Thanks Hal for giving us Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

There is one thing that’s always bothered me about how some have critiqued Laurel and Hardy - especially Hardy. Yes, all the praise that Laurel has received is merited a million times over. But the complaint that Laurel did all the work while Hardy just sat around waiting for his cues is unmerited. Yes, Stan constructed the gags and was the de facto director for the films, but you still needed somebody to help execute those gags. All you really have to do is look at “Lucky Dog,” a film that was not an intent to team the two comics. But, as one KZreadr commented, the film was not all that funny “until Hardy shows up.” Oliver never interfered with Stan in his work behind the scenes, but once he stepped out in front of the camera, he became “a performing genius.” Think of all the catch phrases associated with the team, especially “Here’s another fine mess you gotten me into!” It’s memorable because of how Hardy says it! Too many times I’ve heard that Stan could have gotten anybody to appear in Hardy’s place and make the films as funny as they are. People need to remember that the men were a team, and each one, in his own role, did something special to make us remember them over 90 years later! Ironically, the most important person that realized this was Stan Laurel himself. Note that once the teaming took place, Stan never appeared in a film without Oliver.

@princeharming8963

3 жыл бұрын

I had a friend from the country once, who, when trying to decide what or where to eat.. would say "Well... if we had some ham we could have some ham and eggs... if we had some eggs." Two halves of a whole are what make it work. You are 100% correct.

@WSenator1

3 жыл бұрын

@@princeharming8963 Appreciate the kind words. Thanks. Enjoy Stan and Ollie!

@wayneengle4473

3 жыл бұрын

Very true! Oliver Hardy has never gotten the recognition that he deserved for his part of the team. With Laurel and Hardy, both men were funny. This was often not true with comedy teams.

@WSenator1

3 жыл бұрын

@@wayneengle4473 You Said It!!

@johnnyringo6681

3 жыл бұрын

I totally agree and am glad somebody at last is making this point. Furthermore, when opening Oliver Hardy's Wikipedia Page (Dutch version), it is stated under Characteristics that Oliver Hardy is artistically "less endowed" than Stan Laurel. Can you believe this???

The world of comedy owes a huge debt to Hal Roach. But you see in this video signs of the tension between Roach and Laurel in the mid-late 1930s. The market for their short films had dried up, and their feature films were much more expensive. Hal Roach did not allow Stan the same creative control over the feature films that he had in the shorts. This is hinted at in the comment about Stan not being good at plot development. However, during that period, Stan gained control of two films, Our Relations (an excellent movie) and Way Out West (an all time classic), and these were actually listed as "Stan Laurel Productions". So I think Stan knew what he was doing. To be fair to Hal Roach, Stan didn't appreciate how good he had it at the time. Looking for more artistic freedom, Stan and Ollie split with Roach and signed with Fox, but there they were treated as simple B-movie actors, and they hated it. Nothing they did at Fox came even close to the quality of their work at the Hal Roach Studios.

@helioeloi7707

4 жыл бұрын

Why Hal Roach Studios went to bankruptcy? Was it ny the fact of his son took over the business after Mr. Hal retirment or what reason of it? Thanks!

@elliottg.1954

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed - their heyday was with Hal, but Stan's off-screen life was often worse and funnier than any of their photoplay plots. Though not so funny for Stan.

@elliottg.1954

4 жыл бұрын

@@helioeloi7707 Too many reasons to list; WW2, changes in finance/ investment, and the end of studio-controlled Theatre block bookings. Politics, Business sharks and bean counters, etc; it goes on. Cinemas had lost half their audiences by 1958 and Roach Studios were caught up in the small studio empire's financial collapse. Also TV: more people stayed at home in the mid-1950s. RKO and Republic were gone in 1958. The son has been described as "less creative" and the bankrupt Hal Roach Studios - under Hal Roach Jr. - closed in April 1959. Hal Sr. tried to rescue it but in December 1962 it was all over and the Laugh Factory was razed in August 1963.

