Tuesday, December 29, 2009

More of Mr. Hardy


Babe with Buck Jones in THE GENTLE CYCLONE (1926)


Babe in the middle of the fight from
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF J. RUFUS WALLINGFORD (1915)


With Larry Semon from THE AGENT (1922)... I think, you tell me?


Babe and Jimmy Aubrey in THE NUISANCE (1921). 
Guess which of the two is the title character.  If you chose Mr. Hardy you are dead wrong!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

HER BOY FRIEND pressbook

Here is the pressbook for HER BOY FRIEND (Educational, 1924) Larry Semon's first short after leaving Vitagraph. Babe, billed as Oliver N. Hardy, is in this one but not highlighted much in the pressbook. Enjoy:








Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Stan Lobby Cards


So why stop with Babe? Here are some lobby cards of films starring the comedian formerly known as Stan Jefferson.



WHEN KNIGHTS WERE COLD (Metro, 1923)

By the time this film was released Stan had left G.M. Anderson and was over at the Hal Roach Studios filming UNDER TWO JAGS. I really like the Amalgamated comedies and it was this series, not the soon to follow series at Roach, that really established Stan as a viable star film comedian.



RUPERT OF HEE-HAW (Roach, 1924)

Stan's next to last film for Hal Roach during his second tenure at the studio. A "travesty" of RUPERT OF HENTZAU (the sequel story to THE PRISONER OF ZENDA) with Stan playing a dual role.



DR. PYCKLE AND MR. PRIDE (Joe Rock, 1925)

Stan's next to last film for Joe Rock is probably his best solo film ever. Watching the films he made between 1922 and 1925 for G.M. Anderson, Hal Roach and Joe Rock show that Stan would have been a star with or without Oliver Hardy (but yes, not likely to the great degree the Boys obtained together). But by the time this film was released Stan had already directed three comedies for Hal Roach beginning his intended career as solely a behind-the-camera talent.

Babe Lobby Cards


Okay, so things ain't so good on the DVD front! So to cheer us all up a bit I am posting some lobby cards of Mr. Hardy.



HEY TAXI! (Arrow, 1925)
 
For the longest time I thought the only Bobby Ray & Oliver Hardy films were STICK AROUND and HOP TO IT! But there is also this film and one other (THEY ALL FALL). Of all the films the Boys made before teaming up these are the ones that most foreshadow Laurel AND Hardy films.





SQUABS AND SQUABBLES (Vitagraph, 1919)

Babe is second from left (duh). Dick Smith is also in the shot as is Jimmy Aubrey himself. Glad I dug up this photo, there isn't one in my book at all. They are on the standing "Paradise Alley" street set on the Vitagraph lot. Other Babe Hardy films shot on this street including Aubrey's FLIPS AND FLOPS and Larry Semon's THE RENT COLLECTOR.





SPRINGTIME (Vitagraph, 1920)

Within six months of this film coming out Babe will be fired by Jimmy Aubrey, be hired on a full time basis by Larry Semon, and have made his first film with a struggling English comedian by the name of Stan Laurel.


More Laurel or Hardy Collection DVD set update

The "More Laurel or Hardy Collection" DVD set may not ever see the light of day. Passport Video, the distributor, has gone into receivership (aka bankrupcy). There is always a chance they will be able to reorganize and come out of bankrupcy but I wouldn't hold my breath.