Laurel & Hardy - Early Silent Classics, Volume 3 (DVD)

Laurel and Hardy ('The Boys' as they are affectionately known) are the most recognized comedy duo the cinema has produced. The film that introduced them as the "Stan and Ollie" characters we know so well today was 1927's Do Detectives Think?. Before that, Stan Laurel (from England) and Oliver Hardy (from America) had long solo careers, as this collection of rare and hilarious comedies shows.

Hardy entered movies in 1913, Laurel in 1917. Stan often played sharp-witted types, and Ollie "heavies" or villains (often with comics Billy West or Larry Semon). By the mid-1920's, both were employed at the Roach Studios, still playing different roles, with Laurel also gag-writing and even directing Charley Chase, James Finlayson, Our Gang - and Oliver Hardy!

Producer Hal Roach played "comic roulette," teaming his stars in the hopes of hitting box office gold. The Boys make their first appearance together in Lucky Dog, but it will be another ten years before they truly become a team. This collection showcases the comic genius of two great performers on the road to fame - Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy.

Short Kilts (1924) with Stan Laurel, James Finlayson: The clans collide when the McPhersons invite the McGregors over for supper. Trouble starts between Stan and Fin over a game of musical chairs... nothing a bowl of haggis and a punch in the eye can't fix!

Smithy (1924) with Stan Laurel, James Finlayson: After being discharged from the army, Smithy (Stan) gets a job building houses. Construction becomes destruction when his old sergeant (Finlayson) shows up!

Along Came Auntie (1926) with Oliver Hardy, Vivien Oakland: Talk about desperate housewives! Deeply in debt, Vivien rents a room to Ollie, her first husband. When her rich, divorce-hating aunt turns up, her ex and current hubbies are at each other's throats, and nothing she does can hide her past.

The Stolen Jools (1931) with Laurel and Hardy: A Hollywood "who's who"! Along with Buster Keaton, Joe E. Brown and many others, The Boys (by now established in their familiar characters of "Stan and Ollie") are detectives - and arrive on the scene with their classic "demolished automobile" gag.

Home Movies (1938): Before home video, there was 16mm film, and Stan was an early 'home movie' enthusiast. Here are rare glimpses of his daughter at home and friends on the Hal Roach lot, including Babe out of character!

The Tree In A Test Tube (1943) with Pete Smith as Narrator: To help the war effort, The Boys made this public service announcement the year they did "Jitterbugs" and "The Dancing Masters" for 20th Century Fox. Theatre-goers learned everything they always wanted to know about - wood products!

• comedy