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Post by mtw12055 on Jul 2, 2013 0:50:41 GMT -5
This is an idea that some of the Laurel and Hardy Forum members came up with. What they did is that each week, all of the members (or at least those willing to participate) would watch one film from the L&H series, and would discuss that specific film during the week.
I would love to hear everyone's opinions on the individual films, so would anybody be willing to do something like this?
Edit: For those just tuning in, the discussions will begin on Tuesday and end on the following Monday. Each week, we will discuss one sound film. Additionally, you will have the option of reviewing a silent film (each week for the first 26 weeks; from week 27 through week 129, the option will only be available every other week. The last two weeks will both have silents available for reviewing). If you get confused, just follow the numbered guidelines a few posts down.
The order for which we discuss the films is presented alphabetically, with the first week consisting of "Aladdin's Lantern" (and if one wishes, "Ask Grandma"), and will end with "Wild Poses" (and, if one wishes, "Your Own Back Yard"). This first discussion will be extended into next week. The alphabetical lists of the films can be found a few posts down.
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Post by mickeygubitosifan on Jul 2, 2013 0:56:16 GMT -5
Sure, I'd be willing to go for it. The idea of skipping around from era to era seems like a good choice to me, as well, for the reasons you stated. It also allows us to stay fresher in our reception of particular directorial, musical and production styles, which of course varied considerably during the twenty-two year original run of the Our Gang films.
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Post by RJH on Jul 2, 2013 2:25:22 GMT -5
This sounds interesting. The book lists 1-2-3-Go! first, but maybe we could alphabetize that under "O" for "One" since that may not be an ideal starting point. Then it's "Aladdin's Lantern."
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Jul 2, 2013 6:08:15 GMT -5
Does that mean All About Hash is second?
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Post by mtw12055 on Jul 2, 2013 12:01:00 GMT -5
Alfalfa's Aunt would be the second one.
Because not everybody has access to the silents, maybe those shorts shouldn't be on the list. Though I suppose side reviews alongside the week's film by those with access would be fine.
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Jul 2, 2013 12:12:29 GMT -5
Phew, sigh of relief. I like Alfalfa's Aunt & even better Alfalfa's Double so I'm up for it
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Post by mtw12055 on Jul 2, 2013 12:56:25 GMT -5
Okay, a possible solution to the silent era. We have two lists of films, one for the talkies, one for the silent. Both lists are in alphabetical order. Anyone wishing to do a silent film review alongside a talkie review is more than welcome to do one.
Sound List 1. Aladdin's Lantern 2. Alfalfa's Aunt 3. Alfalfa's Double 4. All About Hash 5. Anniversary Trouble 6. Arbor Day 7. Auto Antics 8. The Awful Tooth 9. Baby Blues 10. Bargain Day 11. Bear Facts 12. Bear Shooters 13. Bedtime Worries 14. Beginner's Luck 15. Benjamin Franklin, Jr. 16. Big Ears 17. The Big Premiere 18. Birthday Blues 19. Bored Of Education 20. Bouncing Babies 21. Boxing Gloves 22. Bubbling Troubles 23. Calling All Kids 24. Came The Brawn 25. Canned Fishing 26. Captain Spanky's Show Boat 27. Choo-Choo! 28. Clown Princes 29. Come Back, Miss Pipps 30. Cousin Wilbur (short) 31. Dad For A Day 32. Dancing Romeo 33. Divot Diggers 34. Dog Daze 35. Dogs Is Dogs 36. Doin' Their Bit 37. Don't Lie 38. Duel Personalities 39. Election Daze 40. Family Troubles 41. Farm Hands 42. Feed 'Em And Weep 43. Fightin' Fools 44. The First Round-Up 45. The First Seven Years 46. Fish Hooky 47. Fishy Tales 48. Fly My Kite 49. Football Romeo 50. For Pete's Sake! 51. Forgotten Babies 52. Framing Youth 53. Free Eats 54. Free Wheeling 55. Glove Taps 56. Goin' Fishin' 57. Going To Press 58. Good Bad Boys 59. Hearts Are Thumps 60. Helping Grandma 61. Helping Hands 62. Hi'-Neighbor! 