Salute to Stan Laurel (1965)
** (out of 4)
Dick Van Dyke hosts this tribute to Stan Laurel who had died earlier in the year. A great number of legends showed up to pay tribute to the comedy legend including Buster Keaton, Lucille Ball, Gregory Peck, Bob Newhart, Cesar Romero, Audrey Meadows, Phil Silvers, Fred Gqynne and Danny Kaye among others.
I'm sure everyone involved with this production had their hearts in the right place but the end result is rather disastrous and at times embarrassing. There are some really bad musical numbers done here, which are meant to be charming and a homage to the old days of cinema but they just come across as stupid and unintelligent. There are some comedy bits that are meant to pay homage to Laurel and Hardy but they're just not funny. Yes, it's cool getting to see Keaton and Ball work together (with BLAZING SADDLE's Harvey Korman) but the skit just wasn't funny.
There are clips from a handful of silent Laurel and Hardy films shown but certainly not enough. With the various talents involved this is still worth watching if you're a fan of Laurel but at the same time you can't help but walk away from it very disappointed.
** (out of 4)
Dick Van Dyke hosts this tribute to Stan Laurel who had died earlier in the year. A great number of legends showed up to pay tribute to the comedy legend including Buster Keaton, Lucille Ball, Gregory Peck, Bob Newhart, Cesar Romero, Audrey Meadows, Phil Silvers, Fred Gqynne and Danny Kaye among others.
I'm sure everyone involved with this production had their hearts in the right place but the end result is rather disastrous and at times embarrassing. There are some really bad musical numbers done here, which are meant to be charming and a homage to the old days of cinema but they just come across as stupid and unintelligent. There are some comedy bits that are meant to pay homage to Laurel and Hardy but they're just not funny. Yes, it's cool getting to see Keaton and Ball work together (with BLAZING SADDLE's Harvey Korman) but the skit just wasn't funny.
There are clips from a handful of silent Laurel and Hardy films shown but certainly not enough. With the various talents involved this is still worth watching if you're a fan of Laurel but at the same time you can't help but walk away from it very disappointed.