Moronika
General Boards => Stooges DVD/VHS/Home Video => Topic started by: metaldams on December 03, 2019, 08:11:56 PM
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http://www.silentcomedymafia.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2325
It looks like the Hal Roach Langdon set will be released after all. Pre-order March 10. Release April 14. DVD only $29.95. Another must buy. I’m glad another Roach set is being released.
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Very glad to see this. I posted this here last year (and later deleted it) because a few sources jumped the gun on this announcement over the summer.
Day one purchase for me. Anyone buying it is encouraged to leave positive Amazon reviews.
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Very glad to see this. I posted this here last year (and later deleted it) because a few sources jumped the gun on this announcement over the summer.
Day one purchase for me. Anyone buying it is encouraged to leave positive Amazon reviews.
Yes, I’m aware of the Amazon policy. I will post a review like I did the Charley Chase volume. Not really much to ask for getting to see these films - which I’m thankful for.
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Pre-order now up. Will probably review these films.
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Release date is a only a few weeks away now.
HOTTER THAN HOT and SKY BOY have lost soundtracks but they will be presented here with music and subtitles according to one person who received a screener.
I don't know if it's just a coincidence but the Kindle version of LITTLE ELF: A Celebration of Harry Langdon is just $9.95 right now. The paperback goes for aorund $50.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DBGFDE/ref=docs-os-doi_0
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Release date is a only a few weeks away now.
HOTTER THAN HOT and SKY BOY have lost soundtracks but they will be presented here with music and subtitles according to one person who received a screener.
I don't know if it's just a coincidence but the Kindle version of LITTLE ELF: A Celebration of Harry Langdon is just $9.95 right now. The paperback goes for aorund $50.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DBGFDE/ref=docs-os-doi_0
Really looking forward to this release and will be discussing the films in some form, I’m sure. Mine was pre ordered a while back.
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In The Balcony review: http://inthebalcony.com/harry-langdon.html
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A capsule review from Leonard Maltin does NOT mince words.... the fact he sees these as "among the worst two-reelers ever made" makes me want to see them even more. I have not seen any of these previously.
https://leonardmaltin.com/show-boat-tex-avery-and-more-a-dvd-blu-ray-survey/
The meteoric rise and fall of silent-film comedian Harry Langdon is the stuff of legend. Video producer Kit Parker has now provided comedy completists a rare opportunity to see how Langdon fared in his one and only season of talkie shorts for Hal Roach. What’s more, he has added subtitles to a pair of comedies for which the soundtracks no longer exist. This only confirms how inane the dialogue was. It’s a sad but undeniable fact that these are among the worst two-reelers ever made.
Yet there is a certain fascination to watching Langdon, whose timing is off and whose infantile character is woefully unfunny. The same is true for a surviving Spanish-language edition of The Big Kick. The saving grace in a handful of shorts is the effervescent Thelma Todd, who gives each woebegone script her best shot.
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All I can say about Maltin’s review is that Harry Langdon is in the same boat as our Stooges. People who don’t understand his comedy REALLY hate him and are completely blind to his virtues. The fact is that these were well-reviewed in 1929-30 by both the trade papers and exhibitors. The only reason that Langdon left Roach after one season is because Harry had a solid offer from First National to co-star in a prestigious feature (A Soldier’s Plaything). Roach generously let him out of his contract. I like Leonard’s work and his books were my gateway drug to classic comedy. But he swings and misses on this one.
A capsule review from Leonard Maltin does NOT mince words.... the fact he sees these as "among the worst two-reelers ever made" makes me want to see them even more. I have not seen any of these previously.
https://leonardmaltin.com/show-boat-tex-avery-and-more-a-dvd-blu-ray-survey/
The meteoric rise and fall of silent-film comedian Harry Langdon is the stuff of legend. Video producer Kit Parker has now provided comedy completists a rare opportunity to see how Langdon fared in his one and only season of talkie shorts for Hal Roach. What’s more, he has added subtitles to a pair of comedies for which the soundtracks no longer exist. This only confirms how inane the dialogue was. It’s a sad but undeniable fact that these are among the worst two-reelers ever made.
