TCM (man, I love that station) is honoring the Hal Roach Studio all month long, especially on Tuesdays. Tonight they will be running Our Gang two-reelers all night, starting with prime time.
Even better is next Tuesday, with a full night of Laurel & Hardy shorts. I place The Boys above all other screen comics, and their shorts are their best stuff (although the features Sons of the Desert and Way Out West are classics). For whatever reason, most of the shorts have never been released here in the states. I have bought what was out there over the years, but eventually saw that I assume was a copy of the comprehensive British release of their stuff, and grabbed that set. In any case, I implore anyone interested in film to catch some of the L&H stuff next week, and you could certainly do worse than to spend a few hours tonight watching the Rascals.
UPDATE: That Miss Crabtree sure is purty!
UPDATE II: Petey is the best dog ever!
UPDATE III: Man, you forget how grim some of these early shorts were. Hitting a kid is such a big deal now, and in a lot of these, there is borderline abuse going on. Also, the poverty is definitely often Depression-level. Still, the good kids always win in the end.
