Customer Reviews

Classic Comedy Teams Collection (Laurel & Hardy: Air Raid Wardens, Nothing But Trouble; Abbott & Costello: Abbott & Costello in Hollywood, Lost in a Harem; 3 Stooges: Gold Raiders, Meet the Baron)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Make no mistake by the generic title of this box set, this is not one of those cheaply made public domain collections that every one releases again & again. These are RARELY seen films from three classic comedy teams being released by their copyright owner.

ABBOTT & COSTELLO: "Lost In A Harem" & "A & C In Hollywood" were both produced during Bud & Lou's heyday of the 1940's, they are at their top here. Bud & Lou had a clause in their Universal contract that allowed them to make one movie a year for another studio. These are two of their three films that they made for big-budgeted MGM Studios. A must for any Abbott & Costello fan.

LAUREL & HARDY: "Air Raid Wardens" & "Nothing But Trouble" were both made after Stan & Ollie's departure from Hal Roach Studios. True that this is the declining period for the boys, but these films made near the end of their career are still worth a look. A must for the devoted Laurel & Hardy fan.

THE THREE STOOGES: "Meet The Baron" & "Gold Raiders" are rarely seen feature films of the original 3 Stooges, not the Joe De-Rita films with the aging stooges of the 1960's. Not as fast-paced & joke filled as their Columbia shorts, these were made when the stooges were still early in their careers and willing to try anything. Ted Healy is in charge of them in "Meet The Baron" and it plays more like their vaudville act, it also features Jimmy Durante. "Gold Raiders" is made in 1951 after Curly left (due to his stroke) and Shemp re-joined the team. This is Shemp's second feature film as a stooge and it feels more like a 3 Stooges film than the first. These are a MUST for any devoted Stooge Fan.

The real reason for buying this reasonably priced set from Warners is the Abbott and Costello MGM film, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, one of the funniest in their entire series for Universal, MGM, and Warner Bros. The "dummy" scene alone is worth the price of this set. Lost In A Harem is also worthwhile, especially for the "Slowly I Turned" sketch that they performed often in Burlesque. But the quality of the print is poor in spots, compared to the excellent remastering of "Hollywood." Don't throw away your VHS copy of "Harem." As for L&H, most fans realize the DVDs to buy are their silent and earliest sound films, not the recent releases from TCM and Fox that are overpriced to begin with. The remastering of these films is excellent. The Stooges "Meet The Baron" is a pre-code anomaly and worth seeing for a few scenes, but Durante and Pearl are not at their best. The Stooges 1951 western is well mastered but, again, depend upon their Columbia shorts for your greatest enjoyment.

Not all of these six movies are as widely known as others by these three great comedy teams; but all are must haves for any serious Stooges, L&H, or A&C fan. If, like me, you're a fan of all three comedy teams, for less than $20 U.S. this is a great addition to your DVD collection. I have been trying for years to get these movies, especially Abbott & Costello in Hollywood and Gold Raiders. Now I have them and am very pleased with my purchase. If you love these three great comedy teams, definitely buy this six-movie collection. These six movies are spread across three single-sided disks. NOT Flippers!!!

While these films aren't exactly for a new or casual fan, they are very worth the while for more seasoned fans. Finally these long-overlooked films are being released on DVD instead of languishing away on out of print videos or not even available on that format to begin with (I don't believe 'Gold Raiders' was ever issued on VHS). Yes, the bonus features are very minimal (just trailers for 'Meet the Baron,' 'A&C in Hollywood,' 'Air Raid Wardens,' and 'Nothing But Trouble'), and the print used for 'Lost in a Harem' does seem a bit worn at times, but those complaints should be minor when considering how great it is that these lesser features of these great comedy teams finally got a proper DVD release. Who even thinks to complain about something like a dearth of bonus features or less than perfect prints when talking about the long-awaited release of rarities? (And since they are such rarities and non-essential features except for seasoned fans, it makes sense that there really isn't much in the way of bonus materials.)

