Ted Okuda

"Stan Without Ollie: The Stan Laurel Solo Films, 1917-1927" was an interesting read for me. I thought it would interest me, and it did - for a short while. Then I found the entries to be repetitive and not very imaginatively written up. But I also had to remind myself, this is NOT a biography, this is a reference work. It was interesting enough that it kept drawing me back in - but then putting me off again. I do believe it was my fault, though, and not the book's, that I kept forgetting and kept expecting to get back to interesting biographical type writing/information. I'll probably pass it on to a film buff friend who would appreciate it as a reference work - it's not a bookshelf keeper for me. I'm glad to have read it, though, and any film historian should not be without it!… (meer)

The films that Stan Laurel had a hand in creating before teaming up with Oliver Hardy are explored chronologically in "Stan Without Ollie: The Stan Laurel Solo Films." The book is packed with details about production, as well as cast lists and many black and white photos, that will please the fans and film buffs. But as well researched and presented as the information is, as a casual reader and casual fan of Laurel and Hardy, I found the book somewhat repetitive. I think the book about Stan Laurel I'd prefer to read is a straight-forward biography. This book, however, is recommended for those fans and film buffs.… (meer)

This book is a must have for any serious fan of Laurel and hardy. As a fan I knew that the boys had built their careers seperately, before finally finding the magic formula that brought them together to form the beloved team. Stan Without Ollie follows Stan Laurel's path prior to the matchup that made comedic history. Along the way, he also works with the team's favorite foil, James Finlayson. Okuda and Neibaur cover all aspects of Stan's pre-L&H work. Even if Stan wasn't in the film, but served as writer or director, the film is covered. The wealth of detail in the book serves as an appetizer that will send fans looking for copies of surviving films. For fans, this is a book to be savored.… (meer)