Writer-director John Hughes: "If there's a greater body of work than the Laurel and Hardy films, I haven't seen it."
In the history of films, there haven't been that many artists who, for a fairly long run, had a consistent output (in terms of quality) and created a large body of work.
I'll restrict it to the Golden Age, since that's my favorite period, and frankly I'm not sure anything past the Golden Age would qualify in my book, anyway.
Chaplin from his start until the end of the silent era, with CITY LIGHTS squeezed in. Without debating the merits of his work after that, I'll simply say he was nowhere near as prolific after CITY LIGHTS, and for the decade prior his output was dwindling by quanity, though not quality. His most concentrated period of excellence was the 12 Mutual films, which is my favorite Chaplin period.
Lloyd and Keaton in the 20s.
L&H from 1927 - 1940.
The Stooges from 1934 until the early 40s, though re-invigorated in Shemp's early years with the team in the late 40s/early 50s.
Our Gang Roach talkies from late 1930 until 1938.
The Marx Brothers made too few films overall (13), and their best work was cramped into a very short period with just a handful of films, so as much as I love them, I'd have to leave them out.
W.C. Fields almost makes it, but again too few great films in 2 very short spurts: mid 30s at Paramount, then late 30s/early 40s at Universal.
Charley Chase at Roach -- silents in the 20s. Made some classics in the 30s but too few over a long stretch. So I reget to say I'm leaving him out -- but the strength of those silents gets him an honourable mention.
Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers at R-K-O in the 30s. People who haven't seen them will never realize how good their films were -- a can't miss even if you have just a passing interest in the Great American Songbook, and I have much more than a passing interest. Listen to some classic Sinatra albums on Capitol, and Ella Fitzgerald on Verve, then watch those movies -- you won't believe how many songs are from those films.
(I'll also restrict this to films, else Sinatra and Fitzgerald are just 2 of the artists with an enormous and amazingly consistent output over a large number of years -- though not necessarily their whole careers. I could write a book about Duke Ellington's music -- and many have!)
Abbott and Costello from 1940 until 1955! When the films started to go downhill, their TV work was still top-notch!
Hitchcock from 1934 until 1976! (OK, his 60s output was hit (PSYCHO) or miss (films like MARNIE), and he only made 2 films in the 70s, but those 2 films are well worth seeing!)
Bogart from early 40s until late 50s. Play those films again, Sam!
Cary Grant from the late 30s until the late 50s. Comedy, Drama, Suspense...Hitchcock! He could do it all!
Many other great artists in that period, but the above are my favorites. (But Jimmy Stewart's Hitchcock films are all superb!)
And I haven't even gone into Looney Tunes and Disney!
Perhaps there have been many artists who fit the bill!
That all being said, my sentimental favorites are the boys -- Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy.