63. Hide And Shriek 64. Honky-Donkey 65. Hook And Ladder 66. Joy Scouts 67. The Kid From Borneo 68. Kiddie Kure 69. A Lad An' A Lamp 70. Lazy Days 71. Little Daddy 72. Little Miss Pinkerton 73. Little Papa 74. The Little Ranger 75. Little Sinner 76. Love Business 77. The Lucky Corner 78. Mail And Female 79. Mama's Little Pirate 80. Melodies Old And New 81. Men In Fright 82. Mighty Lak A Goat 83. Mike Fright 84. Moan & Groan, Inc. 85. Mush And Milk 86. The New Pupil 87. Night 'N' Gales 88. Ye Olde Minstrels 89. One Two Three Go! 90. Our Gang Follies Of Nineteen Thirty Eight 91. Our Gang Follies Of Nineteen Thirty Six 92. Party Fever 93. Pay As You Exit 94. The Pigskin Palooka 95. The Pinch Singer 96. The Pooch 97. Practical Jokers 98. Pups Is Pups 99. Radio Bugs 100. Railroadin' 101. Readin' And Writin' 102. Reunion In Rhythm 103. Roamin' Holiday 104. Robot Wrecks 105. Rover's Big Chance 106. Rushin' Ballet 107. School's Out 108. Second Childhood 109. Shiver My Timbers 110. Shivering Shakespeare 111. Shrimps For A Day 112. Small Talk 113. Spanky (short) 114. Spooky Hooky 115. Sprucin' Up 116. Surprised Parties 117. Tale Of A Dog 118. Teacher's Beau 119. Teacher's Pet 120. Three Men In A Tub 121. Three Smart Boys 122. Three Smart Guys 123. Time Out For Lessons 124. Tiny Troubles 125. A Tough Winter 126. Two Too Young 127. Unexpected Riches 128. Waldo's Last Stand 129. Washee Ironee 130. Wedding Worries 131. When The Wind Blows 132. Wild Poses
Silent List - I eliminated all of the lost films, as well as the ones currently unavailable for public viewing (Bring Home the Turkey, The Old Wallop, Fair and Muddy). Additionally, General Spanky will be included on this list. The first 26 weeks will consist of optional silents. Beginning with week 27, the silents will be available to review every other week. That is with the exception of the last week (132). If you get confused, just follow the numbered guidelines below. A blank space next to a number indicates that no silent film will be reviewed that week.
1. Ask Grandma 2. Baby Brother 3. Baby Clothes 4. Back Stage 5. Barnum & Ringling, Inc. 6. Better Movies 7. Big Business 8. The Big Show 9. The Big Town 10. Boys To Board 11. Boys Will Be Joys 12. The Buccaneers 13. Buried Treasure 14. Cat, Dog & Co. 15. The Champeen! 16. Chicken Feed 17. Circus Fever 18. The Cobbler 19. Commencement Day 20. Cradle Robbers 21. Crazy House 22. Derby Day 23. Dog Days 24. Dog Heaven 25. Dogs Of War! 26. Election Day 27. Every Man For Himself 28. 29. Fast Company 30. 31. Fast Freight 32. 33. Fire Fighters 34. 35. The Fourth Alarm! 37. 37. General Spanky 38. 39. Giants Vs. Yanks 40. 41. The Glorious Fourth 42. 43. Good Cheer 44. 45. High Society 46. 47. It's A Bear 48. 49. Jubilo, Jr. 50. 51. July Days 52. 53. Little Mother 54. 55. Lodge Night 56. 57. The Love Bug 58. 59. Love My Dog 60. 61. Mary, Queen Of Tots 62. 63. Monkey Business 64. 65. The Mysterious Mystery! 66. 67. No Noise 68. 69. Noisy Noises 70. 71. Official Officers 72. 73. The Ol' Gray Hoss 74. 75. Olympic Games 76. 77. One Terrible Day 78. 79. One Wild Ride 80. 81. Our Gang 82. 83. Playin' Hookey 84. 85. A Pleasant Journey 86. 87. A Quiet Street 88. 89. Rainy Days 90. 91. Saturday Morning 92. 93. Saturday's Lesson 94. 95. Seein' Things 96. 97. Seeing The World 98. 99. Shivering Spooks 100. 101. Shootin' Injuns 102. 103. The Smile Wins 104. 105. The Spanking Age 106. 107. Spook-Spoofing 108. 109. Stage Fright 110. 111. The Sun Down Limited 112. 113. Sunday Calm 114. 115. Telling Whoppers 116. 117. Ten Years Old 118. 119. Thundering Fleas 120. 121. Tire Trouble 122. 123. Tired Business Men 124. 125. Uncle Tom's Uncle 126. 127. War Feathers 128. 129. Wiggle Your Ears 130. Young Sherlocks 131. Your Own Back Yard 132. The Old Wallop [new addition]
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Post by mickeygubitosifan on Jul 2, 2013 18:46:18 GMT -5
Do you think we should start on a Tuesday? It would probably be best to have a clearly defined starting and ending point for each week, whatever day we choose for it to begin. That way it will be easier for us not to unintentionally fall behind if we'd like to keep on pace with the rest of the group.
