or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
27 used & new from $6.00
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jordan R. Young (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
List Price: $20.95
Price: $17.91 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $3.04 (15%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Usually ships within 4 to 6 weeks.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

8 new from $14.99 19 used from $6.00

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover, May 31, 1987 -- $104.65 $9.63
  Paperback, December 31, 1993 $17.91 $14.99 $6.00

Frequently Bought Together

Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies + Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy + Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child
Price For All Three: $41.41

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy

Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy

by Simon Louvish
3.8 out of 5 stars (17)  $13.46
Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child

Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child

by Raymond Strait
4.8 out of 5 stars (17)  $10.04
The Complete Films Of Laurel & Hardy (Film Books)

The Complete Films Of Laurel & Hardy (Film Books)

by William K. Everson
4.5 out of 5 stars (4) 
TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)

TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection (The Devil's Brother / Bonnie Scotland)

DVD ~ Stan Laurel
3.8 out of 5 stars (31)  $24.99
Laurel and Hardy Collection, Vol. 1 (Great Guns / Jitterbugs / The Big Noise)

Laurel and Hardy Collection, Vol. 1 (Great Guns / Jitterbugs / The Big Noise)

DVD ~ Stan Laurel
3.7 out of 5 stars (32)  $25.49
› Explore similar items

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: 493 pages
  • Publisher: Past Times Publishing 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 (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,589 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #92 in  Books > Entertainment > Movies > Genre Films

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Randy Skretvedt
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Randy Skretvedt Page

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies
67% buy the item featured on this page:
Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies 4.9 out of 5 stars (10)
$17.91
Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy
16% buy
Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy 3.8 out of 5 stars (17)
$13.46
Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child
6% buy
Lou's on First: The Tragic Life of Hollywood's Greatest Clown Warmly Recounted by his Youngest Child 4.8 out of 5 stars (17)
$10.04
Laurel & Hardy
6% buy
Laurel & Hardy 4.7 out of 5 stars (3)
Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(8)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more
 

Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Boys Would Be Proud, October 2, 1997
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Indespensable Volume!, February 17, 2000
By Joe Libby (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever written on Laurel and Hardy., May 26, 1996
By A Customer
Exhaustive, comprehensive chronicle of Stan and Ollie's team career and movies. Indispensable to any L&H buff. The Sons of the Desert should consider this their bible
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Laurel and Hardy biography
OK, reading it now and have also read two other such screen biographies recently. I would say this is a sort of classic, at least for Sons of the Desert members of whom I am one,... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jack Patterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Best L&H Book EVER. Period.
Since the early 60's and "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy" and "The Films Of Laurel And Hardy" were published, there have been dozens and dozens of books chronicling the lives and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by R. Greene

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!
'Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies' is a great resource on the career of 'the boys'. The making of each film is covered in detail and there is quite a bit of... Read more
Published on September 17, 2007 by Walter C. Mckinney

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book yet written.
Almost to good to be true. If you want to know anything or everything about Laurel & Hardy and all their movies and films, you can find it here in this wonderfully written book.
Published on January 25, 2007 by Storfiskaren

4.0 out of 5 stars The Boys work,from a different and delightful angle.
Randy Skretvedt produced a highly entertaining and thought provoking work with the release of this work on two of the cinema's greatest comedy legends,Laurel and Hardy. Read more
Published on February 16, 2005 by Robert Badgley

5.0 out of 5 stars Randy Skrevedt finally shows us the creation of L&H'sfilms!
For years.Many film history books have tried to give some insight into the creation,development and the successful appeal of Laurel & Hardy's film work. Read more
Published on March 31, 2003 by Kevin S.Butler

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK ABOUT GREAT COMEDIANS
To me, the Laurel and Hardy (L&H) team was easily the best comedy team of the first half of the 20th century. Read more
Published on March 19, 2002

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   

So You'd Like to...

Create a guide

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:























i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.