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Babe's Early Solo Films

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 6:09 pm
by David Pickard
I am an avid Laurel & Hardy fan and collector and have been so for many years but it is only recently that I have begun to focus on Babe Hardy's early solo work; the research that I've been able to do has led me to believe that a number of his films may exist, such as -

Daddy Of Them All
Back To The Farm
She Wanted A Car
commercially
They Looked Alike

Could anyone tell me if these films do actually exist and if it is possible to see them or even get a copy of them?

And I have a second question...has anyone seen or got the original silent version of 'Berth Marks' or the sound version with the original soundtrack (not the 1936 reissue)? I believe that UCLA are working on a restoration but is this likely to see the light of day any time soon or be commercially available?

I would greatly appreciate any information anyone can provide.

Re: Babe's Early Solo Films

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:15 pm
by Richard M Roberts
David Pickard wrote:I am an avid Laurel & Hardy fan and collector and have been so for many years but it is only recently that I have begun to focus on Babe Hardy's early solo work; the research that I've been able to do has led me to believe that a number of his films may exist, such as -

Daddy Of Them All
Back To The Farm
She Wanted A Car
commercially
They Looked Alike

Could anyone tell me if these films do actually exist and if it is possible to see them or even get a copy of them?

And I have a second question...has anyone seen or got the original silent version of 'Berth Marks' or the sound version with the original soundtrack (not the 1936 reissue)? I believe that UCLA are working on a restoration but is this likely to see the light of day any time soon or be commercially available?

I would greatly appreciate any information anyone can provide.


Hello David, and welcome to the mafia.

Yes, as far as I know, those Hardy Lubins all survive, DADDY OF THEM ALL is at UCLA, we ran it at one of the Slapsticons , I have prints of both SHE WANTED A CAR and THEY LOOK ALIKE, but if you blink, you'll miss Hardy in them as he has tiny bit parts in both.

I don't believe the early version of BERTH MARKS is all that rare, I have a print with original MGM titles and the original soundtrack which has no music at all as I recall, somebody was selling those at some point, and I don't recall anyone making a big fuss about it. In fact, I thought all the Blackhawk prints were that way, they originally only had the silent version, and I don't think they released it in sound until someone recovered soundtrack discs.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Re: Babe's Early Solo Films

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 4:11 pm
by David Pickard
Hi Richard,

Thank you for your reply - most helpful and informative. It's good to know that the early version of 'Berth Marks' should be available - I'll keep a look out for a copy on Amazon and Ebay. Hopefully 'Daddy Of Them All' will become commercially available at some point, and as for 'She Wanted A Car' and 'They Look Alike' - it's a pity there isn't a collection out there with all the surviving early shorts of Babe's gathered in one place; it's the collector's curse to want to have them all even where his role was miniscule.

Once again, many thanks.

Re: Babe's Early Solo Films

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 5:37 pm
by David Denton
Here is THEY LOOKED ALIKE (Lubin 1914-1915)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDUqppCPvXo

Re: Babe's Early Solo Films

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 11:40 am
by David Pickard
Wow! Great find! Didn't expect any more replies on this - thanks very much Dave. Now the next challenge is to find a copy of 'Hats Off'!!!