Laurel & Hardy II: Way Out West & Block-Heads DVD Review:

In the history of comic duos Laurel and Hardy will forever remain two of the greatest. With Stan Laurel’s ability to do the impossible, such as smoke tobacco from his hand as if it is a pipe, and Oliver Hardy’s ability to get angry like no one else, these two manage to get themselves into more trouble than anyone else. They aren’t the smartest pair and they are completely oblivious to that fact.

This DVD comes with two feature films and one thirty minute short. The short film, Chickens Come Home, was made in 1931. In it Ollie is a political figure running for mayor when he is blackmailed by an old girlfriend from the past. He agrees to meet her during a time that he has dinner guests, so in order to keep the peace with his wife he sends Stan to meet with the ex-girlfriend instead. As they always seem to, things go absolutely wrong for the pair and soon Stan’s wife is upset as well. Because the film is only thirty minute there isn’t enough time for the usual dialogue and antics between Stan and Ollie, which makes the film feel slightly disappointing, Most of the film they aren’t even together, and although the struggle between Stan and the ex-girlfriend is humorous it just isn’t the same.

The first feature film on the DVD is Way Out West, in which Stan and Ollie are in charge of delivering a valuable deed to a poor daughter of a dead prospector. They run into trouble when the cruel man she works for tricks Stan and Ollie into giving the deed to the wrong person. When the honest pair realizes that they have been duped, they vow to right the wrong, and if they don’t Stan will eat Ollie’s hat. In the old west Stan and Ollie are at the top of their game, as hilarious as always. Stan has a bit with using his thumb as a lighter which is strange hilarity at its best. Way Out West was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music and Best Score in 1938.

The second feature is Block-Heads, and was also nominated for Best Music and Best Score in 1939. In Block-Heads Stan doesn’t realize that the war is over and he stays in his trench for years after it has ended. Once someone tells him, he makes it in the paper and Ollie rushes to find his long lost friend. Ollie is married though, and he finds out on his anniversary which upsets his wife greatly. When Ollie brings Stan home there is nothing but trouble. Block-Heads is more like the Laurel and Hardy that we all know and love than the other two. There are a great many bits in the film that don’t advance the plot any but are hilarious. The plot is simply a thin set-up for all of the situations in which the comedy takes front stage anyways.

Even though there isn’t much to this DVD it is great to see classic like this available to watch with better quality image and sound, which this one has. They have been digitally remastered and the picture and sound quality is noticeably better than I am used to seeing the two.



Ryan Izay