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Post by mickeygubitosifan on Jul 2, 2013 20:05:11 GMT -5
I think extending this first one two weeks would be a good idea, to allow everyone who wants to participate the chance to get onboard and not feel as if they're having to play catchup right from the start. The Tuesday beginning works for me, unless it might be preferable to offer a weekend end date, so if one waits until the last day, it would still be relatively easy to watch that week's film and then comment on it here.
Once we do set the dates as certain, we'll also want to make the end time clear. Such as, the week ends at midnight Eastern Time on whatever day of the week.
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Jul 3, 2013 9:49:45 GMT -5
What can I say about this one? Well I've only just watched it again so it is fresh in my memory but in reality it isn't one of the most memorable films of the series. It's early on in the MGM days and it still has the Hal Roach cast fully intact alongside the returning prodigal son Spanky. As this is an early MGM film it still retains some of the humor that the Hal Roach series viewer has grown accustomed to but already MGM has begun to stamp its mark. The 'cellar' has an awfully high ceiling, almost like a theater or a studio set, and a purpose built brick stage isn't something that the average cellar boasts either. However lets forget about those little quibbles and get on with the show, as MGM might have put it. The basic storyline is that the Gang are putting on a show, this time it is their production of Aladdin and his Lamp. At the start of the film Alfalfa and Spanky are delighted that the Gang's ticket kiosk has 'sold out.' So apparently they are putting on the show to raise money for something but what that might be we are never told. Before the show starts Porky & Buckwheat stake their claim to stardom with an unscripted rendition of 'Walking in the Park One Day.' Not happy at the prospect of being upstaged Alfalfa and Spanky pull the plug on the youngsters and then take to the stage themselves. Spanky plays the role of the bored Caliph and Alfalfa playing the part of Aladdin. Alfie summons up the genii of the lamp and allows Spanky to have a wish. The genii seems a little stage struck and stares intensely straight ahead at the cameras, barely glancing at either Spanky or Alfie but he's a kid getting his shot at the big time so I'll let him off with it. So far things are following the Hal Roach 'big book of Our Gang comedies' pretty much chapter and verse. However Spanky's wish isn't for gold nor the ability to fly, it isn't even for a watermelon. Spanky actually wishes for a troop of dancers, which seems a little (okay VERY) contrived. The dance troop who accompany Darla are simply too professional and positively out of place in a supposed kid's show taking place in a cellar. Matching costume and top hats just seem plain wrong and out of place. Darla's spangled and sequined outfit simply doesn't ring true either and unlike many I'm not overly impressed with her voice, it's just too strident and 'showbiz.' A young wannabe Fred Astaire performs an impressive tap dance routine but once again it is simply far too professional and lacks the essential ring of truth. The MGM over-produced rot has well and truly set in. Once again Porky and Buckwheat attempt to hijack the show by forsaking their role as guards, who should be escorting Alfie off the stage, and instead break into their song and dance routine once more. It isn't so amusing the second time around and I was wishing for it to end so the story could continue. I assume that Buckwheat's minimal costume and oiled body was based on images of well muscled harem guards seen in many Hollywood productions of the time. But that simply begs the obvious question, why wasn't Porky similarly attired? Was this just a little thoughtless black stereotyping perhaps? There is a little humor to be had from Alfalfa's effort to remove the two stage struck youngsters while loudly protesting against his own 'arrest.' Darla objects to Porky and Buckwheat's interruption and walks out on the show leaving Spanky to assume