Michael's Movie Grade: A+
Review: Yep I saw another Laurel and Hardy film festival at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, California. It was just as much fun this time as any other time I have seen one. Seriously if any of my fellow Laurel and Hardy lovers are ever in the area definitely see one of these shows you will not regret it.
Before the films even began we were treated to great fun. First a very talented young man named Edward Torres (sorry if I got the name wrong or misspelled it but I believe this was his name) treated us to a fantastic rendition of Fats Waller's classic song Ain't Misbehaving on The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ (which dates back to 1921). Followed by this the extremely talented Bill Field played a medley of classic songs on this organ. Then we had a sing along (with words appearing on the screen) as he played with such classics as Ol' Susana, When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbing Along, Give Me A Little Kiss and My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.
Since our first two films were silent they were accompanied live by Bill Field playing the Wurlitzer. Now if you have never seen a silent film with live musical accompaniment you are missing out. It is such a completely different experience than watching them on TV and it really makes the films come to life. Our first silent was the delightful Their Purple Moment (1928). Though this film was early in their teaming, here the characters and humor are clearly defined and with this there are plenty of laughs to be found. The next short was Leave 'Em Laughing (1928). While this may not have been as refined as the short before hand, there are still some good laughs to be found here, and Ollie getting his tooth pulled is a comic highlight and classic Laurel and Hardy at their best.
After a brief intermission we got a trio of sound shorts. First off was Men O' War (1929), which ranks among the duo's funniest sound shorts. This film is full of laughs and it only gets funnier when watching it with an audience. This short is by far a must see for all Laurel and Hardy fans. Next came Scram (1932). Now this short really shows how watching a film with an audience in a theater can completely change a movie. I always thought this short was funny, but it always felt a bit slow to me. However seeing it with an audience it no longer feels slow at all and has every right to be called a Laurel and Hardy classic. Last but certainty not least was County Hospital (1932), this one is rightful considered a masterpiece by many Laurel and Hardy fans. And why not? The laughs just keep coming in this short and of course it has one of the best lines to quote "Hard boiled eggs and nuts...mmmm".
-Michael J. Ruhland
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