Carl Schenstrøm and Harald Madsen were the leading pair of 'Fat and Skinny' comedians in the movie world until Laurel and Hardy came along. While their characters never shed their movie-comic trappings -- ill fitting costumes, weird mustaches and bad hats -- they remained enormously popular and continued making films until 1940 -- two years after their first and best director, Lau Lauritzen Sr. died and two years before Schenstrom, the skinny one died.
Kinowelt, which has had success with its Laurel & Hardy DVD set, has produced a seven-DVD set of the comedies, under the name "Pat und Patachon", the name they were known under in Germany. I have issues. The versions are cut down (this one is 42 minutes instead of the original run time of 80 minutes) and a voice over tells you what is going on -- in German, which, alas, I do not speak. These are apparently TV versions made in the late 1960s or early 1970s and it is difficult to judge what is missing -- although a lot of the continuity is definitely lost.
SPOILER: PLOT POINTS REVEALED The good news is that the acting and direction can take it. The set up is clear: a studio's two leading actors are giving the producer a lot of trouble, so he brings in Pat and Patachon to to make the film instead. What was intended to be a serious western turns out to be a disaster, but the audience thinks it is a comedy and success is insured.
Although the situation and gags are strongly constructed and the movie is a lot of fun, the lead comics are a bit too one-noted and dour to hold your interest. Still, the overall effect is strong and if I would not have chosen this movie to start off the collection, it still has its lively points of interest, sliding the fellows in on a strong start. They work their way into character in later offerings in the series, which is a good addition to the collection of any fan of silent comedy.
Kinowelt, which has had success with its Laurel & Hardy DVD set, has produced a seven-DVD set of the comedies, under the name "Pat und Patachon", the name they were known under in Germany. I have issues. The versions are cut down (this one is 42 minutes instead of the original run time of 80 minutes) and a voice over tells you what is going on -- in German, which, alas, I do not speak. These are apparently TV versions made in the late 1960s or early 1970s and it is difficult to judge what is missing -- although a lot of the continuity is definitely lost.
SPOILER: PLOT POINTS REVEALED The good news is that the acting and direction can take it. The set up is clear: a studio's two leading actors are giving the producer a lot of trouble, so he brings in Pat and Patachon to to make the film instead. What was intended to be a serious western turns out to be a disaster, but the audience thinks it is a comedy and success is insured.
Although the situation and gags are strongly constructed and the movie is a lot of fun, the lead comics are a bit too one-noted and dour to hold your interest. Still, the overall effect is strong and if I would not have chosen this movie to start off the collection, it still has its lively points of interest, sliding the fellows in on a strong start. They work their way into character in later offerings in the series, which is a good addition to the collection of any fan of silent comedy.
