Reviews

THE SLAPHAPPY COLLECTION

Reviewed by Paul Fitzpatrick November, 2004 for Classic Images

A series of DVDs available at www.slaphappycomedies.com   Distributed by Fishigan Films. Executive producers: Paul Lisy and Larry Stefan. 11 volumes featuring 30 episodes plus a feature-length sampler.

There are few things more enjoyable to watch than silent comedies -- those surreal flights of fancy which leave us laughing breathlessly with their ingenious, spectacular gags, chases and stunts, often defying gravity and all other limits of the real world. Some of the best moments are brought together in the recently-produced half-hour series SlapHappy, which has aired on several PBS stations as well as overseas. These DVDs, sold separately, include hundreds of clips with dozens of comedians. You name 'em, they're probably here. Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton and Langdon, as well as Fatty Arbuckle, Snub Pollard, Lupino Lane, Ben Turpin, Max Linder, Mabel Normand and more. Ever hear of Jack Duffy ("the teeth were his loss, the comedy our gain"), or circus performer Poodles Haniford? They're here too, as well as supporting players like Bud Jamison, Slim Summerville, Al St. John, Martha Sleeper and Anita Garvin. Even seasoned fans may see comedians they never saw before.

The show includes narration by Sam Charles, written by Richard M. Roberts and Larry Stefan, which provide great insight and historical background on the films and artists. Circa 1920's-vintage tunes are played in the background by such bands as Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Paris Washboard, Jazz Band of Boston and others. The music isn't custom-scored to the films, but sound and picture are brought together by well-done and often hilarious sound effects, which bring to life every crash, splash, whack, fall, dog bark, locomotive, etc.

There's a 90-minute feature which is made up of clips from the episodes, and 10 volumes with 3 episodes each. Each episode is tied to a theme, such as "Hollywood Spoofs," "Comediennes," "Funshops" and "More Funshops." Chaplin, Keaton, Larry Semon, Charley Chase and Our Gang get their own half-hours. There are two shows devoted to Mack Sennett's work, and one each on the studios of Hal Roach, Al Christie and Educational. There's a show about the early solo works of Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy before they got together. (I know the music was put in arbitrarily, but shouldn't the tune "Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia" accompany a Hardy clip rather than a Laurel clip?) This show includes the boys' first joint appearance in 1921'sThe Lucky Dog.

These clips, all presumedly public domain, include some of the greatest examples of what is called "unparallelled richness in visual comedy." There's of course Buster Keaton running from the entire police force in Cops. There are three humongous comedians known as A Ton of Fun trying to build a house, which of course is entirely wrecked. In another clip, a hot-air balloon airlifts a house, inside of which are Billy Bevan, Andy Clyde and Jackie the Lion! We also have Cliff Bowes' bed hovering over a high cliff, and Stan Laurel working in a laundry amidst a colossal deluge of soapy water. Billy Bevan's wild polo game spills out into the street and into somebody's home, and Larry Semon and Monty Banks both offer us frantic chases atop moving trains. Repo man Lloyd Hamilton tosses a deadbeat family's belongings out the window, and Lige Conley's cab hops up and down due to kangaroos in the back seat!! You've got to see it to believe it.

Subtle humor is not exactly emphasized in this collection, but among the less frantic moments are Buster Keaton waiting on a bread line (behind two store dummies!), and Harry Langdon getting caught hiding money from his wife. A touching moment from Chaplin's The Immigrant is described as having been "brave and groundbreaking," and surrounded as it is by all this wackiness, you can see why! Other highlights: a glimpse of Ziegfeld Follies comedian Bert Williams, W.C. Fields (in Sally of the Sawdust), young Arthur Trimble as Buster Brown, little Mary Ann Jackson and her elephant friend in a Smith Family comedy, and early examples of "surreal" comedy (A Trip to the Moon, Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend).

These extremely enjoyable shows can be watched any time you need some belly-laughs and have a half-hour to kill. And happily, this is good, clean comedy that you can introduce to your kids. A brief scene with Al Christie's studio cuties "half-dressed" actually shows nothing more than legs; the girls are dressed more modestly than what you often see on the street nowadays. Whatever violence there is is somewhat cartoony and unreal. (Charley Chase's comedy is described as being "more humane" -- ironically during a scene depicting a mobfight which culminates in a shower of bricks being hurled, knocking everyone out!!)

There are a few omissions, however. Laurel & Hardy's later 1920's films, all under copyright, couldn't be included and are conspicuous by their absence. Max Davidson has just about the same problem, although he is seen in a Dorothy DeVore comedy (but is not identified). Less understandable is why Jimmie Finlayson is only seen very briefly in two episodes; he should've been featured in the "Supporting Comics" show. I think little Malcolm (Big Boy) Sebastian should've gotten more footage. John Bunny and Flora Finch are seen in stills but not in any clips.

As for errors: The narrator refers to "Frank L. Baum" instead of L. Frank Baum as the author of The Wizard of Oz, which was adapted by Larry Semon for a film (no clips, though). Edna Purviance's name is mispronounced, and I've never heard the name of Buster Brown's dog, Tige, pronounced the way the narrator says it.

Print quality naturally varies from OK to excellent, but they're all delightful. All episodes have their own selection menu, and you can access every clip, no matter how short. There's an option of playing the shows without narration, which would take many clips out of context. You can also hit 'Play All,' but not every volume actually plays all when you hit it.

Not in stores, this series is available through the website www.slaphappycomedies.com where you can find a listing of episodes and contents. Each DVD is $19.95, and if you buy 3 or more volumes, you get the feature for free. If you buy the whole set, it's $149.95. Shipping is $2 per order. Checks or money orders can be sent to SlapHappy Collection, 2266 Daisy Lane, La Canada, CA 91011. You can also call 866-242-0328 for more information.