The Golden Age of Comedy (1957)

Dwight Weist: Narrator

Quotes 

• Narrator : Movie fans still fondly remember such daring innovations as the Mack Sennett bathing beauties, in whose ranks, many a star was born and who did so much to liberate the American woman from the Mother Hubbard bathing suit.

• Narrator : Mack Sennett's arch rival was Hal Roach who late in the 20s unveiled an immortal team: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Ironically, as individual comedians, Laurel and Hardy, had been around since the movies early days. Laurel had once starred, but, had been reduced to feature player. Hardy had never risen above supporting roles. Then in 1927 they were accidentally paired and almost overnight became the movies most popular comedy team. Stan and Oliver were never to find much favor with the critics, but the public loved them!

• Narrator : Behind the celebrants a chain forms to grow ever longer and whirl ever faster. But all things must go and soon it will be gone, as the age of flappers and flaming youth is gone. And a girl named Jane Peters, who became Carole Lombard, and who loved life so well and died so tragically.

• Narrator : Look inside that cab. Perhaps you recognize the girl. This bit player is to become one of the most publicized women in the world. Her platinum hair, exquisite figure and breezy manner are to create a new kind of movie heroine. The first of a glamorous line that includes today's Marilyn Monroe. Her name: Jean Harlow.

• Narrator : [Last lines]  The curtain lowers. The clowns depart. Hail and farewell. We will never see their like again. This is The End of a memory.

• Narrator : [First lines]  Turn back with us now. Turn back to a time when the movies were much younger and like all youthful things, full of fun and high spirits. Down that long dusty road, the clowns are coming. The great voiceless, irreplaceable clowns, who rocked the world with laughter. Most of them are gone; but, they have left their shadows behind. So, come back with us now. Come back to that time of wonderful nonsense called the Roaring 20s. Come back to The Golden Age of Comedy.

• Narrator : Slapstick... proves that motion pictures are meant to move and that action speaks louder than words.

• Narrator : Go on, urges the debonair Hardy, be bohemian!

• Narrator : Out trots the track team of fair Sunnydale College and in the ranks a girl not to be forgotten, one destined for stardom, Carole Lombard.

• Narrator : Now, the final event of the afternoon with the score tied 50 to 50. Carole's in the line up with a chance to redeem herself. The coach's pleadings ring in her ears. The will to win swells in her breast. The love for lovely ole Sunnydale beats in her heart.

• Narrator : On a hot, crowded summer Sunday, Laurel and Hardy pull out of a line of cars into what some film historians believe is one of the funniest short comedies ever made. It was produced by Hal Roach in 1928. It's supervising director was Leo McCarey, who went on to win Academy Awards for "The Awful Truth" and "Going My Way". It's photographer was George Stevens, who turned director himself and created "Shane" and "Giant". It's title was "Two Tars". Yes, that's Edgar Kennedy. Stan and Oliver as sailors on shore leave have taken up with fast women in slow traffic. We needn't say more. For like most great silent comedies, "Two Tars" speaks for itself.