Kit Parker Films To Release DVD And Blu-ray Collections Of Laural And Hardy: The Definitive Restorations On June 16th

Word arrived this past week from Kit Parker Films that fans of the legendary comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have been waiting for — literally for years — will finally come true on June 16^th (the 130^th Anniversary of Stan Laurel’s birth).   Get ready … the countdown begins!!

That’s the street date for both DVD and Blu-ray collections of Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations — six-disc DVD and four-disc Blu-ray sets.

These are all new 2K and 4K scans from the best remaining 35mm elements … before and after video samples confirm that these are absolutely gorgeous.  

Alright, before we get to what is included in this stunning collection, let’s get it out there, Music Box, is here, restored.  If you were on the cusp of “should I or shouldn’t I” get a copy of Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations on June 16, that one short film (an Academy Award winner at that) alone should be the clincher.

It’s 1932, Stan and Olie are partners in The Laurel & Hardy Moving Company and they have an assignment, deliver a piano to a residence at the top of a seemingly endless flight of stairs in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles.   It’s absolutely brilliant … and it is here.

So what else is included in this must-have collection?   And, it should be noted, that all films and shorts come with optional English subtitles and commentary tracks (presented by Laurel & Hardy historians, Randy Skretvedt and Richard W. Bann).

There are two feature films, director William A. Seiter’s 1933 film release of Sons of the Desert and director James W. Horne’s 1937 Western comedy, Way Out West.

There are also 16 of their classic short films: Berth Marks, Brats, Hog Wild, Come Clean, One Good Turn, Helpmates, The Music Box, The Chimp, County Hospital, Scram!, Their First Mistake, Towed In A Hole, Twice Two, Me And My Pal, The Midnight Patrol and Busy Bodies.   It should be noted that Berth Marks (1929) and Brats (1930) include the original theatrical soundtracks and the mid-1930s “reissue” soundtracks.

Also included here is the 1927 silent short comedy, The Battle of the Century, with its massive pie fight (something like 3,000 pies go flying).

Not done yet … in addition to all of these great films and shorts, the Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations includes eight hours worth of bonus extras … trailers, interviews, a Laurel & Hardy blooper reel, a collection of out-takes and the 1937 gag short, That’s That (celebrating Stan Laurel’s birthday).

June 16, join the birthday celebration … it’s a must attend event.