Yet there is a certain fascination to watching Langdon, whose timing is off and whose infantile character is woefully unfunny. The same is true for a surviving Spanish-language edition of The Big Kick. The saving grace in a handful of shorts is the effervescent Thelma Todd, who gives each woebegone script her best shot.
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All I can say about Maltin’s review is that Harry Langdon is in the same boat as our Stooges. People who don’t understand his comedy REALLY hate him and are completely blind to his virtues. The fact is that these were well-reviewed in 1929-30 by both the trade papers and exhibitors. The only reason that Langdon left Roach after one season is because Harry had a solid offer from First National to co-star in a prestigious feature (A Soldier’s Plaything). Roach generously let him out of his contract. I like Leonard’s work and his books were my gateway drug to classic comedy. But he swings and misses on this one.
I’m not sure Martin is a 100% Langdon hater - he just may be one of the guys who thinks Langdon artistically fell after he and Frank Capra parted ways. There’s a lot of them out there. As for me, I think THREE’S A CROWD is a masterpiece, for starters. But yeah Freddie, I agree with the sentiment of your post.
As for the Roach stuff, I can understand the shorts not being for everyone, but among the worst two reelers ever made? Nothing here is lower than the worst of the Besser shorts or the parade of faceless comedians studios were chugging out short comedies with. I have seen the six shorts with surviving soundtracks and they’re all interesting and at their best, have a few amazing moments. I look forward to revisiting these.
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Here is The Shrimp from 1930, admittedly one of the best of the bunch. Watch it and see if you agree with Maltin that these were among the worst shorts ever made. https://youtu.be/KsUA5ijSgLA
An extra treat is an unbilled appearance by Max Davidson.
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Here is The Shrimp from 1930, admittedly one of the best of the bunch. Watch it and see if you agree with Maltin that these were among the worst shorts ever made. https://youtu.be/KsUA5ijSgLA
An extra treat is an unbilled appearance by Max Davidson.
THE SHRIMP is the first Langdon talkie I ever saw and it is a fascinating short. A friend dubbed it for me on what may be one of the worst prints I’ve ever seen, but I’ve since seen a better print, specifically the link you put up.
There is one Roach short at a train station, I want to say THE HEAD GUY - but I may have the title mixed up with something else, where there’s a close up of Langdon just emoting and talking in an almost indescribable way, and this goes on for a long time. I remember I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I’ll revisit that scene for sure when I get the set.
I’m really happy the Roach talking catalog is being released with such care, finally. Columbia/Sony has it right with The Three Stooges, Keaton and Chase, but I wish they would extend beyond that - there’s so much more.
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Author James Neibaur takes a film by film look at this set: https://jln4151.wixsite.com/jlneibaur-writer/post/dvd-review-harry-langdon-at-the-hal-roach-studios-1929-1930
He's more flattering than Maltin was on these films, concluding "they are much better than their reputation."
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Author James Neibaur takes a film by film look at this set: https://jln4151.wixsite.com/jlneibaur-writer/post/dvd-review-harry-langdon-at-the-hal-roach-studios-1929-1930
He's more flattering than Maltin was on these films, concluding "they are much better than their reputation."
Just curious, how much Langdon are you familiar with?
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Just curious, how much Langdon are you familiar with?
Honestly, not a ton. I'm familiar with his career. But as far as his films, I've only seen some of his Columbia shorts that have popped up on YouTube. And despite generally poor video quality, I've liked most of those. Cold Turkey especially.
While I've gotten into silents a little more the last few years, silent shorts especially, I'm still more of a sound-era guy. His talkie output hasn't been very accessible on home video over the years for various reasons. That's mostly why I'm not too familiar with his actual films.
The sound era works of others of the time (Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton, Marx Bros, Wheeler & Woolsey, W.C. Fields, Charley Chase, etc) has been much easier to see.
I suppose going into this set without much of an opinion of Langdon could be a good thing or a bad thing.
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Honestly, not a ton. I'm familiar with his career. But as far as his films, I've only seen some of his Columbia shorts that have popped up on YouTube. And despite generally poor video quality, I've liked most of those. Cold Turkey especially.
