entertaining and they made two practically flawless ones : Sons of the Desert (1933) and Way Out West (1937).
After Saps at Sea (1940) the team left Roach, Stan had contract disputes with Hal dating back to 1934 but Roach at least gave them creative freedom, meaning they could portray the characters pretty much as they liked. This changed when they worked at the factories of 20th Century Fox and M-G-M in the Forties where studio writers reduced Stan and Ollie to mindless cretins in need of medical attention. They toured the music halls of Europe in the late Forties and early Fifties, making one final film in France, the completely forgettable Atoll K (1951).
Despite the fact they hadn't made any great films since the Thirties the Boys were cheered wherever they went. Worldwide fans had a chance to give them a final farewell. Thankfully Laurel and Hardy films are still shown regularly on TV at least in the UK allowing new generations to discover the magic of their work.
Written content copyright Derek McLellan,2005.
Copyright © The Fedora Chronicles
Laurel and Hardy image from
http://povonline.com/laurelandhardy/LH01.htm