Industrial Strength Keaton

Buster Keaton is universally recognized as one of the all-time greatest motion picture comedians. Today, over 75 years after his last silent film was made, those contributions still reign supreme as masterworks from the golden era of slapstick comedy. 

Now, Laughsmith Entertainment presents another facet of The Great Stone Face, providing fans with an opportunity to rediscover many of Keaton's rarely seen gems from the silent and sound eras! Through newly restored and remastered shorts, features, forgotten industrial films, promotional films, commercials, live television appearances and outtakes, Industrial Strength Keaton reveals the continuing artistry of Hollywood's greatest laugh maker, paying homage to a career spanning nearly every form of recorded visual media from 1917 until his final work in 1965.

Whether you you enjoy silent film, classic comedy, early television, or simply revel in the pleasure of screening rare Keaton material that has been unavailable for decades, you will find something to enjoy in this tribute to one of filmdom's most celebrated comic geniuses.

Digitally remastered from original archival materials or the sole surviving elements.


Compiled and Directed by PAUL E. GIERUCKI with BRUCE LAWTON

Executive Producers: WILLIAM HUNT and ANDRE BLAY
Producers: PAUL GIERUCKI, BRUCE LAWTON, BRITTANY VALENTE
Rsearch consultants: ROBERT ARKUS and STEVE MASSA
Package design: JOHN ARETAKIS
Booklet design: DAVID B. PEARSON

Produced by LAUGHSMITH ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Commentary tracks from noted comedy historians Andy Coryell, Paul Gierucki, Bruce Lawton, Steve Massa and Richard M. Roberts.

Still galleries featuring previously unseen Keaton images, original press books, trade advertisements and more!

New music scores from composer Ben Model

20 page full color booklet with detailed descriptions of each film, archival photos and essays from noted authors / historians Ken Gordon, Steve Massa, David B. Pearson, Richard Roberts, and Patricia Eliot Tobias.

Color / B&W / 330 Minutes / Stereo / NTSC / 2 Disc Set

The Forgotten Films Of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle

Popular rival of friend CHARLIE CHAPLIN, mentor of sidekick BUSTER KEATON, ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE (1887 - 1933) dominated silent film comedy from the days of Keystone until tragic events in 1921 shattered his career, throwing his film triumphs into obscurity.

But this was not the end. Blacklisted by Hollywood, Roscoe Arbuckle continued directing dozens of film comedies under the pseudonym "WILLIAM GOODRICH" for almost another decade. Arbuckle was involved in making some 200 films in all. Sadly, the work of the TRUE FOURTH GENIUS of silent comedy remains neglected. That is, until now...

THE FORGOTTEN FILMS OF ROSCOE "FATTY" ARBUCKLE contains 32 classic silent and sound comedies directed by and starring master filmmaker Roscoe Arbuckle. The "Prince of Whales" is also joined by some of the silver screen's most legendary stars including BUSTER KEATON, CHARLIE CHAPLIN, MABEL NORMAND, HAROLD LLOYD, FORD STERLING, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, RUDOLPH VALENTINO, child star JACKIE COOGAN, and some unjustly forgotten comic luminaries like AL ST. JOHN, MACK SWAIN, EDGAR KENNEDY, CHARLEY CHASE, LLOYD HAMILTON, LUPINO LANE and, of course, Arbuckle's multi-talented canine companion LUKE.

Restored and digitally remastered from original archival materials, or the only known surviving print, each film features completely restored titles, intertitles, and several films include previously lost or alternate footage. Silent titles feature newly created scores from Philip Carli, David Drazin, Ben Model, The Mont Alto Orchestra, The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Rodney Sauer and Donald Sosin.

This 4 DVD set is a long overdue celebration of the life and work of forgotten funnyman Roscoe Arbuckle.

Restorations compiled, produced and directed by PAUL E. GIERUCKI

Executive Producer: WILLIAM HUNT
Assistant Director: ANDY CORYELL
Associate Producers: BRUCE LAWTON and BRITTANY VALENTE
Production Secretary: GINGER CRIDER
DVD Packaging / Booklet design: JOHN ARETAKIS and DAVID B. PEARSON

Produced by LAUGHSMITH ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Alternate commentary tracks from noted comedy historians Paul Gierucki, Bruce Lawton, Steve Massa and Richard M. Roberts.

36 page full color booklet with rare photographs, restoration notes and essays from authors / film historians Steve Massa, David B. Pearson, Patricia Eliot Tobias, Brent Walker and Robert Young Jr.

Original Arbuckle artwork from animation guru Tom Bertino

THE ARBUCKLE SHUFFLE - A music video compiled by Robert Arkus

TRT 10.5 hours / B&W / Color / Stereo / NTSC / 4 disc box set

      Stooges: The Men Behind The Mayhem

For decades, the Three Stooges ran amuck in a riotous frenzy of eye-poking, head-clunking, face-slapping insanity.

Now LAUGHSMITH ENTERTAINMENT offers fans of the Moronic Maestros a chance to relive the Golden Age of Stoogery and examine the OTHER side of their story. Through rare recordings, home movies, exclusive interviews with family and co-workers, hilarious film clips and outtakes of behind-the-scenes antics, Stooges: The Men Behind The Mayhem tells the pure uncensored Stooge story -- from the early vaudeville years with Shemp, to the shaving of Curly's head, to the final days with Curly-Joe DeRita, "the last Stooge."

If you're fascinated by the unrestrained id, or just enjoy the good, clean humor of a mallet applied to the cranium, you'll find something to love about this in-depth look at America's most beloved madcaps!

Digitally remastered and expanded from the original A&E BIOGRAPHY network broadcast!

Directed and narrated by PAUL E. GIERUCKI

Executive Producer: WILLIAM HUNT
Associate Producers: JERRY TAYLOR and BRITTANY VALENTE
Production Secretary: GINGER CRIDER
DVD Packaging design: JOHN ARETAKIS
Original artwork: DAVID B. PEARSON

Produced by LAUGHSMITH ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


SPECIAL FEATURES:

Digitally remastered and extended documentary feature

Previously unseen / unedited interview footage of Stooge family members

Three rare still galleries: including The Fine Family scrapbook!

3 forgotten audio interviews featuring Moe Howard and Larry Fine

Exclusive DVD-ROM content: Bob Bernet's Stooge tribute "My Pal Moe"

Rarely seen theatrical trailers, television appearances, comedy shorts and more!

TRT: Over 4.5 hours / Color / B&W / Stereo / NTSC / 2 disc set