While I've gotten into silents a little more the last few years, silent shorts especially, I'm still more of a sound-era guy. His talkie output hasn't been very accessible on home video over the years for various reasons. That's mostly why I'm not too familiar with his actual films.
The sound era works of others of the time (Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton, Marx Bros, Wheeler & Woolsey, W.C. Fields, Charley Chase, etc) has been much easier to see.
I suppose going into this set without much of an opinion of Langdon could be a good thing or a bad thing.
Hal Roach Langdon is an unusual place to go when you’ve only seen a few Columbia shorts, which should make your reaction to them that much more interesting. Again with these negative reviews, there is this big thing in the Langdon community where he’s viewed as a lost has been the moment he and Frank Capra split, which was in 1927. I don’t buy it one bit. I have seen the six Langdon shorts in this collection with sounds plus a few Educationals and Columbias as well as A SOLDIER’S PLAYTHING and ZENOBIA and enjoy it all. I admit I like his silent stuff best, but not to the point where I can’t enjoy the talkies for the funny films they are.
If you do want to check out his silent stuff, I reviewed FIDDLESTICKS a few weeks ago in the Random Comedy Reviews section, complete with a link to a YouTube video of the short. Worth checking out and it also has Vernon Dent in a dual role.
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Hal Roach Langdon is an unusual place to go when you’ve only seen a few Columbia shorts, which should make your reaction to them that much more interesting. Again with these negative reviews, there is this big thing in the Langdon community where he’s viewed as a lost has been the moment he and Frank Capra split, which was in 1927. I don’t buy it one bit. I have seen the six Langdon shorts in this collection with sounds plus a few Educationals and Columbias as well as A SOLDIER’S PLAYTHING and ZENOBIA and enjoy it all. I admit I like his silent stuff best, but not to the point where I can’t enjoy the talkies for the funny films they are.
If you do want to check out his silent stuff, I reviewed FIDDLESTICKS a few weeks ago in the Random Comedy Reviews section, complete with a link to a YouTube video of the short. Worth checking out and it also has Vernon Dent in a dual role.
I'm hoping my set ships soon and gets here some time this week. Honestly, I don't let the negative reviews phase me with something I haven't seen. At the end of the day I'll be making my own mind up on these. I'm just looking forward to checking out some Roach material I haven't seen before. I've resisted watching a couple of these on YouTube figuring the prints will be better on the DVD. I'll have to check out more of his work.
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I'm hoping my set ships soon and gets here some time this week. Honestly, I don't let the negative reviews phase me with something I haven't seen. At the end of the day I'll be making my own mind up on these. I'm just looking forward to checking out some Roach material I haven't seen before. I've resisted watching a couple of these on YouTube figuring the prints will be better on the DVD. I'll have to check out more of his work.
My copy is not scheduled to arrive until either this weekend or early next week. I’ll be pitching my thoughts as I’m watching them (and yes, I’ll get that Amazon review up), and I look forward to the audio commentaries as well, which I know will be historically defending these films.
Edit: and literally when I finish typing the above, I get an email saying it’s shipped and will arrive Thursday! Earlier than the original date posted, I know what I’ll be watching this weekend.
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My copy is not scheduled to arrive until either this weekend or early next week. I’ll be pitching my thoughts as I’m watching them (and yes, I’ll get that Amazon review up), and I look forward to the audio commentaries as well, which I know will be historically defending these films.
Edit: and literally when I finish typing the above, I get an email saying it’s shipped and will arrive Thursday! Earlier than the original date posted, I know what I’ll be watching this weekend.
Did you order yours from Amazon? That's where I ordered mine a couple months ago - it was originally supposed to arrive on release day, then Thursday due to coronavirus related delays. But here it is on Tuesday night and still no shipment notice. I might bail on it and get it from Best Buy if there's another delay.
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Did you order yours from Amazon? That's where I ordered mine a couple months ago - it was originally supposed to arrive on release day, then Thursday due to coronavirus related delays. But here it is on Tuesday night and still no shipment notice. I might bail on it and get it from Best Buy if there's another delay.
