Film Review: Stan and Ollie

photo: tvovermind.com

My grandchildren refer to the time when I was young as ‘the black and white days’. Hmm. When I was their age I used to thrill at the magic of Laurel and Hardy and their wonderful slapstick humour which, of course, was shot in black and white in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

So when the film Stan and Ollie - the story of the brilliant comedy duo’s latter days in the 1950s – hit the big screen last week I headed to the Vue in Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal to see if it was worthy of the publicity it has generated.

The film begins in the 1930s with the pair at the apex of their success. However, it isn’t long until it moves to the 1950s when their light is beginning to dim somewhat, and they are performing to half empty theatres in the UK as part of a tour which they hope will be the prelude to a new film. Sadly, the film comes to nothing - which Laurel can’t bring himself to tell Hardy about – and their initial lack of success in their tour brings tension between the pair.

However, audience numbers pick up but then Hardy suffers a heart attack. The end of the film tugs at the heart strings and is very powerful and moving. 

Steve Coogan plays Stan Laurel while John C. Reilly plays Oliver Hardy. Both produce quite extraordinary performances. Their mannerisms are such you can actually believe it really is Laurel and Hardy performing their slapstick routines and dances. Their wives are played by Shirley Henderson (Mrs Hardy) and Nina Arianda (Mrs Laurel)

It’s a superb film and is bound to be one of the favourites when the awards are handed out.