@milindborkar2228

3 жыл бұрын

Struggle and struggle this is the way of life of every human beings,it contains with ups and downs, and nothing is permanent in this world situations change in every movement, we think both the personalities Hal, and after him his son Made the world at a huge laughter by producing and directing in their own ways.

@alexmorgan3435

3 жыл бұрын

Hal Roach also had Stan on a 7 year contract which Stan must have found rather restrictive, although they did make their best films with Hal Roach. Think if Stan had been able to take more control of their work and direction whether they would have been even more successful.

I grew up loving Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang - Both of them were Hal Roach creations. Imagine my surprise when I heard that Hal Roach said the best heir to their legacy was Benny Hill - another favorite of mine.

Hal Roach: "I think that I would most like to be remembered for the laughter that I gave the people of the world." Your wish has been granted with flying colors, Mr. Roach!

@scotnick59

5 жыл бұрын

YES

@WSenator1

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed: Harold Lloyd. Our Gang/The Little Rascals. Charley Chase. James Finlayson, Mae Busch, Anita Garvin, and Co. And of course, Laurel and Hardy. I think Hal got his wish!

@mrjagriff

3 жыл бұрын

Joeneyrd exactly the cheek of this parasite is unbelievable

@stepaushi

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrjagriff I guess he doesn't want to be remembered for that.

@aiborland4835

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrjagriff "the laughter that I gave the people of the world." I loved "Our Gang". Who could ever forget the classic mischief Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Spanky, and little Harry Roach got themselves into? Or the ever classic trio of Laurel, Hardy, and their pal Hal? What the hell is he talking about? Thats like George Martin telling people "the music that I brought the world" about the Beatles.

Rip oh, and thank you how Roach. Without you we may never have seen or known of Laurel and Hardy. One of the funniest pair of comedians in the world and still watch today

Remembered for the laughter. What a great way to be remembered.

The genius of Stan and Ollie is, they didn't need a plot. Just put them on screen being chased by cops or their wives, whatever. The comedy is there as soon as they appear.

@DrDespicable

5 жыл бұрын

Buster Keaton himself once marveled over Stan Laurel, saying that Stan could get a whole, 3-reel picture out of just delivering a piano.

@alexmorgan3435

3 жыл бұрын

But you still need a plot however basic or absurd ..............

@quaid667

3 жыл бұрын

@@alexmorgan3435 they are trying to sell Xmas trees in the middle of summer...... Action! lol

@rustykilt

3 жыл бұрын

Stan did most of the writing and the ideas, and there was some improvisation, so it was not just ad hoc. the success of the team was largely due to Stan's hard behind the scenes work and the impeccable interaction of both men. Oliver was the wall off which Stan bounced so many ideas, he was the perfect foil and a craftsman in his own right and smart enough to leave the creative ideas to Stan. Being great friends is reflected in the warmth and connectivity of their performances like two minds totally in tune with each other......Neither was the Patsy or straight man, as both characters contributed to the comedy of Laurel and Hardy, and a partnership in comedy never to be repeated.

It's nice that he said that they never argued on or off set , the fact that after work they had different interests possibly made their friendship stronger !

It's always wonderful to actually see and hear one of the greats of all time.

Roach by name roach by nature. He was ruthless and had them on separate contracts so when Stan’s ended he refused to release Ollie from his and broke up the partners for several years. It broke Stan’s heart, although he kept writing, he never performed on his own during that period.

@kingsports1113

2 жыл бұрын

He blackballed them to

He outlived everyone and he was sharper than a tack.

@WSenator1

4 жыл бұрын

Correct - he lived to be ONE HUNDRED years old!

It's only when you watch the classic comedies that you realise just how dire modern comedy is.

@HrhFish

4 жыл бұрын

There are some great modern comics out there. There's a lot of crap comics out there. One I really can't stand and don't get why people find him so funny is the awful Dice Man and his childish poetry. I think the problem is that so much subject matter has been covered that it gets harder for comics to be original. The best recent US comic is Steven Wright. The best from the UK is Al Murray aka "The Pub Landlord". Its all down to personal taste. Its like people now long for the old days in the 60's or 50's. People in the 50's or 60's say it was better in the 40's or 20's. Personally I love the modern stuff but I love the old stuff as well.