Yup from Amazon. Preordered a while back.
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Here’s a generally positive review from the “In the Balcony” site: http://www.inthebalcony.com/harry-langdon.html
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Looks like Friday will be delivery day for me. I recently moved from the Northeast to the Midwest for a job, and I'll be watching these mere miles from Harry's hometown of Council Bluffs. There's even a street named after him there.
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Looks like Friday will be delivery day for me. I recently moved from the Northeast to the Midwest for a job, and I'll be watching these mere miles from Harry's hometown of Council Bluffs. There's even a street named after him there.
That’s great and had no clue you’re from Iowa.
My set actually arrived today. Watched the first three shorts and commentaries. HOTTER THAN HOT is excellent. Any film where Langdon is a pyromaniac who asks Thelma Todd if she wants to do “boom boom” is good as is, but when you add the doll gag on the couch...real good stuff. SKY BOY has some cool wintry outdoor bits and SKIRT SHY, which I’ve seen before, is on the surreal side. Very interesting set and the Richard Roberts commentaries are always worth hearing. Will place my Amazon review when I finish the set.
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That’s great and had no clue you’re from Iowa.
My set actually arrived today. Watched the first three shorts and commentaries. HOTTER THAN HOT is excellent. Any film where Langdon is a pyromaniac who asks Thelma Todd if she wants to do “boom boom” is good as is, but when you add the doll gag on the couch...real good stuff. SKY BOY has some cool wintry outdoor bits and SKIRT SHY, which I’ve seen before, is on the surreal side. Very interesting set and the Richard Roberts commentaries are always worth hearing. Will place my Amazon review when I finish the set.
Until a few months ago, I had spent my entire life in upstate NY but moved to Omaha for a job. HOTTER THAN HOT sounds like one of the more intriguing shorts on the disc - it's too bad about the missing soundtrack. It'll be interesting to watch a sound short without a soundtrack but with music instead.
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Were you near Elmira, Hal Roach’s hometown and the setting of the train station in The Head Guy?
Until a few months ago, I had spent my entire life in upstate NY but moved to Omaha for a job. HOTTER THAN HOT sounds like one of the more intriguing shorts on the disc - it's too bad about the missing soundtrack. It'll be interesting to watch a sound short without a soundtrack but with music instead.
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Falsealarms, that’s right, you’re a Mets fan, upstate New York makes sense. I hope things are going well in your Iowa move.
I finished the first disc last night and indeed, it was THE HEAD GUY I was thinking of. Harry gets dumped by his girl and there is this single close up shot that lasts approximately 3:45. Harry is pantomiming and speaking every break up emotion imaginable before giving into hunger urges, all in a child like way. It starts uncomfortable but by the end, I was laughing hysterically. My words don’t do this scene justice, but it’s incredible to watch. Going to start the second disc in a few minutes.
I live in Newark, DE. next to Wilmington, the city Buster Keaton made his stage debut with his parents in 1900.
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Were you near Elmira, Hal Roach’s hometown and the setting of the train station in The Head Guy?
I was not. I was near Albany, the state capital.
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I've always been a fan of Leonard Maltin's work. But he was way off the mark earlier this month when he called these "among the worst two-reelers ever made."
Overall, I thought these were a lot of fun and undeserving of their obscure status. THE BIG KICK stood out from the pack for me, an excellent short. THE HEAD GUY, THE FIGHTING PARSON and THE SHRIMP were also very good. THE KING and SKIRT SHY were decent to slightly above decent, each having their moments but not quite as good as the other four already mentioned.
I'd put HOTTER THAN HOT in that pack as well though it's tougher to assess that film as long as the soundtrack is missing. The couch scene was the highlight. I'd love to re-assess it should the soundtrack ever surface. SKY BOY, the other one missing its soundtrack, was the only one I didn't connect with at all.
I don't think I had seen her in anything before but I liked Nancy Dover and thought she played well with Langdon. Later known as Judith Barrett, she lived all the way to 2000.
