#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine movie#
#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine full#
#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine tv#

They were obviously fortunate in the natural comic contrast in their relative body shapes – in some countries they are simply referred to as, ‘The Fat One and the Thin One’. They were masters of physical comedy who unashamedly used every music hall and pantomime device available to them to draw us into their comic universe. Every Laurel and Hardy film is a testament to how sweet the human spirit can be. This was founded on the simple love they had for each other leading them to offer everyone they met goodwill and friendship. Stan and Ollie survived being surrounded by a society that thought them nothing but fools because between them they had something more precious than gold – a natural charm and dignity which survived every catastrophe unscathed. Not an innocence born of ignorance of the world but rather the innocence of guileless uncorrupted souls who glided through this vale of tears mildly baffled by the energy invested in the ambition fuelled grandiose plans and schemes that the rest of us consider so essential to our lives. Laurel and Hardy were innocents abroad in this wicked world. I’ll be very surprised if just the mention of their names or a glance at the image above hasn’t already altered your mood for the better and got all the myriad muscles involved in producing a smile toned up and ready for action.Īnd, just to confirm the mood here’s their instantly recognisable theme tune, ‘The Dance Of The Cuckoos’ written by the heroically hardworking in house composer at Hal Roach Studios, Marvin Hatley.

My guides on this path are the blessed shades of the greatest comedic partnership in the history of entertainment: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Instead, today at least, despite or because of being somewhat more than in the middle of life I’m taking the other path through the thorny wood – the path illuminated by the gentle light of humour. I suppose I could accept that this world is condemned and lay back listening to the hoot owl’s despairing elegy for a fallen world.

#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine full#

But for me it will always be L&H's song and every time I hear it, it makes me smile.Sometimes it seems the world is so full of war, pestilence and strife that no amount of lamentation can ever be sufficient.ĭaily, we near drown in a deluge of news pouring out outrage after outrage – with each man made or natural disaster confirming that power and greed and corruptible seed seem to be all that there is.

#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine movie#

I had a look up and found out that this is a much older song than the 1937 movie it featured in, it was first published in 1913 inspired by a book of the same name. The clever way Stan swaps between the deep and high voices is so comical, but the staging of the backing, particularly the backing voices is really cool and adds such a warmth to the song. As a stand alone song, I think it's magical, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia on the trail of the lonesome pine, what an image that conjures up. Laurel and Hardy join in, take over and turn it into a routine. It's part of the plot that our heroes end up in a bar where a bunch of cowboys start singing this tune. Then there is this song, randomly featured in their movie, ' Way Out West'.

#Laurel the trail of the lonesome pine tv#

The great expressions and banter between them is perfection, even as a kid I loved watching their black and white short films which used to be shown on TV during the kids school holidays.

I love the real Laurel and Hardy, they make me laugh, their slap stick antics are my sense of humour. Reilly performances as the comedy legends are remarkable. It's actually a very poignant film showing the usual anti climax of all the big stars of yesterday careers, they fall out of favour and are often cast adrift. It tells the tale of when Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, the brilliant vintage comedy duo did a tour of Ireland and the UK in their later years. The film ' Stan and Ollie' is on TV tonight. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine – Laurel & Hardy