The Larry Semon Comedies
Elmer Pintar
DVD collection on Kino. I can easily see why Larry was a star in his
day. Most of what he did was for the the first time, along with
Chaplin. I read that averaged one million dollars per year circa 1920.
The outdoor slapstick, the gooey slapstick effects, the love
interests, and, of course, the derby hat, were all part of a comedian's
style that would evolve into subsequent generations of comedians. I
can see going to the picture show in 1920, and my highlight for the
evening being a Larry Semon comedy! Yo-ho.
Mister Levity
His films are loaded with outragous cartoon-type sight gags and wild
physical comedy routines running at break-neck speed. His two-reelers
are like live-action animated cartoons. No wonder, since Semon was a
cartoonist himself.
The Kino disc has THE SHOW and THE SAWMILL which are both good. You
should try and see if you can find others like THE BELLBOY, THE BAKERY,
THE CLOUD HOPPER, GOLF, KID SPEED, DOME DOCTER and A SIMPLE SAP.
Unfortunately no one has released a Semon disc set as of yet but it's
hopeful Laughsmith may put out a collection someday.
Grapevine Video used to sell about four volumes on VHS years ago. Don't
know if they have out them out on DVD. The recent five disc box set
"Laurel Or Hardy" from Passport has a selection of Larry Semon shorts
with Hardy in the cast on disc two with THE BELLBOY, THE SAWMILL, THE
BAKERY. GOLF, HER BOYFRIEND and KID SPEED.
None of my local DVD shops carry this so cannot tell you how the prints
look. However the comments on amazon say the print quality is pretty
poor but it's the only collection of Semon shorts on one DVD so far.
homes...@netburner.net
Tommie Hicks
Bernie Woodham
"Mister Levity" <misterle...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1142385526.7...@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
The new "Wizard of OZ" 3-disc collection set includes the 1925 film of Oz
with Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy. I don't know what the quality was like
on previous releases of this film, but the quality was very good on this
disc.
Mister Levity
>with Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy.
You're right. Totally forgot about the new WIZARD OF OZ set that
includes the Larry Semon version. I read elsewhere it is a restored
version with a Robert Israel score and looks very good. Only reason I
haven't picked this one up yet is Semon's WIZARD OF OZ isn't as funny
as his short comedies. But worth gettong one of these days just to see
a clear print of it.
Elmer Pintar
could hope for is a one-reel version on super 8 (assuming you had the
projector)...
Bernie Woodham
"Elmer Pintar" <pin...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1142463460.7...@z34g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> remember how RARE and PRICELESS this stuff used to be????? The best you
> could hope for is a one-reel version on super 8 (assuming you had the
> projector)...
>
I never cease to be amazed at what is out there. There are times when I
see a release of a dvd I want and the thing is in the discount bin for
$5.99!
Matt Barry
Have you seen his version of WIZARD OF OZ yet? Oliver Hardy plays the
Tin Man in this one. It's really one of the strangest films I've ever
seen. I couldn't quite figure out if it was supposed to be a family
comedy along the lines of BABES IN TOYLAND or ALICE IN WONDERLAND, or
if it was just a bastardization of a great story just for a few cheap
laughs (like Eddie Murphy's DR. DOLITTLE). The version I picked up on
DVD has some very strange music and a woman reading the subtitles out
loud.
I haven't been able to make it through the whole film yet as it is just
so strange.
Matt
Willie Work
have to be FRAUDS AND FRENZIES on the Laurel or Hardy Box Set. I think
it's just amazing! Larry and Stan are great together. I hope to see the
other two films Stan Laurel and Larry Semon made together one day.
Hopefully, Laughsmith will release a box of his comedies in the future.