Tom Ricketts, the old man in SHIRT SKY, had a memorable turn there. Born in 1853, he might be the earliest born person I've ever seen in a film. When he died in 1939, he was considered a pioneer in the film industry. If online sources are to be believed, he directed the first film released by Universal (1915) one of the, if not the, first motion picture made in Hollywood (1911).
THE HEAD GUY has a nice atmospheric feel to the film with the rain coming down in buckets outside the train station. Eddie Dunn gave a good performance as the dance troupe boss.
The boxing scenes in THE FIGHTING PARSON were clever with the boxing gloves on poles pushed up into Harry's arms. I'm not sure if i've seen that used elsewhere. Someone on Facebook cracked that it amounted to socially distanced boxing.
On the commentary for HOTTER THAN HOT, it's noted that Edith Kramer, aka Jill Dennett, appeared in Men in Black with the Three Stooges. I'm skeptical of that. We don't have her in that film on this site but IMDB has her in Men in White, the 1934 feature. Wires might have been crossed on that one.
Speaking of Jill Dennett, one person posted at NitrateVille last summer and wondered whatever happened to her, if she really died in England in 1941 as IMDB and Wikipedia report. I stumbled onto the post this weekend. My best guess is that she did not die there in 1941- instead, living until a 1969 death in Los Angeles. More here: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28570
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On the commentary for HOTTER THAN HOT, it's noted that Edith Kramer, aka Jill Dennett, appeared in Men in Black with the Three Stooges. I'm skeptical of that. We don't have her in that film on this site but IMDB has her in Men in White, the 1934 feature. Wires might have been crossed on that one.
Speaking of Jill Dennett, one person posted at NitrateVille last summer and wondered whatever happened to her, if she really died in England in 1941 as IMDB and Wikipedia report. I stumbled onto the post this weekend. My best guess is that she did not die there in 1941- instead, living until a 1969 death in Los Angeles. More here: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28570
I remember when I researched Edith/Jill a long time ago, that was what I concluded as well: 1969 in Los Angeles County. She actually is in another 1934 Columbia short: RADIO DOUGH with George Sidney and Charlie Murray.
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I've always been a fan of Leonard Maltin's work. But he was way off the mark earlier this month when he called these "among the worst two-reelers ever made."
Overall, I thought these were a lot of fun and undeserving of their obscure status. THE BIG KICK stood out from the pack for me, an excellent short. THE HEAD GUY, THE FIGHTING PARSON and THE SHRIMP were also very good. THE KING and SKIRT SHY were decent to slightly above decent, each having their moments but not quite as good as the other four already mentioned.
I'd put HOTTER THAN HOT in that pack as well though it's tougher to assess that film as long as the soundtrack is missing. The couch scene was the highlight. I'd love to re-assess it should the soundtrack ever surface. SKY BOY, the other one missing its soundtrack, was the only one I didn't connect with at all.
I don't think I had seen her in anything before but I liked Nancy Dover and thought she played well with Langdon. Later known as Judith Barrett, she lived all the way to 2000.
Tom Ricketts, the old man in SHIRT SKY, had a memorable turn there. Born in 1853, he might be the earliest born person I've ever seen in a film. When he died in 1939, he was considered a pioneer in the film industry. If online sources are to be believed, he directed the first film released by Universal (1915) one of the, if not the, first motion picture made in Hollywood (1911).
THE HEAD GUY has a nice atmospheric feel to the film with the rain coming down in buckets outside the train station. Eddie Dunn gave a good performance as the dance troupe boss.
The boxing scenes in THE FIGHTING PARSON were clever with the boxing gloves on poles pushed up into Harry's arms. I'm not sure if i've seen that used elsewhere. Someone on Facebook cracked that it amounted to socially distanced boxing.
On the commentary for HOTTER THAN HOT, it's noted that Edith Kramer, aka Jill Dennett, appeared in Men in Black with the Three Stooges. I'm skeptical of that. We don't have her in that film on this site but IMDB has her in Men in White, the 1934 feature. Wires might have been crossed on that one.
