Source for Columbia shorts on video
JDier51
I'm looking to purchase Columbia shorts circa 1940's. The Stooges are readily
available, but I'm having trouble finding films by Andy Clyde. I've tried most
of the on-line video retailers with no luck. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff Dier
ool...@hotmail.com
Dear Jeff, All non-STOOGE Columbia shorts are being hoarded by Columbia
Studios along with many B- moivies from the studio during the late 30's and
late 40's. The rationale, or so I understand, is that Columbia feels that
there is no market for these films. I fear that the REAL reason may vbe more
horrible. Probably what I suspect is that mnany old Columbia films have
deteriorated and there is nothing left! I hope that this is not the case,
but when I read about how a film like STAR WARS almost faded away9and that is
a mere 25 years old) then I fear for the survival of many other Columbia
shorts. The only other source that I can think of that may have non STOOGE
shorts is VIDEO YESTERYEARS. Its the concern that has that huge catalog of
films. There are some Vera Vague and an Andy Clyde, but just a mere one or
two. The majority are all still hoarded by Columbia. This is too bad because
I would like to see some of the VERA VAGUE shoirts because this was the only
female comiedian to have her own film series!
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Saxon Emil Sitka
ool...@hotmail.com wrote:
There are some Vera Vague and an Andy Clyde, but just a mere one or
> two. The majority are all still hoarded by Columbia. This is too bad because
> I would like to see some of the VERA VAGUE shoirts because this was the only
> female comiedian to have her own film series!
>
There may only be two, but don't forget Billie Burke was also a female Columbia
short comedy star. "Silly Billy" directed by Jules White and "Billie Gets Her Man"
directed by Ed Bernds, are both from 1948 ( and Emil was in the cast of each ). Emil
reported once that his nose was broken during the filming of one of these shorts,
after taking a vase in the face.
Hal Erickson
>ool...@hotmail.com wrote:
Una Merkel also appeared in two Columbia shorts: QUACK SERVICE (1943)
in which she was teamed with Gwen Kenyon a la Hal Roach's Thelma
Todd/Zasu Pitts/Patsy Kelly comedies, and TO HEIR IS HUMAN (1944) a
strange little "old dark house" comedy(complete with a musical
background score) costarring Harry Langdon.
And in 1936-1937, Polly Moran starred in a brace of Columbia
2-reelers: OH, DUCHESS (in which she sang the immortal tune "I'm the
Duchess of Mackerel")and SAILOR MAID (wherein she spent one-third of
the picture in male drag, mustache and all).
--Hal E.
JimNeibr
Chase directed shorts with Stooges, Clyde, etc., he never directed any of his
own Columbia two-reelers. He left that up to Del Lord.
Jim
Moviephile
judgement"
Only a few Andy Clyde's are very good. They were released in 8mm with sound
20-25 years ago.
Negatives for 99% of the Columbia shorts exist.
I have seen them at the archives.
Dennis
svgndfndd
movie...@aol.com (Moviephile) wrote:
I've always thought (or at least hoped) that the terrifying tales of
rotting and destroyed classic films were overstated. For instance, a book
on WC Fields from 1973 claimed that over half of his films were
permanently lost. Since then, I've seen *beautiful* prints of a number of
those "lost" films and I believe the number of missing is down to a couple
of shorts and a DW Griffith film he had a cameo in.
Still, let's keep the search going for Moe's 1920s silent film(s)!
Saxon Emil Sitka
stuff, but there is funny material in those comedies... just don't expect the
pace you get with the Boys. If 99% of the negatives still exist, that is good
news. The real question here is (as stated at the beginning of this thread),
"Are any Columbia non-Stooge comedy shorts available anywhere? If so, where?"
Does anyone have a lead?
Moviephile
Sorry, I am a numbskull. What are the titles?
Made by who?
D.W. Atkinson
Life is like a weary river.....
Gary Long
50's and early 60's: Andy Clyde, Vera Vague and El Brendel come to mind.
If that was the case, it would have been before the era of videotape (at
least as far as local stations were concerned), so there should be a
slew of 16mm prints floating around somewhere. The dreaded film stock
deterioration that has destroyed many Hollywood films isn't a problem,
since 16mm has never used that kind of stock.
Anybody who lives in a small town that had a TV station back then might
ask permission to root around in their storage rooms. Just a thought...