8mm Forum: L&H Laughing Gravy info

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on January 27, 2015, 12:38 PM:

Was this ever released in it's full 31 minutes on Super 8? I got the 400', but would love to own the full 31 minute version

Thanks

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on January 27, 2015, 01:22 PM:

That's a good one. Looking at IMDB The 400ft is probley correct at the time, a restored version at 30 minutes came out.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on January 27, 2015, 01:33 PM:

Hi Vidar
I've got the 16mm version (800') but I don't think it's 31mins long. What scenes do you think are missing on your 8mm version?

Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on January 27, 2015, 01:45 PM:

I don't know. Not seen it before today but saw imdb listed it at 31 minutes

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on January 27, 2015, 02:05 PM:

There are several 31 minute versions on YouTube.

Apparently this was originally meant to be a three reeler, but Roach re-cut it to two reels for theatrical release. A work print of the full film was discovered in the mid 1980s: probably too late to have been released on Super-8.

You have inspired me: I think I'll watch my Blackhawk tonight! I spent a couple of hours shoveling snow this afternoon , it kind of fits the day I've had.

Posted by Mathew James (Member # 4581) on January 27, 2015, 05:56 PM:

Yeah, I have the 400' Blackhawk as well.
What is missing is the 'letter' sequence. The part where Laurel gets a note basically saying to ditch his friendship with ollie if he wants the inheritance.
Cheers,
Matt

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on January 28, 2015, 05:25 AM:

I quote from "The Films of Laurel & Hardy" by Mark Potts and Dave Shephard.

"The idea for this film was taken from their earlier silent, "Angora Love" (1929.) Due to a disagreement (?) with MGM, this was to be the last multi-lingual Laurel and Hardy picture, with future releases again reverting to be dubbed.

"Laughing Gravy" along with "Be Big" plus additional material were all incorporated to produce a feature-length picture, with the French version entitled "Les Carottiers (Germaine de Neel as Mrs Hardy) running for six reels.

The slightly longer Spanish version was called "Los Calaveras" (Linda Loredo as Ollie's wife.)

An extant third reel was filmed but deleted in the English version."

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on January 31, 2015, 12:38 AM:

As Steve mentioned, the film was released as a 2 reeler. After Blackhawk Films had closed its doors, David Shepard who is the owner of The Blackhawk Films Library had released the missing 3rd Spanish speaking reel of Laughing Gravy in 16mm through his company: Film Preservation Associates.

Shepard bought the Blackhawk Film Library from Republic Pictures, after Republic discontinued the film component of their business in 1987.

FPA specialized in 16mm titles and early on, they re-tread some of the 8mm Laurel and Hardy Blackhawk titles. The sale of 8mm was short lived and 16mm titles were available until 2007.

Aside from the 3rd missing reel, FPA released an uncut 16mm version of Pack Up Your Troubles.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on January 31, 2015, 05:44 AM:

The spanish third reel of Laughing Gravy,in super 8, was imported,by Perry,in England for a time,and I bought it, and of course,spliced it to my copy of the Blackhawk version.I believe it originally had a piece of paper with the dialogue translation,(the reel is mostly dialogue),but this import did not. I believe it is rare now.In all the years since,I have rarely seen it in second hand lists.

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