her place in the play as 'Darlene.' This visual joke falls a little flat to be honest and more could have been made out of it. The 'magic carpet' and it's mechanism however is a well conceived and believably child like stage prop and works as a nice set up to the film's big joke. I was more than a little confused by Alfalfa's change of costume, he looked more like Robin Hood than Aladdin. Alfalfa's singing is pleasantly on key for the first two verses of his big number, 'I'll Take You Home Again Darlene.' The song is given the 'something funny happens during an Alfalfa song treatment' when meddling by Elmer the monkey positions the flying carpet over the burning magic lamp. The sight of Alfie trying to avoid getting his bum burned provides the humor and also a visible excuse for Alfalfa's singing to go off key. The lad himself hams it up even further by pulling his usual contorted facial expressions. The film ends on a satisfying note with Alfalfa soothing his burned backside in a tub of water while Porky & Buckwheat step in to close the show with their song and dance routine once more. So what were the high points and the low points and more to the point was it any good? Alfalfa's big number and burned bum are the highlights of the film, with Pork & Buckwheat's song and dance routine taking the runner up spot as the only other humorous element. The budding Fred Astaire's tap routine was very good too but unfortunately it was simply out of place in the context of the film. In fact the whole 'chorus line' scene was jarringly out of place. In short this was a film with some good points but some bad points too, a mixed bag. As a Hal Roach effort it might have scored 3 or 4 out of 10. As an MGM production, bearing in mind what was to come, it fares a little better and I'll give it a more generous 5 out of 10. Attachments:
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Post by RJH on Jul 4, 2013 0:53:54 GMT -5
There isn't too much to add after the detailed reviews already again. Aladdin's Lantern: This was pretty clear in my memory thanks to Porky and Buckwheat's routine and the flying carpet scene. I agree that Buckwheat's outfit fits in with contemporary films about Aladdin's time and part of the world; in The Thief of Baghdad and Arabian Nights type movies the black male guard/servant characters were frequently bare-chested. There is actually a continuity error in the beginning where Buckwheat's garment magically adjusts itself up a few inches. There doesn't seem to be a logical reason why he and Porky aren't wearing the capes that complete their costumes at the opening of the show. Spanky and Alfalfa's play goes well, and I like the special effects of the smoke bombs and turning off and on the lights - this is something the kids can realistically do. Spanky's wish for dancers does seem contrived, and I fast-forwarded through most of the tap-dancing sequence; I just can't stand those. The idea that Spanky and Alfalfa organized the well trained dancers is not at all realistic, and is the worst part of the film by far. Alfalfa makes a good improvisation dragging Porky and Buckwheat off the stage while calling for help. Darla claiming that the latter two made her the laughing stock of the show strikes me as wrong; those two made themselves the laughing stocks, and the audience was laughing at them and perhaps Alfalfa, not at Darla. The magic carpet scene is the highlight. Alfalfa is excellent with his attempts to avoid getting burned and his facial expressions, while Spanky, in Darla's costume, doesn't understand what the problem is. At one point where he is getting burned Alfalfa sings the word "pain" with an appropriate inflection. At the end, Porky and Buckwheat know what they can do to help, though the guard's hats they were holding onto instantly change to straw hats when they get on stage. Spanky's concluding line, "And what a show!" is very fitting. Ask Grandma: Not much to add to mtw12055's comments. The story is very good, but it bugs me when some characters are ignored. Jackie does nothing, and I didn't even notice Sing Joy was in it. At least Farina and Joe get toy airplane rides at the beginning, and get knocked around and do some knocking of their own during the Mickey-Johnnie fight scenes. For the flashback with Mickey in drag as his mother as a child, I thought it might be a nice touch if the boys he (she?) was pushing around were the gang members, like in Jubilo Jr. I wanted to see if I could post a picture. Based on Buckwheat's and Alfalfa's costumes I think this was taken when Aladdin's Lantern was being filmed. Attachments:
