Comedy duo Laurel and Hardy are returning to cinema screens across the UK. The special screenings of two Laurel and Hardy films are to commemorate 125 years since the birth of Stan Laurel.
Stan was British and was born in Ulverston, Cumbria.
The two classic Laurel and Hardy films that will be part of the special screenings are Sons of the Desert, made in 1933, and County Hospital, which is a short movie the pair made.
The screenings have been organised by The Laurel and Hardy Roadshow an organisation that promotes the vintage comedy duo.
The commemoration showings have been supported by numerous high-profile comedians including Ricky Gervais, John Cleese, Steve Martin and Frank Skinner.
Ricky commented that everything should be done to preserve the comedy duo.
Lots of the towns which originally hosted Laurel and Hardy back in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, are all showing the special commemoration screenings. Laurel and Hardy made several trips to the UK and Ireland, and toured around various cities. (The Telegraph)
Altogether Laurel and Hardy made more than 105 films together.
The last time Laurel and Hardy were back in the public eye was 40 years ago when had a UK chart hit with Trail Of The Lonesome Pine in 1975. Now it is hoped that the screenings will encourage fans and families to attend the cinema so that they can see Laurel and Hardy on the big screen, as they were originally intended to be seen.
The screenings will begin at the beginning of June in Liverpool, and will continue throughout June in Peterborough, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Bristol, Coventry, Nottingham, Bluewater Kent and Glasgow. It is expected that more showings will be announced in the run up to June.
Stan Laurel was British and born in 1890, while Oliver Hardy was American and was born in 1892. The duo had separately had successful film careers before they even met, and it wasn’t until 1927 that the pair were finally put together to make the movie Putting Pants on Philip.
They continued to make movies together until 1950, and then made a final television appearance when they were taken by surprise on This is Your Life.
Hardy died in 1957 and Laurel died in 1965.