This month we’ll again be daring to show yet another fine feature film from the 1940s wartime period by that 20th century Fox film company. Their days at the Hal Roach studios ended in 1940 with the release of A Chump at Oxford and Saps at Sea. In 1941 they were contracted to make a number of B-movie feature films for Fox. The Boys appeared in a total of 6 films with this company….and on Wednesday we will be showing their fifth film in the sequence of 6 which is entitled
“The Big Noise” from 1944.
It is often viewed amongst L&H aficionados that the Fox films are not as good as those produced for the Hal Roach Studios – this is generally a result of the Boys losing a lot of artistic control in the film scripting and on-set film production. So, consequently, we don’t show them all that often. But, after saying all that….these are Laurel & Hardy films, they have their merit and there are a lot of very good moments including some reworking of sequences and gags in films from the Hal Roach era. This will be our first screening of “The Big Noise” since November 2005…..yes, 20 years ago…so it’s certainly well overdue an airing. So, please don’t be put off – I think you will be very pleasantly surprised by it.
This month we’ll also be paying a small birthday tribute to not one but two important Laurel & Hardy supporting actors. First, as it was Jean (Jeannie Weenie) Harlow’s birthday last week, on March 3rd (1911), we will begin the evening with a rare fan-dubbed talkie version of the silent film that she is best recommembered for. That’s “Double Whoopee” from 1929. Our second birthday tribute is to our favourite villain….Walter “Mugsy/Tiger/Butch” Long whose birthday it was on March 5th (1879) – I’m hoping to show not one but two of his best talkie shorts with the Boys….first the brilliant boxing match film “Any Old Port” from 1932 and then the criminal escapee film “Going Bye Bye” from 1934 .
We’ll also show another Larry Harmon L&H cartoon with more than a familiar connection to “Any Old Port”. There’ll be the usual raffle – all donations gratefully accepted….and of course the loyal toasts.
As mentioned last month we have booked the Bull Inn, Bottesford for an afternoon of L&H films on Saturday June 14th. And, yes, for the more adventurous, we’ll again be visiting the Plough Inn and Arthur Jeffersons grave in the morning. All are very welcome.
Please also note that due an absent (minded) GS, we are having to re-arrange our next meeting in April from April 16th to Wednesday April 9th. After that we shall return to the usual third Wednesday in the month.
So, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.
Fraternally Yours,
Dave T
(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)
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