@FLYINGTHOR

2 жыл бұрын

Slim pickings for sure, but there's a whole library from across the decades to pick from. My favourite, other than L&H though not from the same vein of comedy, is definitely Ronnie Barker (Open All Hours, Porridge, and on and on), along with some other 70s, 80s and 90s UK comedy. Some of the Graham Linehan stuff can be quite funny too (Father Ted, The IT Crowd, Black Books). Plenty out there, not a decibel of canned laughter to be heard :)

This interview originally played on TV Ontario's SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES many, many years ago. It's late great host Elwy Yost is the voice that can be heard conducting the interview. Great memories! CHEERS! BS. Thank you very much for sharing this!

@ccvisions

7 жыл бұрын

www.amazon.com/100-Years-Brodies-Hal-Roach/dp/1593935773/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463935289&sr=1-1

@steveendicott1855

5 жыл бұрын

I miss Elwy Yost when he would interview celebrities! Great host great video thanks!

My all time favorite comedians, Laurel & Hardy! 👍

100 yrs / R.I.P. died in 1992

The after hrs socializing is sometimes disputed. In one biography I read, the author also wrote that basically the two never socialized much after work. In another one, the author stated that they actually did do more socializing than what has been written about them.

@TheSuckoShow

2 жыл бұрын

There's an interview where Stan explains that they didn't socialize offscreen much because "Babe liked golf and I liked fishing." But adds that they were closer in the later years when they were touring together. I wonder if that was their trick for keeping the chemistry. You never get a chance to get sick of each other or have a falling out like so many friends do, so it's always a joy to see each other for work, and that joy comes through in the film.

Thanks for the laugh Hal ;)

Thank you very much for this video I'll be following on Twitter

Hal was the unsung hero in Laurel & Hardy

Stan Laurel, Lou Costello, and Moe Howard were the driving force behind the scenes on screen they played the bumbling fool

Hal Roach, like Walt Disney owned the nest where great talents could do their greatest work.

@andrewsindler5867

4 жыл бұрын

Owned or stole from? Isn't that question worth honestly asking?

@myboyz9391

4 жыл бұрын

@@andrewsindler5867 pffft

He sure did in his 100 years with The Little Rascals & Stan & Ollie!

Great interview

...GRAZIE.. mr Roach..

Hal Roach is the best.

Comedy came natural to these two they still make people laugh the ones that like simple living

People, if you're in to L&H then you must pick up and read a copy of 'He' by John Connolly. It's very good, very poiniant, very absorbing and brings all the characters from the black and white era to vivid life. Highly recommend it.

@okjoe5561

4 жыл бұрын

I've read it, I agree.

Hal Roach is and was all the good things that many ascribe to him but the one thing I dislike about him was his one sided handling of his worker's contracts. No residual rights for the actors, a hard nosed approach to paying others, low relative pay for the actors and all of his workers, actions to undermine any hope for union representation and lots more.

That is some funky outfit there.

Hal Roach was a tough nut. There were ongoing issues between him and the Boys during their contract with him. I believe him to be a shrewd businessman but able see talent and potential. Hals studio did much for establishing classic comedy, but everything was strictly on his terms. Most notable to me was his criticism of Stan and Ollie making feature films. At this time, shorts were seen to be a past format, with the big studios wanting feature films. Hal believed the feature film would not suit the style of performance that suited Stan and Ollie. As with other Leading comedy pairs, the move into feature films, stifled the spontaneity and flow of the comedy duo with the introduction of musical numbers, romantic sidelines, other co-stars and sub-plots. Hal was right.

Great clip. Treasure

Arthur Jefferson (Stan Laurel) and Charles Chaplin, 2 Hollywood comic geniuses born in England. Steve Coogan and John C Reilly were brilliant in the recent Stan and Ollie movie.

@alexmorgan3435

3 жыл бұрын

The best comedy is British.

