The Golden Age of Comedy (1957)

A compilation of scenes featuring some of the best-known comics from the silent era in their best films.

Director:

Robert Youngson

Writers:

Robert Youngson, René Clair

Stars:

Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Will Rogers

Cast

Credited cast:
Stan Laurel	...	Stan (archive footage) (as Laurel)
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie (archive footage) (as Hardy)
Will Rogers	...	(archive footage)
Carole Lombard	...	(archive footage)
Jean Harlow	...	(archive footage)
Ben Turpin	...	Rodney St. Clair (archive footage)
Harry Langdon	...	(archive footage)
Charley Chase	...	(archive footage) (as Charlie Chase)
Billy Bevan	...	(archive footage)
Andy Clyde	...	Andy (archive footage)
Harry Gribbon	...	(archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edgar Dearing	...	Policeman at car fight (archive footage)
Madalynne Field	...	Fat Girl Track Competitor (archive footage)
Thelma Hill	...	Brunette Girlfriend (archive footage)
Madeline Hurlock	...	Circus showgirl (archive footage)

Storyline

A compilation of scenes featuring some of the best-known comics from the silent era in their best films.

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Plot Keywords:

1920s | keystone kops | tom mix spoof | compilation film | slapstick | 

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Taglines:

By Actual Laugh Count...The Funniest Film Of All Time! (original print ad)

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Genres:

Comedy | Documentary

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 1959 (France)

Also Known As:

The First Kings of Comedy

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofs The Merry Widow (1925)

User Reviews

not the best introduction to the silent clowns

This well-meant but misleading compilation celebrates the glory days of silent film comedy, for the most part through mediocre excerpts from the Max Sennett and Hal Roach Studios, which even at their peak could never match the sophistication of a Chaplin, Lloyd, or Keaton two-reeler. The repertory of Sennett and Roach gags rarely extended beyond mild parody, primitive slapstick, and artificial trick effects, giving an entirely false but lasting impression of silent comedy as nothing but frantic pratfalls and pie fights. The exception here is Laurel and Hardy, whose deliberate methods of wreaking mayhem overturned the time honored formula of fast and furious chases. Happily, the film gives them extra attention, but the majority of footage is devoted to second-rate clowns like Billy Bevan and cross-eyed Ben Turpin. Even the great Harry Langdon is represented only in a clip from a minor Sennett short which gives little indication of his unique talents, and the enthusiastic voice-over narration underlines his lackluster antics with forced wit and too many puns.