Harry Langdon: At Hal Roach: The Talkies, 1929-1930 - DVD

After falling from Hollywood stardom at the end of the Silent Era, quirky silent film comedian Harry Langdon made not only his first talking films, but also his first screen comeback with a series of eight two-reelers for comedy producer Hal Roach. This pre-code series offers an interesting and entertaining look at what critic James Agee referred to as Langdon's Inchbaby dope fiendInch characterization, presented for the only time in sound as the undiluted comic creation he made famous in silent films. Langdon had developed a strange, stream-of-consciousness vocal patter in vaudeville, as showcased here. With another fifteen years to go in talkies after he made these shorts, Harry Langdon would never again deliver to films full-force his truly bizarre humor. Along for the ride is the beautiful comedienne Thelma Todd in some of her earliest film appearances at the Lot of Fun, as well as others from the Hal Roach Stock Company like Edgar Kennedy and Max Davidson. This is Harry Langdon at his most surreal. 1929 InchHotter Than Hot,Inch InchSky Boy,Inch InchSkirt ShyInch; 1930 InchThe Head GuyInch, InchThe Fighting Parson,Inch InchThe Big Kick,Inch InchThe Shrimp,Inch InchThe KingInch Bonus InchLa estación de gasolinaInch (Spanish language version of InchThe Big KickInch); InchHal Roach Presents Harry LangdonInch (1929); InchHal Roach Studio AuctionInch (1963); Commentary by Richard M. Roberts; Photo Gallery; Supplemental music composed and performed by Andrew Earle Simpson