Classic Movie And Comedy Fans: Buy This!

Need laughs in a time with Robin Williams and now Joan Rivers gone? HALLELUJAH, there's some new Laurel & Hardy!



WHAT? New Laurel & Hardy? Be still our classic comedy loving hearts, the Blogmeister, indeed, kids you not. This set, Laurel & Hardy On Stage: Rare And Unreleased Performances, recorded during their 1940's public appearances in the U.S. and legendary 1947 European tour, IS A MAJOR FIND!



John Tefteller located and obtained the disc transcriptions from various Laurel & Hardy stage performances that transpired in the U.S.A. and overseas.



The Laurel & Hardy performances in England were a sensation and brought out the young comedy talent residing there, such as Norman Wisdom - all there to see The Boys work their magic in person.



Accompanying the two CDS is a large-format book by L&H experts Randy Skretvedt, author of Laurel & Hardy: The Magic Behind The Movies, and historian Peter Mikkelsen, authority on their Copenhagen tour.



This splendid book/CD combo, which can be ordered directly from the publisher, demonstrates, that L&H possessed an utter mastery of whimsical verbal humor that complements the visual comedy we know and love them for. To our unending latter-day delight, these performances demonstrate that Laurel & Hardy were capable of giving Abbott & Costello and Hope & Crosby a run for their money in the fast, facile wordplay department.

Just a few of the many goodies included in the set:

• COMPLETE and differing versions of Stan & Babe performing the "Driver's License" sketch before an audience: first time from 1942 in the USA, the second performed in Copenhagen five years later.
• An original script written by Stan Laurel
• An in-depth examination of the team's appearances in Copenhagen
• Accounts of the team's USO tours during WWII
• New and previously unknown interviews with Stan & Babe

And, continuing with the topic of silver screen favorites, there's Marilyn Monroe: Her Films, Her Life, now out on paperback and Kindle.



Australian biographer Michelle Vogel has done something unheard of; believe it or not, she actually pays attention to her FILMS and gives Marilyn Monroe's legacy as actress and comedienne some long overdue r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

And This Blog Loves Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

The 50th anniversary of Ms. Monroe's death reminds me that she, consumed to some degree by the enormity of her legend, remains rather underrated as an actress and frequently dismissed entirely as just another blonde bimbo.



One can easily get totally sidetracked by her status as pop culture icon and forget what a great talent she was.



Watching Marilyn Monroe's silver screen performances, one after another, on Turner Classic Movies yesterday, your blogmeister and blogmistress were continually impressed by her charm, wit, subtlety, versatility and warmth.



Indeed, she could do it all - comedy, singing, dancing, character roles, drama, noir, thrillers - with style and originality.



Marilyn, in this blogger and film buff's opinion, was frequently way better than the often sub-standard formula material she was given by the studios.



In some performances, she's an ensemble player who stands out like Charlie Parker jamming with a pickup band.



Marilyn made her co-stars just look better: witness Don Murray's Oscar nomination (Best Actor In A Supporting Role) for Bus Stop.



Rest in peace, Marilyn, with the hope that the hurts of this earthly existence are far behind you.