@jackmorrison7379

2 жыл бұрын

Ok, wave your Union Jack. But Chaplin fled old Blighty and made his career here in America. When things went south politically (and with teenage girls and a trial) he fled to Swiss land. Never served King and Country either, did he?

They were the perfect duo if you ask me.

Mission Accomplished, Hal

Stan also enjoyed organic gardening,playing cards and nightclubbing.

STAN & OLLIE FILMS - A NEW COMEDY TWIST COMING SOON IN THE UK

@princeharming8963

3 жыл бұрын

Outstanding film! One with great heart.

The Hal Roach studio, as a smaller operation, gave comedians, and supporting actors a certain freedom they never got at the big 4 or 5 studios. Though he never worked for Roach, use as an example Buster Keaton and his move to MGM which hamstrung his independence, and the L& H boys, did they flourish anywhere else? In the early days Roach incubated Harold Lloyd, and gave him the opportunity to become the 1920's most economically successful comic actor. Then Roach gave Robert McGowan, a director, the power to create and run Our Gang. Black kids hired and in the case of "Sunshine Sammy" (Ernie Morrison) the first to get a multi-year contract. So, he may have been a hard-nosed negotiator on money issues but Laurel wasn't Doug Fairbanks and Mary Pickford with the capital to form his own studio.

No credit for Elwy Yost ? (The interviewer)

Funny that Stan's pasttime was boating. Anyone know if it inspired "Towed in a Hole" or developed afterwards??

Okay, now wait a minute. When I was a kid, I heard the house in ''Big Business" was the wrong house they destroyed by mistake. Then I later heard that story was a hoax. The house that was destroyed was the one they intended to use. Now I'm hearing in this interview it was the wrong house. Which is it?

@jdmac44

6 жыл бұрын

The lawyers said it wasn't.

@JoeLibby

5 жыл бұрын

It makes a good story. But the BIG BUSINESS house belonged to a studio employee. He was well compensated, and after shooting was completed, everything was put back into order.

@richardbann1269

5 жыл бұрын

@@JoeLibby it is a good story because it is a true story. What you stated is true, but what Hal Roach said is also true.

@richardbann1269

5 жыл бұрын

@@jdmac44 What lawyers? Hal Roach told a true story.

@JoeLibby

5 жыл бұрын

@@richardbann1269, thank you for clarifying!

Does anyone know..who is the man..interviewing Mr.Roach for this filmed documentary?

@marywilliams9858

5 жыл бұрын

Elwy Yost +El-wee. Yost rhymes with post. He had an interview program on Canadian television. TV Ontario was the company.

Tough guy!

it's crazy how charlie chaplin was worth ~ $400m (in today's dollars) when he died but laurel and hardy were both struggling financially when they passed. wonder why that was.

Stop glorifying the man. He basically stole from them by refusing a percentage of the profits in favour of a set wage. Both men died virtually penniless. Greed is the vilest of all flaws.

The laughter he gave the people of the world? Did he mean by wearing that outfit?

Laurel >Chaplin

... and indeed you are.

Hes one of the reasons why Stanley died Broke!! Producers stole his money! RIP Stand and Ollie.. we loved you as children growing up and i still love you now at 42 looking back at my favourites.. Sons of the desert, pack up your troubles, toad in the hole and way out west to name a few!

You either get laurel and hardy or you don't. If you don't, you do not understand timeless comedy. Accept it!

Both laurel and Chaplin English

Oliver hardy is also funny

the GREATEST human exploiter of all time - shame you hal....

Hal roach didn’t treat them well

@alexmorgan3435

3 жыл бұрын

He had Stan on a 7 year contract and likely the same for Oliver which they ended up hating and leaving Hal Roach. I suspect Hal Roach didn't pay them anywhere near what they could have earned by today's standards.

@oldtimer7635

3 жыл бұрын

​@@alexmorgan3435 Naive comment! Not one producer paid their actors "fairly" at those days. "....could have earned by today's standards" get real, movie business was just about to begin!

Whatever works...😂

Hal Roach was a leach wo ripped off both Stan & Olly.

This man is a jewd became rich because laurel and Hardy.