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Laurel and Hardy Film
Prints
 Over the years Laurel and Hardy film prints were made, rented and sold by various sources; Blackhawk, Film Classics, Regal, Library Films, to name but a few. The collector is always interested in knowing what is the best possible print available and this page is meant to give you some useful information in that regard. Most prints you will find are either Blackhawk or Film Classics. Many dupes of Blackhawk prints are out there, but usually a Blackhawk is an original. Depending on the title, Blackhawk manufactured different variations of these originals, such as including original logos, trademarks, etc. With respect to Blackhawks, be aware that there are often prints from several negs floating around. Early Blackhawks of ONE GOOD TURN and THE LIVE GHOST are mediocre; the latter is a direct dupe from a Film Classics 16 (with FC titles). The remade neg from both pictures are superior. Blackhawk made 8mm and 16mm prints for retail sale to the home market. Other than some early silents which were released by Pathe, L&H films were initially released to the theatrical market on 35mm by MGM . Some 16mm print downs from MGM in late 1930s may survive somewhere. "Film Classics" were struck by Roach on 35mm for the theatrical market in the early 1940's for re-release. The MGM logo was removed and a Film Classic logo substituted. The "Film Classic" negs became the source of 16mm print downs which were used for the TV showings of the 1950's. Hundreds of these 16mm original prints were struck for TV stations world wide. Many collectors prefer an original 16mm print down Film Classic to a Blackhawk. However, these original Film Classic prints became the source of all the Film Classic 16mm dupes which were made for sale to collectors in the 50s, 60's, 70's, 80's etc. So if you see a Film Classic it probably is a dupe print, whereas a Blackhawk will probably be an original. Thanks go to Ray Faiola and other members of eFilmForum for their contribution in setting out the following as the best possible prints to strive for...
UNACCUSTOMED AS WE ARE Blackhawk THEY GO BOOM Blackhawk THE HOOSEGOW Blackhawk/MGM titles MEN O' WAR Blackhawk/MGM titles THE PERFECT DAY Blackhawk NIGHT OWLS Film Classics BERTH MARKS Janus-MGM titles ANOTHER FINE MESS Regal Television LAUREL-HARDY MURDER CASE Blackhawk (remake) BRATS Film Classics BELOW ZERO Blackhawk BLOTTO Film Classics HOG WILD Janus BE BIG Blackhawk OUR WIFE Film Classics HELPMATES Blackhawk COME CLEAN Blackhawk LAUGHING GRAVY Blackhawk CHICKENS COME HOME Janus ONE GOOD TURN Blackhawk (remake) THE MUSIC BOX Blackhawk (square lettering) ANY OLD PORT Film Classics COUNTY HOSPITAL Janus SCRAM! Blackhawk (remake) THEIR FIRST MISTAKE Film Classics printdown - anything else is fair THE CHIMP Blackhawk TOWED IN A HOLE Blackhawk & Film Classics are both fine THE MIDNIGHT PATROL Janus DIRTY WORK Blackhawk/Film Classics Titles ME AND MY PAL Blackhawk (remake) BUSY BODIES Film Classics TWICE TWO Janus (has MGM titles) GOING BYE BYE Film Classics THE LIVE GHOST Blackhawk (remake) OLIVER THE EIGHTH Blackhawk THE FIXER UPPERS Janus THEM THAR HILLS Blackhawk TIT FOR TAT Blackhawk THICKER THAN WATER Blackhawk
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES Janus for quality; new Blackhawk for restored footage SONS OF THE DESERT Later Blackhawk was best printing THE DEVIL'S BROTHER Only reductions and rare MGM labs or Canadian neg originals BABES IN TOYLAND Federal Films circa 1968 printing; Erko has opening and "Slumber Deep" BONNIE SCOTLAND Only reductions and rare MGM Labs originals THE BOHEMIAN GIRL Janus (though they seemed to do a bit too much noise reduction on the soundtrack) OUR RELATIONS Blackhawk (remake) PICK A STAR Film Classics WAY OUT WEST Blackhawk (remake) BLOCK-HEADS Film Classics SWISS MISS Blackhawk SAPS AT SEA Blackhawk (remake is best quality but is missing music track from reel 4) CHUMP AT OXFORD Blackhawk 63 minute FLYING DEUCES Other than Kodak originals, Manbeck is best reduction print
** Note - All the pre-1931 sound-on-disc talkie shorts are soft focus due to re-framing when reissue negs were assigned optical tracks.
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