Sherlock Holmes

[Robert]

Re Laurel and Hardy : the funniest men who ever lived.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hey, I still like it.

At least I didn't mention the recent Will Ferrell film!

I haven’t seen that one yet Joshua. Every review I’ve read has said that it’s terrible so I’m not looking forward to it.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Re Laurel and Hardy : the funniest men who ever lived.

[Wickerman]

I’ve always loved Laurel and Hardy. The shorter films were definitely the best. I’m in my fifties and me and my friends still quote then in conversation to the extent that it’s become almost natural to say ““”so do I neither””” when we’re agreeing.

Ha!, thats the same with my wife & I, when we show disgust at something one of us said or did, we both chime up with..."I have nothing to say!"

[Wickerman]

The BBC TV 'Quatermass And The Pit' with Andre Morell was screened 1958 - 1959, and it was a behind-the-sofa job for me - scary or what? It also starred Cec Linder, last seen as far as I'm aware playing Felix Leiter in 'Goldfinger'.

Re: Laurel & Hardy shorts, 'The Music Box' was on TV last week, and I hurt myself laughing - I'd forgotten just how superbly funny they were. My missus sat stony-faced, unable to see any humour at all in it. As an aside, the famous steps are in LA and still exist. When I lived in the USA in the 1970's I worked with a chap who was brought up not far from those steps, and told me it was a real tourist-attraction back then. And probably still is.

Graham

You need to sit her through Blotto, I defy anyone to stay straight-faced through that one.
My grandson was rolling on the floor with tears in his eyes, and he wasn't even sure what the joke was

[Herlock Sholmes]

Graham And Wick,

I remember reading somewhere a few years ago that, for reasons that I can’t recall, women are in general far less likely to find Laurel And Hardy funny. I’ve had the experience myself a few months ago. I'd been out for a few drinks with a friend and his wife and a few others. In total 4 men and three women. Indian takeaway delivered, my friend slipped on a Laurel and Hardy dvd. Result - 3 women shaking there heads at why we found it funny. 4 men choking and spluttering over curry and naan bread!

[Yabs]

My sister is in her 50s and even to this day nobody makes her laugh as much as Stan Laurel.

My favourite short is possibly Oliver the Eighth, although I could change my mind tomorrow as I love so many...
When I was a kid I saw Stan as the funny one and Oliver as his loveable friend, I think as an adult you appreciate that Ollie was Stans absolute equal for comic timing.

[Graham]

Here in the UK there was very little L&H on TV for years. I don't know why. Maybe something to do with PC. However, one of the 'low-down-the-list' channels is repeating L&H fairly frequently at the moment, and I watch if I'm able. A recent one I recall is where Oliver's in hospital and Stan visits, with ensuing disasters. A phrase out of that short which became a stock in-joke between myself and a friend, is 'Hard Boiled Eggs And Nuts! Hmph!' which we use whenever we encounter something we don't particularly like! And we always pronounce 'eggs' as 'aygs' in true Hardy fashion. My, what wags we are!

Graham

[Herlock Sholmes]

My sister is in her 50s and even to this day nobody makes her laugh as much as Stan Laurel.

My favourite short is possibly Oliver the Eighth, although I could change my mind tomorrow as I love so many...
When I was a kid I saw Stan as the funny one and Oliver as his loveable friend, I think as an adult you appreciate that Ollie was Stans absolute equal for comic timing.

With me it was Oliver that I felt was the funniest. Those despairing looks at the camera and even the way he signed his name with that exaggerated flourish. I love them both.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Here in the UK there was very little L&H on TV for years. I don't know why. Maybe something to do with PC. However, one of the 'low-down-the-list' channels is repeating L&H fairly frequently at the moment, and I watch if I'm able. A recent one I recall is where Oliver's in hospital and Stan visits, with ensuing disasters. A phrase out of that short which became a stock in-joke between myself and a friend, is 'Hard Boiled Eggs And Nuts! Hmph!' which we use whenever we encounter something we don't particularly like! And we always pronounce 'eggs' as 'aygs' in true Hardy fashion. My, what wags we are!

Graham

County Hospital. A classic.

Thats a good point though Graham. I think we’re of a similar age? L&H were on tv all the time on BBC2 when we were young but they’ve just been discarded for some reason. Considering the plethora of constantly repeated crap that passes for entertainment on tv these days you would think that L&H would get shown.

I have a free weekend. I might save the Stan & Ollie movie then break out my L & H box set. First informing family and friends that their company will not be required of course.

[Robert]

It was my dad who got me interested in L and H when I was a boy. But of course, as with any work of art, the older you get, the more you see in it. Their films were works of art and thank goodness they are preserved for the delight of future generations.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I don’t know why it is but I still prefer them in b+w even though I have quite a few that have been colourised to a high standard. I also have the 4 Rathbone/Bruce movie that have been colourised so far. They’re really well done but I prefer the originals.

[Robert]

Absolutely. B + W.

[Graham]

As I write, the 1983 version of The Hound is on the box. The one with Ian Richardson as Holmes, and Donald Churchill as Watson. I've seen it before, and it got the thumbs down from me. Holmes is portrayed as sarcastic and smarmy, and Churchill gives Watson the full bumbling treatment. Not good. Oh, and a character called Geoffrey Lyons, never in the original story, is thrown in, perhaps to give Brian Blessed something to do as he perhaps had a couple of free weekends for shooting. Nearly forgot...Sir Henry Baskerville, played by Martin Shaw, wears a Stetson, presumably so he can be easily recognised by the viewers. Not the best Hound by a long, long chalk.

Graham

[Herlock Sholmes]

As I write, the 1983 version of The Hound is on the box. The one with Ian Richardson as Holmes, and Donald Churchill as Watson. I've seen it before, and it got the thumbs down from me. Holmes is portrayed as sarcastic and smarmy, and Churchill gives Watson the full bumbling treatment. Not good. Oh, and a character called Geoffrey Lyons, never in the original story, is thrown in, perhaps to give Brian Blessed something to do as he perhaps had a couple of free weekends for shooting. Nearly forgot...Sir Henry Baskerville, played by Martin Shaw, wears a Stetson, presumably so he can be easily recognised by the viewers. Not the best Hound by a long, long chalk.

Graham

I think it’s better than the one with Stewart Grainger as Holmes and William Shatner as Stapleton. I also quite liked Tom Baker’s Holmes in that version of The Hound. I’ve recently bought the newly re-discovered 1929 silent movie with Carlyle Blackwell too. Only one Hound left to get but that’s in the possession of the BFI and they won’t do single copies.