Dennis Campa wrote:Thanks for sharing the links to theses reviews Richard, even if the reviewers don't get these movies.
I received my copy the other day, and love this set! I've never seen any of these shorts before, and enjoyed them a lot.
All of the shorts are enjoyable; even the weakest short (Skirt Sky) is fun. I don't understand the negative reactions to these movies; are those folks watching the same comedies?
It's hard to pick a favorite on the set, but I've a special fondness for these three: The Fighting Parson (where we get to see Harry play banjo and dance); The Head Guy (more nice dancing, great cast, and a sweet ending); and The King (we hear James Parrott speak, and there are lovely ladies galore).
(Richard, did Parrott appear in any other sound movies?)
The extras are all great (including Richard's always entertaining and enlightening commentaries).
All vintage comedy buffs need this collection!
Dennis
Thanks Dennis for the words of praise, and I'm happy to hear you received your set already, did you order it through Amazon? Apparently Amazon has been sending emails to folk who had pre-ordered it saying the delivery will be delayed as they have much more important things like food and medical supplies to deliver right now, so we were not expecting anyone to have it in their hands until late next week.
I think we can expect a number of reviews from people still mired in the Capra legend (ah hell, call it what it is, the Capra
Bullshit) and ethos who, even if they actually watch the films before they review them will sit stone-faced staring at the flatscreen daring these comedies to make them laugh, but as I say in my commentaries, the edge I have on most people with these films is having seen them with sometimes multiple audiences and watched them kill, so the hell with the depressives and the Langdon haters and Capra worshippers and the ones who had their notions pre-conceived `cause they once read something in a book by the likes of Leonard who has said these were awful shorts for decades, and it's so much easier to parrot someone else's opinions than think for yourself.
At the same time, and mark my words here, I also expect to see some "historians" who will suddenly "discover" HOTTER THAN HOT as a great Langdon short and claim it a revelation that they have come upon all by their widdle ownsomes, while also conveniently forgetting that I have been telling people that for years (I said so in my book on Roach). With Harry Langdon, one can always expect these crazy extremist opinions pro and con, part of what makes him so interesting as a comedian, and what makes discussing and defending him both interesting and a chore. In any event, Kit Parker and I have done our part, struck our blow for liberty, and gotten these shorts which I have loved for years out where folk can see them, and took our shots at defending them and explaining him to set the record straight. We'll see where the already continuing nonsense in the reactions to these shorts continues.
Did James Parrott appear in any more sound films? Not in which he spoke.
RICHARD M ROBERTS