Speaking of Jill Dennett, one person posted at NitrateVille last summer and wondered whatever happened to her, if she really died in England in 1941 as IMDB and Wikipedia report. I stumbled onto the post this weekend. My best guess is that she did not die there in 1941- instead, living until a 1969 death in Los Angeles. More here: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=28570
It is mentioned in the commentary that Jill Dennett was in MEN IN BLACK. I figured you’d be on that. I too checked for her in the threestooges.net database to no avail. It is very possible MEN IN WHITE got confused for MEN IN BLACK.
I too enjoyed all the shorts but knew going in they were good. HOTTER THAN HOT is excellent, make boom boom! SKY BOY doesn’t play as well as the former without sound but is still good. Do love Harry and the fishing gag. SKIRT SHY is the most bizarre film on the set but still fun. Yes, fascinating in the commentary hearing about Tom Ricketts and how far back he goes! THE HEAD GUY has one of the all time great Langdon moments which I already mentioned. THE FIGHTING PARSON has that wonderfully surreal boxing match. THE BIG KICK has that great silent gag when the car engine is on and is fantastic for how out of touch Harry is with the rest of the action. Good Langdon there. THE SHRIMP is just all around fantastic - eat your berries! THE KING is fun and has both Dorothy Granger and Geneva Mitchell. I’ll review some of these films in greater detail one of these days for sure.
As far as Nancy Dover, I like her too. She looks like my friend.
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After watching these, I couldn't help but wish the series had continued on. But what we have, for the most part, is pretty solid.
My interest was piqued enough to order this book - has anyone read it? https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/harry-langdon/
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After watching these, I couldn't help but wish the series had continued on. But what we have, for the most part, is pretty solid.
My interest was piqued enough to order this book - has anyone read it? https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/harry-langdon/
For all the Langdon books, I’m basically waiting for the price to come down. If you do read it, please let us know how it is.
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For all the Langdon books, I’m basically waiting for the price to come down. If you do read it, please let us know how it is.
Are there that many Langdon books? I know of at least three - Neibaur's on his 1923-1928 period, Little Elf by Chuck Harter and Michael Hayde and the one I linked.
If you're into e-books, a Kindle copy of Little Elf can be had for $9.99 on Amazon. I wanted a physical book, though, and Little Elf in paperback is $60 at the moment. The one I linked was $35, a bit easier to digest. I've never been disappointed with something McFarland published.
The Neibaur book was done through Scarecrow Press, and they always seem high. His Chase book was done through there as well and its price point ($89 currently) is the only thing that has scared me off over the years.
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Are there that many Langdon books? I know of at least three - Neibaur's on his 1923-1928 period, Little Elf by Chuck Harter and Michael Hayde and the one I linked.
If you're into e-books, a Kindle copy of Little Elf can be had for $9.99 on Amazon. I wanted a physical book, though, and Little Elf in paperback is $60 at the moment. The one I linked was $35, a bit easier to digest. I've never been disappointed with something McFarland published.
The Neibaur book was done through Scarecrow Press, and they always seem high. His Chase book was done through there as well and its price point ($89 currently) is the only thing that has scared me off over the years.
Neibaur’s books tend to be more critical about films which is cool, but not biographical. I have his W.C. Fields and talking era Keaton books.
As far as biographical Langdon, maybe I should look into kindle apps because the physical books are more than I’m willing to spend on almost any book. Same with the Charley Chase bio. I’d love to read about both and I’m sure someday I will.
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A picture posted at the silent comedy mafia board worth sharing.
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A picture posted at the silent comedy mafia board worth sharing.
Pre-code dialogue at its best. It's too bad that board doesn't allow new people to sign up.
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Here's an interesting page and a half about Langdon and Roach from the William Schelly bio of the former.
(https://i.ibb.co/NmH7SYw/Screen-Shot-2020-04-26-at-12-41-51-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/cC7xLTz)
(https://i.ibb.co/5x4D8gZ/Screen-Shot-2020-04-26-at-12-49-18-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/x8LvjtZ)
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Here's an interesting page and a half about Langdon and Roach from the William Schelly bio of the former.
