This new film by Jon S Baird rides on this concept of the duo whose success is predicated entirely on them working as a partnership. What they had was lightening in a bottle. When you see them do the little jig at the beginning of their classic western parody, Way Out West, you’re witnessing a unique moment in this history of art. They are like conjoined twins where, if an attempt were made to surgically divide them, one would likely expire from the trauma. Their connection transcends rational thought. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy forged a creative bond so ironclad, you’re left to baffle at how two human beings could be so innately simpatico with one another’s distinct sensibilities. This was a German made documentary so you will get plenty of German contributors, some footage that have been taken from other sources sometimes makes the presentation look a bit clunky.Jon S Baird’s biopic makes you question whether the titular silent comedy duo were ever funny in the first place. There were things here I knew about the duo but I also learned some new stuff. Oliver's wife was an alcoholic and of course he had his vices which was food and gambling. Stan was a womaniser who drank to hide away from his unhappy personal life. However both had personal trauma as well. What made the pair stand out was that they made the transition to talkies and still sustained their success. Until then Stan had gone on to writing and directing silent short comedies. Oliver Hardy also decide to strike his luck in the movies but fortune only smiled when Hal Roach paired both of them up. Stan Laurel was a Lancashire lad who along with Charlie Chaplin went to American vaudeville on the same boat and struck it big. We get to see newly recovered footage as well. German filmmaker Andreas Baum has made an exhaustive documentary on the duo including interviews with family, fans, friends and showbiz pals. The repeats have stopped and these silent era stars are slowly being consigned to history along with Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Rival ITV channel used to show the silent shorts as well. As a kid growing up Laurel & Hardy shorts were always being repeated on the BBC.

Laurel and hardy movie 2018