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Post by ymymeatemup on Jul 4, 2013 14:54:01 GMT -5
A few suggestions:
Since there are noticeably more talkies than silent episodes in the series, perhaps the silents should be dealt with every other week, roughly speaking, with an occasional adjustment to complete both lists at the same time.
How about fitting "General Spanky" somewhere in there? I'm sure there's a least a few people on this board that have it.
If we're ignoring "The" and "A" at the beginning of titles (which I agree with completely), then "The Glorious Fourth" needs to be moved to the letter G. Also (and I know this is nitpicking), "Ye Olde Minstrels" would be under O under those circumstances.
And if you don't mind a further bit of nitpicking: Since "1-2-3-Go" is under O (again, I wholeheartedly agree), then technically, "Our Gang Follies Of 1938" comes before "Our Gang Follies Of 1936." (I know, it just doesn't look right, but what the hey.)
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Jul 4, 2013 15:46:50 GMT -5
My input I reckon we should basically just stick to the lists that have already been posted. There may be a little error here and there alphabetically but as long everyone simply follows the lists as written it doesn't really matter. I'd also stick to running the two lists in conjunction so that for those who dunn have any silents can simply watch one soundie per week and write a review. While those who have both silents and soundies can also do the one soundie review per week plus an additional bonus silent review too, but only if they feel so inclined. I suggest adding General Spanky to the end of the silent movies list, as probably most of the members who just have the talkies dunn have General Spanky either, since it's never been available officially on DVD. Sticking to the lists that have already been posted just keeps things simple. Every Tuesday, we just take a look at this thread and see which (film or films) to watch and review next. Then we just need to post those reviews by the end of the following Monday. I'd suggest that anyone who wants to post a review of Aladdin's Lantern and/or Ask Grandma should do so by next Monday, so that everyone can then move on to the next movie(s) in the list(s). Of course this is simply my take on things and I have no great compulsion to follow any particular set up so I'm happy to go along with whatever is decided
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Post by ymymeatemup on Jul 4, 2013 17:46:22 GMT -5
"I'd also stick to running the two lists in conjunction so that for those who dunn have any silents can simply watch one soundie per week and write a review. While those who have both silents and soundies can also do the one soundie review per week plus an additional bonus silent review too, but only if they feel so inclined."
I wasn't suggesting that we don't run them in conjunction. I was trying to point out that if the silent episodes are reviewed once a week (like the sound episodes), then we'll run out of them about a year before we run out of talkies. I agree that it doesn't make a huge difference, but we're only on the first talkie (Aladdin's Lantern) and first silent (Ask Grandma), so any adjustments would have no impact on what's been done so far.
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Post by mtw12055 on Jul 4, 2013 18:06:55 GMT -5
I like the idea of doing a silent every other week (alongside a talkie). And I agree that since General Spanky is a more elusive film, it might be a good idea to put it with the silents. The alphabetical issues will be fixed (I used the Our Gang Wikia's list, which already had a few mistakes in it. I guess I missed a few of those).
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