8mm Forum: SWISS MISS with Laurel and Hardy

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Posted by Joseph Randall (Member # 4906) on December 29, 2016, 07:01 PM:

SWISS MISS with Laurel and Hardy
Super 8 B&W magnetic sound
4x400' reels
Blackhawk

A delightful musical comedy that is funny and enjoyable, but not nearly among L&H's best. This has the feel of a "loan-out" feature rather than a Hal Roach production. The L&H "plot" alternates with the straight plot throughout its 70-plus minutes.

The print is very-very good, but just short of being excellent. It is fairly sharp, and the faces are not washed-out, but I have seen better Blackhawk L&H prints. The sound is great.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 05, 2017, 12:17 PM:

I was informed that the most "complete" print of Swiss Miss
is the one that was released by Pathescope on 9.5mm Sound.

Can anyone confirm this for me ?

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on January 05, 2017, 03:09 PM:

Whilst I always hated Walton for editing Laurel and Hardys and Tom and Jerrys this was one film I think was helped by cutting some of the crap operetta songs that Hal Roach seemed to adore and want to include in every film.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on January 06, 2017, 05:26 PM:

I think probably the most complete copy you will find is on 16mm. I have a copy and I have to agree that the storyline and operetta nonesense is rubbish, but still some great classic moments from the boys and a must for collectors of L&H.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on January 06, 2017, 05:34 PM:

My Super 8 Blackhawk print is truly excellent. I agree that it doesn't measure up to their earlier features, but it's still leagues ahead of their later Fox features which were just abysmal being that Stan Laurel's hands were tied where creative input was concerned and the boys were simply relegated to hired help simply marking time for a paycheck.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on January 07, 2017, 03:18 PM:

Totally agree Brad. A shame that they did not retire before Fox got hold of them.

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on January 07, 2017, 03:52 PM:

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on January 07, 2017, 03:53 PM:

I'm afraid they had to work to live it was only after the UK tours that they could afford to retire. Hal Roach had the film rights with the other studios so they made most of the money for original film releases and re runs. When television broadcasts came they got nothing and their work was butchered to accommodate advert breaks. Both the boys also had messy divorces particularly Stan who married on a whim which cost him dear. Stan and Babe's widow sold their likeness rights for a pittance to Bozo the Clown aka Larry Harmon in the early 1960s who made a fortune on them until his death in 2008.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on January 09, 2017, 05:01 AM:

Terry I have been informed that the 9.5mm is longer than the 16mm
print.

Although I cant verify this as I don't have a 16mm copy to compare the running times.
... Anybody !!! [Smile]

Posted by Joseph Randall (Member # 4906) on January 09, 2017, 07:43 PM:

The official running time is 72 minutes. AFAIK, Blackhawk's version is complete except for the replacement of some of the main titles.

SWISS MISS is notorious for having scenes deleted before theatrical release. I have never heard even a rumor that any of these scenes exist. The most prevalent rumor about this film is that it was shot in color -- but this is in fact not true.

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