- Mass Market Paperback: 173 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd (Dec 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452257247
- ISBN-13: 978-0452257245
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.5 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,802,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'Remarkable ... positively miraculous... apart from the rather greedy wish for more of everything, it is difficult to see how this book could be improved upon.'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
This delightful biography conveys the warmth and humour of the much-loved duo whose hilarious escapades convulsed a generation of movie-goers and who continue to acquire new worldwide audiences via the medium of television. Describing the book as 'positively miraculous', the Times Literary Supplement was moved to add 'it is difficult to see how this book could be improved upon'.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wish they'd put Stan and Ollie back on TV to show another generation how wonderful these two are. There's no doubt that they remain as funny today as they did back in their prime. I'm a big fan and have many of their DVD's. I wanted to know about the duo and this book informed me greatly.
Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy is a riveting biography of the two men. It took me only a few hours to get through. It concentrates mostly on Stanley who was the creative genius behind the pair, but this only heightens interest in the chapter on Ollie, which is written in interview form. I liked the way the book started with Laurel failing miserably on his first attempt at performing, with his Dad in attendance. His perseverence was incredible as he subbed for Chaplin during the early days before hard work and the luck to be partnered with Mr Hardy, finally garnered him some success.
The book, written after many interviews with Stan, has got a very appealing narrative. We get insights into the making of their films, answering questions about how the pair came together and how most of their routines got started. It's very enlightening.
What I found most surprising was the undercurrent of emotion throughout. Its author obviously had a wonderful adoration for the pair and Stan, while speaking to him is very nostalgic about the past. I love the parts where Stan met Chaplin after many years, after they both had made it. And where, years after their filmic success, when they were touring Europe, the church bells in Cobh played out their theme tune.
If you have any interest in Laurel and Hardy, you must get this book.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this isn't the most detailed or in-depth biography of the best comedy team in the world, but it is the perfect place to start.
john mccabe was quite well acquainted with laurel and hardy, so his research for his book has been done very professionally.
he first met them in the 50s during L and H's extensive tour of England. mccabe was corresponding with both of them afterwards, in which he gradually pieced together his information that became this book. hence, you will notice the word " authorized" on the front of the book. all the right people were interviewed that knew or worked with laurel and hardy.
it is interesting to note that the author concentrates more on the men themselves rather than just the films. i think that balances the entire proceedings very well.
upon publication, this was the first of many books of all different kinds, even those that covered the team's solo careers, their British tours etc.
to the best of my knowledge, this book has rarely gone out of print which must surely say something about its popularity.
john mccabe increased his output by writing seperate biographies about the team; stan laurel came first, the book was published originally in 1975; the book about oliver hardy came out much later in 1989.
but this book is highly recommended as a starting point for those who either haven't heard of laurel and hardy or simply haven't read much about them. enjoy.
john mccabe was quite well acquainted with laurel and hardy, so his research for his book has been done very professionally.
he first met them in the 50s during L and H's extensive tour of England. mccabe was corresponding with both of them afterwards, in which he gradually pieced together his information that became this book. hence, you will notice the word " authorized" on the front of the book. all the right people were interviewed that knew or worked with laurel and hardy.
it is interesting to note that the author concentrates more on the men themselves rather than just the films. i think that balances the entire proceedings very well.
upon publication, this was the first of many books of all different kinds, even those that covered the team's solo careers, their British tours etc.
to the best of my knowledge, this book has rarely gone out of print which must surely say something about its popularity.
john mccabe increased his output by writing seperate biographies about the team; stan laurel came first, the book was published originally in 1975; the book about oliver hardy came out much later in 1989.
but this book is highly recommended as a starting point for those who either haven't heard of laurel and hardy or simply haven't read much about them. enjoy.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
`Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy' is billed as an affectionate biography and so it is, it has no detail of the personnel life of the two stars, unsavoury or otherwise, and concentrates on a professional biography of the pairs film work with a brief pre-meeting biography. When the book gets going it is merely a summarisation of the films the pair were working on and a bit of background on some of the better known ones.
The book is a success because it brings to mind scenes from the films which then play out in the mind of the reader recapturing a sense of the hilarity when the films first were watched by the reader. In that this book is fantastic for anyone with a familiarity to the films of Laurel and Hardy but would bring nothing to a casual reader with only passing knowledge of there films.
Being fortunate enough to have a great wealth of knowledge of the films of messes Laurel and Hardy I enjoyed reminiscing with McCabe but wouldn't recommend this book to anyone wishing to discover the delight of these great comedies from new.
The book is a success because it brings to mind scenes from the films which then play out in the mind of the reader recapturing a sense of the hilarity when the films first were watched by the reader. In that this book is fantastic for anyone with a familiarity to the films of Laurel and Hardy but would bring nothing to a casual reader with only passing knowledge of there films.
Being fortunate enough to have a great wealth of knowledge of the films of messes Laurel and Hardy I enjoyed reminiscing with McCabe but wouldn't recommend this book to anyone wishing to discover the delight of these great comedies from new.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very readable
Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy is a very well written, eminently readable, if somewhat straightforward account of the lives of the great comedians. Read more
Published 22 months ago by bexdad1
A must read for anyone who loves Stan and Ollie
A marvellous delight and fascinating insight into the lives of two of the 20th Century's great talents. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2000
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