A lot of people tend to dismiss L&H's post-1940 features as though they're completely unfunny, awful, and not worth one's time, but I rather like the two they did for MGM, as well as their Fox features. It's like one of those things that's been said long enough, by so many people, that even people who have never gotten to see these features to judge for themselves start to parrot this rhetoric, which creates a self-fulfilling prophecy by the time they finally see said features. But if one takes them on their own merits instead of unfairly judging them by the golden standard of their Hal Roach years, one might actually come to see that they're not half-bad and indeed have many funny moments. They're different from the films at Hal Roach, with a lot of that heart and soul being gone (such as in how they're now aware of their stupidity and don't want to try to change their low station in life, like when Ollie actually says, "I guess we're not smart like other people," and one of the jokes in 'Air Raid Wardens' is supposed to be the sight of Stan struggling to write his own name, as though he's borderline retarded and not just a childlike man in his own special magical world), but the two main ingredients are still there, even if in a different format. My favorite of the two is 'Air Raid Wardens' (1943), featuring the boys as hopeful air raid wardens trying to do their best for the homefront effort, only to be dismissed from their jobs with disgrace after screwing up one too many times. When they learn of a group of Nazi spies in their town planning to take over and blow up a magnesium plant, it's up to them to save the day and convince the locals that they're not so stupid and incompetent after all. 'Nothing But Trouble' (1944) features them as a cook (Ollie) and a butler (Stan) working for a high-society matron, but are also dismissed from those positions after ruining a dinner party and being accused of kidnapping a boy king in exile. They also have to try to save the day in this picture when King Christopher's evil uncle Prince Saul tries to have his nephew poisoned and to take power for himself. Though I quite enjoyed this film the first time I saw it, it didn't wear as well the second time around. While I still liked it (particularly the scene near the end when they're holding onto the side of the building and Stan, hanging onto Ollie for dear life, manages to pull his friend's pants down), it just didn't seem as inspired as it had before.

'A&C in Hollywood' (1945) features the duo as barbers and shoeshine boys who decide to start working as agents in order to get their buddy Jeff, a promising singer, into an upcoming movie. His rival Gregory has other ideas, however, and tries to sabotage their efforts even after Jeff's contract has already been written up. However, this film seems to be more a series of gags and funny scenes without a solid unifying story holding them all together. Some of these jokes, such as the insomnia scene, just go on too long and don't add anything to the story. Probably the funniest scene is the one near the end when Gregory is chasing Lou on the runaway roller coaster. 'Lost in a Harem' (1944) features the boys as Peter Johnson and Harvey Garvey, who are magicians performing in North Africa, along with their friend Hazel Moon, who is a singer. After Harvey screws up their act, all three of them are thrown into jail. A man who turns out to be an exiled prince, who has a thing for Hazel, gets them out of prison, and takes them to his kingdom to try to win the throne back from his evil uncle Nimativ. Things get complicated when the evil king sees Hazel and falls in love with this beautiful blonde, holding her hostage in his harem and ordering their marriage for the next day at sundown. He also becomes wise to the schemes of his nephew and two friends, who find themselves in and out of trouble on their way to trying to save the day. While this is an enjoyable film, there are a bunch of rather boring song and dance numbers. Why did MGM think so many comedies they produced needed these superfluous musical scenes? It's also not consistently energetic or funny, though that perhaps can be attributed to how Lou had had rheumatic fever the previous year and was also dealing with the tragic loss of his one year old son to a drowning accident.

