Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies [Paperback]

Randy Skretvedt (Author), Jordan R. Young (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 094041029X | ISBN-13: 978-0940410299 | Publication Date: January 1994 | Edition: 2

The beloved comedy team comes to life in this behind-the-scenes look at their unique working methods. The most detailed and accurate account of the team's career, based on exclusive interviews with their friends and associates, original shooting scripts, studio publicity material and production logs, family scrapbooks and legal depositions. Includes a who's who of supporting players and technical crew members, details on newly rediscovered films, lost footage and a resource guide.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Skretvedt, coauthor of a biography of Steve Martin and host of a Los Angeles radio show, Forward into the Past, has uncovered a wealth of fascinating information about the lives and careers of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Setting out to tell how the pair "actually made their films," the author spent seven years researching and interviewing some 60 friends and associates of the comedy team, and discovered a collection of original scripts with many scenes that were never filmed. His narrative combines biography with filmography and presents memorable, amusing anecdotes, over 200 illustrations (many previously unpublished) and a meticulous analysis of the scripts, including comparisons of scripted scenes with the finished films. Besides providing a revealing look at Laurel and Hardy, this lengthy, illuminating study offers unusual insights into the complex art of creating comedy.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Drawing upon production records and new interviews with those who appeared with Laurel and Hardy, Skretvedt presents a chronological survey of the comedians' films. He argues that their screen career ended so dismally because the strict rules of big studio filmmakingimposed upon them when they were forced to make only feature-length filmsnecessarily stifled the improvisation that had made their two-reelers so successful. Curiously, Skretvedt supports his thesis by offering the most commentary about the worse films. Thus, despite fresh anecdotal material in this readable survey, John McCabe's Laurel & Hardy (1975) remains the more substantial guide. Movie Entertainment Book Club selection. Marshall Deutelbaum, English Dept., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Past Times Pub Co; 2 edition (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094041029X
• ISBN-13: 978-0940410299
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boys Would Be Proud, October 2, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies (Paperback)

This truly is the best book about The Boys, although the wealth of behind the scenes and other hardcore info may be daunting to novices or casual fans. Especially fascinating to die hards like myself is the discussion of lost or cut scenes. If the idea of seeing the restored spanish version of "Chickens Come Home" (57 min!) give you goosebumps, this is the book for you.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indespensable Volume!, February 17, 2000

By 

Joe Libby - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies (Paperback)

Randy Skretvedt has written what is arguably the single best book on Laurel and Hardy and their movies. Carefully researched and just plain fun to read, this revised edition includes details on recent discoveries, such as a silent Charley Chase comedy in which the boys appear, and some of the Spanish language "remakes" that were made in the early 1930's for the foreign market. An absolutely indepensable book for comedy buffs and L&H fans, and a essential companion piece to LAUREL OR HARDY and FROM THE FORTIES FORWARD.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Nice Book, December 24, 2009

By 

Lon Davis "Author" (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies (Paperback)

This review is long overdue: I first bought the softcover version in 1994 and have read it and reread it many times since then. Having been weaned on the books of Prof. John McCabe (including his seminal work, "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy"), I actually believed that everything that could be said about those two funny gentlemen had already been written. Simply put, I was wrong. Author Randy Skretvedt had personally interviewed dozens of Hal Roach employees and provided a much deeper insight into the working conditions of the legendary "Lot of Fun" (as the Roach Studio was affectionately known during the late-silent and early-sound eras). My favorite chapter in the book is "The Method of the Madness," which includes a highly evocative description of what it was like to work on a Laurel and Hardy movie. It is thrilling to read. Following that is a detailed examination of each of the team's films, from 1927 to 1950. The information was a revelation to me, and, remember, I had been a student of the Laurel and Hardy films for twenty-five years! Fifteen additional years have passed since this book made its first favorable impression on me, and it remains the definitive volume on Laurel and Hardy's creative process. I look forward to reading it again.