| Original language: |
English (ENG) |
 | | Description: | These sexy, pre-code two-reel comedies showcasing Thelma Todd's timeless beauty and impeccable comedic ability. That wowed audiences during the Depression, tickling their funny bones as well. The vivacious, talented, and lovely Thelma Todd was Hal Roach's top female comedian, who in her short 29-year lifetime graced over 100 films. This collection brings together all of the films from her collaboration with Zasu Pitts, a veteran character actress with wonderful comedy timing and delightful comedic gestures who proves a fine comic foil for the blonde beauty. These two-reel short comedies also feature the wonderful Hal Roach stock company of comedians: Billy Gilbert, James C. Morton, Charlie Hall, Anita Garvin, Bud Jamison, and others, as well as special collaborations with other top Hal Roach stars like Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase. The shorts: 1931: Let's Do Things, Catch-As Catch-Can, The Pajama Party, War Mamas, On The Loose - 1932: Sealskins, Red Noses, Strictly Unreliable, The Old Bull, Show Business, Alum and Eve, The Soilers, Sneak Easily - 1933: Asleep In the Feet, Maids a La Mode, The Bargain of the Century, One Track Minds"Hal Roach Collection 1931-33" on DVD from KIT PARKER FILMS presents a curated selection of classic comedy shorts and features from one of Hollywood's most influential producers of the early sound era. These films capture the transition from silent slapstick to witty dialogue-driven humor between 1931 and 1933 and showcase the trademark blend of fast-paced gags, sharp timing and warm, human characters that made Hal Roach Studios world-famous. Viewers can expect crisp restorations (within the limits of surviving materials) and a historically important overview of studio comedy at the height of the Depression-era Hollywood boom.
KIT PARKER FILMS is known among classic-film aficionados as a specialist label dedicated to preserving and releasing vintage cinema, with a particular emphasis on studio comedies, early sound features and obscure catalog titles. The company focuses on careful film sourcing, restoration from archival elements where possible, and the presentation of rare titles that are often unavailable elsewhere. Their releases aim to respect original aspect ratios, soundtracks and artwork, while providing film lovers and collectors with access to historically significant works that might otherwise be lost or forgotten.
This collection centers on the creative output associated with producer Hal Roach, whose studio helped define American screen comedy. While the exact contents of this specific set are not detailed here, Hal Roach's 1931-33 period is closely associated with performers such as the legendary duo Laurel and Hardy, as well as other popular comedy ensembles of the time. Roach's studio became synonymous with tightly constructed two-reel comedies, naturalistic performances and a focus on character-driven humor rather than purely acrobatic slapstick. His influence extended far beyond his own productions, shaping the evolution of film comedy and inspiring later television and film creators.
Key creative figures traditionally linked with Hal Roach productions include comedians like Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, who revolutionized the comedy duo dynamic with their mix of physical humor, subtle reactions and character-based storytelling; they are celebrated for landmarks of film comedy that remain widely acclaimed as some of the greatest shorts and features in cinema history. Hal Roach himself stands as a pioneering producer, a "laugh factory" innovator whose studio provided a training ground for writers, directors and actors and whose body of work from the early 1930s is regarded as a cornerstone of classic Hollywood comedy. This DVD collection, issued by KIT PARKER FILMS, is therefore aimed at collectors, film historians and anyone interested in experiencing the artistry and timing that made Roach's studio comedies enduring favorites. | | | Actors: |
Thelma Todd, Gus Meins |
| | Director: |
Marshall Neilan |
| | Age rating: |
Suitable only for adults |
| | Manufacturer No.: |
KTP35066DVD |
| Product Safety
Responsible Person for the EU:
Ten Dance Media GmbH
Wolfener Straße 32-34, 12681 Berlin, DE
gpsr@tendance.de | |
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