The Boys: The Cinematic World of Laurel and Hardy

by Scott Allen Nollen

Overview

The Boys provides new ways to view and evaluate the work of this famous comedy team. The initial chapter summarizes the critical reception of the two and compares Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to other contemporary comedians. Brief biographies analyze their early solo films and the development of the team. Special attention is given to the team's cinematic and comic style, use of camera techniques, early sound practice, and gag development. The comics' complex relationship is detailed and analyzed.

A complete filmography, including a rating and an indication of contents, covers each film. The team's final film, Atoll K (1951), is discussed in depth. Throughout the text quotes from such persons as Laurel and Hardy themselves, Buster Keaton, George Stevens, Dick Van Dyke, and Woody Allen enlighten and entertain. Great stills and posters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786411153
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	03/20/2001
Series:	McFarland Classics S
Edition description:	ALTERNATE
Pages:	167
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Scott Allen Nollen was educated in film and history at the University of Iowa. He had written and edited more than 40 books on the history of film, literature and music.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword    
Preface    

1 Why Take Laurel and Hardy Seriously?    
2 Stan Laurel    
3 Oliver Hardy    
4 Cinematic and Comic Structure    
5 The Boys as Couple    
6 The Boys and Physical Objects    
7 The Boys and Animals    
8 The Boys and Women    
9 The Boys and Society    
10 Filmography: The Roach Period (1926–1940)    
11 Filmography: The Post-Roach Period (1939–1951)    
12 A Final Word    

Notes    
Bibliography    
Index    

Editorial Reviews

recommended”—Choice; “numerous monochrome photos of the boys at work”—Library Journal; “a very good job of surveying their themes and cinematic techniques”—Big Reel; “insightful and entertaining reading...useful”—Variety; “provides new ways to view and evaluate the comic filmmaking of this famous duo”—Communication Booknotes; “very enjoyable...excellently detailed annotated filmography”—Film Review Annual.

From the Publisher

numerous monochrome photos of the boys at work

Library Journal

Insightful and entertaining reading...useful.

Variety

Recommended.

Choice

A very good job of surveying their themes and cinematic techniques.

Big Reel

A very enjoyable feast of nostalgic recollection...consists of an excellently detailed annotated filmography.

Film Review Annual

An easily and readable fashion.

Classic Images

Provides new ways to view and evaluate the comic filmmaking of this famous duo.

Communication Booknotes

Reprint of a 1989 work summarizing critical reception and analyzing early solo films and the development of the team, with attention to style, relationship to each other, camera techniques, and gag development. Includes an annotated filmography. The author is (or was, when the book was first published) an audiovisual archivist with the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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