'Gold Raiders' (1951) is notable for being the only full-length feature the Stooges made with Shemp (apart of course from 'Soup to Nuts' in 1930), although unlike a lot of the features they guest-starred in in the Thirties and Forties, here they actually are front and center for most of the action and play major roles instead of serving as periodic comic relief or just appearing for one brief scene. I thought this film wasn't too shabby, though while it is better than its reputation, it's not exactly solid gold either. It's quite obvious that this was a low-budget picture and shot in a very short timespan, not even of the same calibre as a B-Western. While normally I find Westerns boring at best and offensive at worst, I thought this one was pretty good, even in the few scenes without the Stooges. George O'Brien (who uses his real name in the film) is a sheriff turned insurance salesman who is inadvertently saved by the Stooges, who have a travelling general store. Once in town, he proceeds to get permission to insure and guard shipments of gold, since the existing sheriff is kind of a buffoon. Problems arise when O'Brien's secretary Laura's drunken grandfather accidentally gives the bad guys information about the gold shipment. Although it's only a bit under an hour long and not really memorable, and quite obviously not a big-budget picture, it is a fun way to pass the time. One wishes they had been allowed to make starring features while they were still in their creative and physical prime instead of having to wait until 1959, since this film shows a lot of promise for what could have been. 'Meet the Baron' (1933) was made while they were still working with their original leader Ted Healy (an incredibly funny and talented performer, with a lot of screen presence and personality, in spite of the vicious decades-old rumors about how he was some untalented mean moneygrubbing abusive jerk). It's actually a starring vehicle for Jack Pearl and Jimmy Durante, who are mistaken for Baron Munchausen and his sidekick Joe McGoo, respectively. They are taken back to the United States, where they wind up appearing at Cuddle College. "Munchausen" falls in love with one of the maids (ZaSu Pitts), but this budding love affair is threatened when he and McGoo face exposure as frauds when the real Baron Munchausen shows up, irate at having his identity stolen. Healy and His Stooges are the funniest people in this film, and steal the show. They play janitors who work at the college, and in one very risqué scene are called in to fix the plumbing after the water goes out during a musical number the women performed while in the showers, covered up only by the water. It's also kind of charming to see how young and fresh-faced they look in this film.

While these films aren't the greatest representatives of what these three great comedy teams were capable of, they're still far from completely devoid of interest and entertainment. Kudos for finally putting these rarities on DVD.

Nothing like classic comedy and the comics of yesteryear. If you enjoy the featured teams in general then you will enjoy these.The Stooges are the most uneven of the offerings with a very early Ted Healey pre-code campus comedy (sexy musical number ) & a wheesy 50's oater. Other remaining offerings are with the teams out of their element at rare outings at MGM. The A&C is prime & very good.L&H are out of their prime & MGM missing true L&H humor--still if you like them you should enjoy this box set

Personally, I like their short films better. Not a big fan of the 3 Stooges either. The descriptions on Amazon weren't really that detailed. So, I didn't know if they would be short films or not. A good mix of all 3 regardless though.

Required viewing in order for kids to grow up normal... must not only watch The Stooges but must listen to The Stooges... After watching all espisodes oh...100 times..then only then will the kids education be complete.. then can go out and function in the World..

Thought I was getting six Abbott & Costello movies, but only two were. At first I was disappointed but after watching them they were pretty good.

MEET THE BARON:
This is a very funny movie, tightly edited and continuously amusing (OK, droll). It picks up steam after the introductory scene, and clips away pretty briskly after that. I intended to see just a few scenes at a time, but ended up watching it all the way through (with no fast-forwarding).

This comes the closest I've seen to a "real" Jimmy Durante movie. (If only he had a piano!)

Healy and the Stooges have long sequences throughout, and succeed as the only comedy team to manage a sufficiently interesting 4th member. Although I'm not a fan of Pearl or Pitts, here they seem fittingly cast, with Pitts at her most natural and likable. But the real treat is Edna May Oliver, not a bad looking woman and perfectly cast as the prissy (but not entirely prudish) dean. She is a fine comedienne, her timing and gestures and faces are exquisite, and she doesn't shy from an insult, a shove, or a slap in the rear. She takes it in and dishes it out, and her ensemble work with the roughest comedians of the day is splendid.

Jack Pearl's puns seemed much funnier to me watching alone than they did years ago in a revival theatre with an audience. I guess it helps the enjoyment of dopey humour when you don't have people around you groaning.