(https://i.ibb.co/NmH7SYw/Screen-Shot-2020-04-26-at-12-41-51-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/cC7xLTz)
(https://i.ibb.co/5x4D8gZ/Screen-Shot-2020-04-26-at-12-49-18-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/x8LvjtZ)
The theater owners had pretty positive things to say about the reception of the Langdon films and according the commentaries on this DVD set, Langdon had a five year option on his contract with Roach. Roach wanted to exercise the second season but Langdon opted out to make a feature at Warner Brothers. Langdon also went back to Roach years later in ZENOBIA and as a writer on the later Roach Laurel and Hardy features. So Roach had to see some value in the guy.
As far as slapstick plots that wouldn’t let Langdon be, he has a three minute forty five second single shot monologue, the most extreme I’ve ever seen his slow style go. I do agree it is ironic Langdon developed his style at Sennett, of all places, but the reputation of Langdon and certain eras of his work is one of the most confounding and contradictory of any comedian I can think of. Perhaps this influenced Roach’s own recollections of Langdon, as Roach lived MUCH longer, as did Frank Capra.
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The theater owners had pretty positive things to say about the reception of the Langdon films and according the commentaries on this DVD set, Langdon had a five year option on his contract with Roach. Roach wanted to exercise the second season but Langdon opted out to make a feature at Warner Brothers. Langdon also went back to Roach years later in ZENOBIA and as a writer on the later Roach Laurel and Hardy features. So Roach had to see some value in the guy.
As far as slapstick plots that wouldn’t let Langdon be, he has a three minute forty five second single shot monologue, the most extreme I’ve ever seen his slow style go. I do agree it is ironic Langdon developed his style at Sennett, of all places, but the reputation of Langdon and certain eras of his work is one of the most confounding and contradictory of any comedian I can think of. Perhaps this influenced Roach’s own recollections of Langdon, as Roach lived MUCH longer, as did Frank Capra.
I've become fascinated with Langdon lately between the DVDs, the supposed drama with Roach and now living about 10 miles from one of his earliest known residences.
The comment that the shorts "didn't" satisfy audiences at the time is a head scratcher. Reviews of the period largely indicate otherwise. Richard Lewis Ward wrote a book on the history of the Hal Roach Studios, another book I plan on reading at some point.
There's a heartbreaking quote in the Schelly bio of Langdon. Frank Capra supposedly took a peek at the filming of the 1938 short SUE MY LAWYER and Jules White was demanding Langdon to pick up the pace.
"I could have cried," Capra said. "That great, great artist - whose art was the very essence of slow, slow pantomime - was being hollered at to 'go faster.'"
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Ivan Shreve always has fascinating write-ups on these kind of releases. The Harry Langdon set is no different - well worth a read:
https://thrillingdaysofyesteryear.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/the-plot-against-harry-2/
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I've become fascinated with Langdon lately between the DVDs, the supposed drama with Roach and now living about 10 miles from one of his earliest known residences.
The comment that the shorts "didn't" satisfy audiences at the time is a head scratcher. Reviews of the period largely indicate otherwise. Richard Lewis Ward wrote a book on the history of the Hal Roach Studios, another book I plan on reading at some point.
There's a heartbreaking quote in the Schelly bio of Langdon. Frank Capra supposedly took a peek at the filming of the 1938 short SUE MY LAWYER and Jules White was demanding Langdon to pick up the pace.
"I could have cried," Capra said. "That great, great artist - whose art was the very essence of slow, slow pantomime - was being hollered at to 'go faster.'"
I’m really glad you’re getting interested in Langdon and enjoying that book. The first time I ever heard of him was the Columbia Comedy Shorts book - had to have been between 15 - 20 years ago. I bought The Forgotten Clown DVD with his first three independent features and have been a fan since.
That Capra story, I believe Langdon was doing his carrying the woman up the stairs routine from THE STRONG MAN, if I’m not mistaken.
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I bought this set and the two Charley Chase ones with the money I received for Christmas. I just finished watching the Mack Sennett Langdon shorts and am now making my way through this. Once I finish this I'll move onto to the Educational Langdon period. I'm debating what to do next after watching Harry Langdon. I wanted to watch through Charley Chase's filmography as I haven't watched him yet, but I also want to wait for the final Charley Chase Roach set so I can watch in one go. I hope they'll announce that soon.