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| Joe McDoakes (63 SHORTS) (6 DVD Set) | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 3 2009, 08:28 PM (326 Views) | |
| Cartoonguy | Oct 3 2009, 08:28 PM Post #1 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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From the Warner Brothers Archive Collection; http://www.wbshop.com/Joe-McDoakes-+63-SHORTS+EST-MOD/1000115110,default,pd.html?cgid=ZARCHIVEALL#FullDesc |
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| Laughing Gravy | Oct 5 2009, 05:03 AM Post #2 |
Revered in the UK
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This set is on its way to me... It's going to be tough to review. I have to admit, I rarely find these particular shorts funny. |
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| CliffClaven | Oct 6 2009, 12:09 AM Post #3 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Any word on Robert Benchley? |
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| shelbyvinje | Oct 7 2009, 02:33 PM Post #4 |
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Ordered my set today, along with the OUR GANG box set as well. I find the shorts very funny depending on which years. The earliest were slow, then they got fast paced and clever and very funny. You have to ignore the later ones that, like many comedy film short series, start to fade off the track. |
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| AndyFish | Oct 8 2009, 06:57 AM Post #5 |
Movie Watcha Foist Class
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I'm going to hold out for the deluxe release, which includes an expandable net and suicide hotline number-- after watching just one Joe McDoake I usually have the urge to toss myself out an open window-- I can't imagine the reaction to 63~! |
| www.hebsandfish.com | |
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| Shemp | Oct 9 2009, 11:19 PM Post #6 |
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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The Robert Benchley Collection was announced earlier this week. As of today, it's not yet in the Warner Archives' "new releases," but it has been off-and-on listed on the "pre-order" webpage over the past few days. |
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| CliffClaven | Oct 9 2009, 11:38 PM Post #7 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Finally. Now I can refocus my frustration on the Laurel & Hardy shorts . . . |
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| Laughing Gravy | Oct 10 2009, 05:10 AM Post #8 |
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Revered in the UK
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Inasmuch as every time I talk to anybody from Warners I beg, plead, and cajole for Benchley, I demand partial credit for their release. What it says over there: A satirist and humorist, Robert Benchley was part of the famous legendary group of writers that held court at New York’s legendary Algonquin Hotel in the 1920s, which also included Dorothy Parker and Alexander Woolcott. Benchley eventually came out to Hollywood to do write screenplays, but his persona was too irresistible not to be placed in front of the camera. He soon found his way into supporting roles in features, when almost on a whim, MGM got the idea to give him his own series of short subjects. The first of these, entitled HOW TO SLEEP went on to win an Academy Award®. Benchley continued appearing in both features and shorts until his untimely death in 1944. While he is fondly remembered as one of Hollywood’s great character actors, his MGM short subjects have earned him a special endearment among film fans. With all 30 of the one reel shorts that Benchley made at Metro between 1935 and 1944 included in this Warner Archive collection release, fans will celebrate the first-ever comprehensive collection making their home video debut. |
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| shelbyvinje | Oct 14 2009, 02:50 AM Post #9 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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The Joe McDoakes came in yesterday and I immediately tore into them and began watching them. I did what everyone should do, start with disc three and enjoy. The earliest shorts (disc one) wouldn't be as funny, but he was at his prime mid-way point. His humor is more satire and less slapstick, but it's still funny. Watching him get a speeding ticket and shout in court he's not guilty and the newspaper herald the front page headline "Stop Light" McDoakes Jailed is too funny. Or when he's trying to be an actor and trying out for a role that the producer spends no time of interest other than playing cards, makes Joe read line after line, and then says "you won't do. You're too tall for the part." Or my favorite, when the narrator asked at the end of one short if his wife ever got even with her husband for the dirty prank he pulled on her, and she turns to the camera and says "I sure did. Three times." And the short closes with the sound of three crying babies. He was able to find a situation and add all the elements of humor that could be found at the scene. Willard Waterman, Harold Peary and Fred Clarke seems to appear almost as often as regulars. But the lead star, George O'Hanlon, aka Joe McDoakes, has that voice that makes me picture George Jetson -- and I always wondered if they named the cartoon character after the actor. |
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| rodney | Oct 14 2009, 04:28 AM Post #10 |
Charter Member
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They probably remind you of each other because O'Hanlon voiced George Jetson. |
| Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer! | |
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| Laughing Gravy | Oct 15 2009, 05:13 AM Post #11 |
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Revered in the UK
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So You Want to Give Up Smoking (1942) A relatively straight 1-reeler on the problems of nicotine addiction and some tips on how to quit smoking, done silent with Art Gilmore narration in the style, more or less, of a Pete Smith Speciality. George O'Hanlon is the guy who wants to quit, but doesn't have much luck. I always liked this short very much, although most fans prefer later films in this series - thethis 1-reeler proved so popular that Warner Bros. created a series of "So you want to" films that ran for years, all starring O'Hanlon. The film appears very cheaply made, which couldn't have hurt Warners' decision to turn it into a full-fledged series. |
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11:58 PM Nov 26