The film has some nicks at the beginning, but that clears up after a few minutes, and it becomes a clean, sharp, vintage-looking print the rest of the way through.

GOLD RAIDERS:
This movie spends way too much time on a hackneyed boring story with uninteresting characters and scenes with no Stooges. Still, when they are on screen, they are in almost vintage form and not too old. Shemp always struck me as the best solo actor of all the Stooges, but never seemed at ease as part of their ensemble. They all seem to be uncomfortably improvising a lot of their business, and much of the comic action is therefore vigorous but uninspired.

This might be quite a good Stooges film if they had more time on the screen doing truly funny things and being clever as well as incompetent. In a later film, "The Outlaws is Coming", their incompetence (with a prototype Krazyglue) gives them the driving force to outsmart the gunslingers. But here they are relegated to "comic relief" from an unnecessary and mind-numbing story. Their comic bits are usually without music (this is good) and punctuated with well-made period sound effects. But too much of the time they stand around and pantomime support for the "lead" characters, who apparently are not even on the same stage.

LOST IN A HAREM
I can't believe I watched the whole thing. I kept intending to fast-forward but there was something about the patter that kept me engaged, or it was a fabulous big-band number I wanted to hear, or the outrageous seriousness of the "story" sections were amusing and never lasted long enough to lose me. Finally I got it: it's Vaudeville Goes Hollywood, all deliberately flippant and politically incorrect. A&C face torture and death constantly and never play it straight. Good print.

ABBOTT & COSTELLO IN HOLLYWOOD
The film that Martin & Lewis never quite made.

Watching someone sabotage his goals out of unmotivated incompetence is not funny to me unless he brings dopiness to a level of high art, like Stan Laurel, or the routine has a clever turn to it. But trust me and stick with each scene because just as you're getting fed up and about to turn it off, they come up with a cute surprise or a very funny ending that makes it all worthwhile. It's a positive film, so keep it running even if it seems that embarrassment is imminent...

A&C's acting in this movie is the polar opposite of "Lost..." They play it as straight as their characters allow, and seem not only believable but likable. Even Abbott warms up a bit and shows a sort of coarse fondness for Costello.

The songs are not as interesting as in "Harem". Too bad they couldn't find someone as good as Jack Haley for the juvenile lead; but his type only comes around once every few generations.

NOTHING BUT TROUBLE and AIR RAID WARDENS:
These movies are not so bad as they are made out to be. Of course all the criticisms you've read are accurate, so I won't go into them. Just don't think of these as "Laurel & Hardy movies". Think of these as stories that someone put Laurel & Hardy into.

There are positive developments: Their relationship seems to have matured. Stan's mistakes don't constantly hurt Ollie any more, which is a relief. They show genuine affection and even respect for each other; and, despite the script, a touching concern for the person, animal, or endeavor under their care. It certainly is a shame they are written up as hopeless incompetents, not given enough jokes, and the scene with the dump truck is unpleasant; but they're good with children and animals, and their serious acting is convincing. The window-ledge scene reminds me of their early "Liberty", and they have a good scene in a car with eccentric window-wipers.

Just remember you bought this set for the Abbot & Costello and "Meet the Baron", and everything else is extra. Then you won't be so disappointed.

This smorgasbord of film comedy offers a little bit of everything. The main entree has to be Abbott & Costello: two films (outside of their home studio of Universal)showcase the team in their prime here. Both were made at MGM where, coincidentally, Lou worked as a Hollywood stunt man when he was young.
The Three Stooges are shown in different form: one rare feature film was made with Shemp, and another early one, as they were "stooges" for another vaudvillian, Ted Healey. It's interesting to see them outside of their usual short film venue.
The great team of Laurel & Hardy are on their way down in these two films, and it's a shame they're not shown in their heyday here. Working for larger studios, they were not allowed to tamper with the scripts given. But still, they manage to have some funny moments in each.
This package is a curious offering for any collector, but worth it.