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Looking on eBay in the super 8 section I came across this cover for a Laurel & Hardy extract from Beau Chumps, or as google translate says ‘ Thick and stupid join the Legion’. What on earth were the distributors Piccolo thinking. It is an insult to the memories of the boys. I rather think thick and stupid applies to Piccolo rather than Laurel & Hardy!
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laurel and hardy were affectionately known in Germany as Dick and Doof,
GREECE — Xonapoe and Azsnoe; Chondros Kai Lighnos
HOLLAND — Dikke en de Dunne
HUNGARY — Stan es Pan
ICELAND — Steini og Olli
ISRAEL — Hashamen ve Haraze
ITALY — Stanlio e Ollio; also Crik e Crok
KOREA — Hol-jjug-i wa Dkung-ddung-i
KURDISTAN — Laurel u Hardy
MALTA — L-Ohxon u l-Irqiq
NORWAY — Helan og Halvan
POLAND — Flip i Flap
PORTUGAL — O Bucha e O Estica
ROMANIA — Stan si Bran
SERBIA — Stanlio i Olio
SPAIN — El Gordo y el Flaco
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Besides: "dick" in German doesn't mean "thick" in this case, but "fat".
-basically same thing as "gordo" means in Spanish.
Laurel and Hardy knew all about "Dick und Doof" back in the day. They did a great many of their films in German (phonetically) to make it possible.
Piccolo had nothing to do with it.Comment
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The only disgraceful „thing“ on the cover is the naked woman (in color!) who has got nothing to do with the movie. I wonder if they have recycled her from one of their „adult only“ products.Comment
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IE International, an Italian 8mm distributor, got rid of Stan when naming the duo!
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My guess is that some numpty dumpty thinks it will catch the eye of some weirdo and help sell it, I have no other idea as to why they would have put it on there, thick as a plank!!Comment
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Putting up again a very dated thread...
Phil, you are so right: The name "Dick und Doof" is very disgraceful - "fat" and "stupid". What a terrible "brand"!
It was obviously "invented" by Germany film distributors in the 1930s, when many people here in Germany were not familiar with the English language, and it was thought that names like "Stan Laurel" and "Oliver Hardy" were too difficult to pronounce and to remember for them.
Over the years, some attempts have been made to give the two gentlemen their true names back: In the 1960s, Atlas Film in Duisburg carefully reissued some of their movies omitting the "Dick und Doof" label. The same was true for a couple of VHS editions and the first DVD boxes sold by "Kinowelt". But now, with the reissues, I read the Dick & Doof name all over again.
This name is probably also the reason why the films are only considered children's entertainment in Germany.
Could you imagine adults with higher grades of education telling their friends: "We just watched a 'fat and stupid'-movie"?
On the other hand, I'm sure, no one would object to be presented a "Laurel & Hardy classic"...
I have also tried to introduce children to "the Boys" during our Christmas film shows for kids whithout using the "Dick & Doof" phrase. I made sure I always talked about Stan and Ollie.
But when the parents came to pick up their children, at least one of them would say: "Oh, you saw a Dick & Doof movie." It seems impossible to get rid of this disgraceful name.
The only good thing: The "brand" is so simple that even small children can remember it...
So:
The insulting "Dick & 'Doof" name is not at all an invention by Piccolo Film.
And, of course (as Joerg already said) the cover design has nothing to do with the actual film.
But I find it funny - and interesting: a combination of very childlike drawings and a sexist photo. What kind of customers did they want to address this way? It neither looks like family entertainment nor would anybody looking for "adult" content buy a Laurel & Hardy short for this purpose...
By the way: This extract has nothing to do with "Beau Chumps"; it's an excerpt of "Come Clean"...Comment
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Piccolo film produced a lot of strange designs for Stan & Ollie or Chaplin Super 8 Covers, but the print quality was mostly brilliantComment
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