Customer Reviews

The Laurel & Hardy Encyclopedia

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This is a gold mine of information, much of which is not going to be found elsewhere easily, if at all. Glenn Mitchell has done a thorough job of researching his subjects, and it shows. Clearly, he enjoys The Boys as well, since a noticeable amount of wit and humor add to the fun of reading the book. Incidentally, it's virtually im possible ("I have just two words...") to read the book in sequence; the cross references just go on and on. All in all, it's a most worthy companion to Randy Skretvedt's "Laurel and Hardy: the Magic Behind the Movies".

This book is chock full of essential and not so essential minutae on the careers,lives,films,you-name-it of the worlds greatest film comedy duo of all time,Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
That it is entitled an "encyclopedia" is no idle boast.There isn't too much that I can find that Mr.Mitchell didn't include.All is in alphabetical order and every topic you can think of from individual films,actors directly and indirectly associated with the Boys,explanations of for example reciprocal destruction,authors of other books,et al,are included in this unique volume.
At the end of each defined topic are cross references to other topics associated in some way with the one you just read which leads you hopping from one place to another.If you're not sure exactly what it is you're looking for you are eventually sure to run into something related to your field of interest as each topic is not exactly specific in nature such as "doors" or "locations" or "trains".
This is a book you don't read from cover to cover because it is like an encyclopedia but tons more fun!It's also full of illustrations and photos.
One entertaining and essential book on Laurel and Hardy that I recommend you add to your collection.

One of the best books,if not THE BEST book,on Laurel & Hardy.Everything you want to know is right here.Every single L&H film ever made so fully detailed.Plus details on every actor and actress the boys had worked with.Information on video and DVD releases and computer colourization.

A book I highly recommend.

I've been a L&H fan since I was 6 and still am. The "boys" have been making us laugh in television re-runs, video and DVD but die hard fans are probably wondering what was the story behind the merriment? Here we have a GOLD MINE of trivia, facts and much more. Included are biographies of the pickle faced Jimmy Finlayson, Leo McCarey (who directed many of the later films) re-occuring themes, "the wives" music like "The Cuckoos" even comments on props like the bowler hats that Stan and Ollie wore. So sit back, relax and enjoy the world of two of the most talented comedians to grace the silver screen.

Having recently acquired the Hal Roach L&H films on DVD, I've found this an excellent companion volume, particularly valuable for its entries on miscellaneous topics to do with the boys. One highlight was learning that Edgar Kennedy lets out a four-letter expletive in "The Perfect Day," not noticed by the censors or anyone else for decades. While this well-written book provides up-to-date technical information about the releases and formats of the individual films over the years, I would've liked more critical analysis. A minor disappointment is that no photos date from the classic Roach years.

It says 2nd ed dec 8th so how come this is not a pre order item?????which one do you get now??

This is a great guide to the films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Many L&H fans have never seen many of their silent shorts
as these (like most silent films) are hard to find. You will find them all in this book.
More info on L&H themselves would have improved the book, but it is after all just a single volume.
Also see the documentaries made by Robert Youngson. The Golden Age of Comedy, When Comedy Was King, and The Further Perils of Laurel
& Hardy.