Rating: 
Summary: CONTRADICTORY
Review: I expected Mr. Macgillivray to contradict Randy Skretvedt's "Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies". Skretvedt felt the post-Hal Roach movies were vastly inferior to L&H's earlier pieces -- in so many words I thought he thought the Fox/MGM movies were largely garbage. Instead, he mostly contradicted himself. Scott Macgillivray tries to convince the reader that these movies were not that bad. He does a more complete summary of the movies with behind the scenes material than Skretvedt (this is to be expected as the book was more focused on one particular aspect of L&H's career), but he failed to convince me that the Fox/MGM movies were better than Skretvedt described them. Macgillivray will describe certain movies as being better than critics claim, but then provide explanations as to why the movies were not good. He does credit L&H with more winning scenes than Skretvedt, but I felt Skretvedt provided a stronger argument than Macgillivray. By the way, regardless of what we think of the Fox/MGM movies, most of them did well at the box office.The second part of the book was about how the L&H movies long survived the individuals themselves. Macgillivray summarizes how different vendors obtained old tapes and how they were able to revive the tapes and keep L&H (and others) alive on the screen for modern day viewers. The results were fascinating, but the process (and perhaps unavoidably the description) was dry. This book would have been an easy four star and maybe even close to a five star book (still not as good as Skredvedt's though) had Macgillivray been better able to sell his argument that the L&H Fox/MGM movies were better than they have been credited for or if he had toned down his praise of them. The book has a lot of good information, but he failed to achieve the purpose of convincing readers that L&H's Fox/MGM movies were mostly good. Garbage by any other name is still garbage.
Rating: 
Summary: The Definitive Work on Laurel & Hardy After 1940
Review: If you like Laurel & Hardy, you MUST get a copy of Scott MacGillivray's book
"Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward." It is the definitive work on
Laurel & Hardy after 1940. Most L & H books never discuss their later
careers, but this book starts where the others leave off. I disagree with the reviewer who thought this book was "contradictory" and
that the films were "garbage." I've always found it amusing that everyone
dismisses the team's '40s features as being terrible. Yet
when pressed, everybody will admit to having at least one favorite from the group if
not two, or perhaps three. Mr. MacGillivray tries to be fair in his
reporting, so his comments are balanced, not contradictory. And he's right,
Stan and Ollie's later films are well worth your time. I've watched several
of them recently and enjoyed them more than ever. The publisher's claim on the back cover says this book demonstrates that the
later works of perhaps the greatest comedy team in history are worthy of
study and consideration. One reader seems to have taken this claim too
literally: does one really need to rely on a book to be convinced? Of course
not. As with the lesser Hitchcocks and sometimes-painful-to-watch
Keaton talkies, ALL of their works are worthy of study and consideration. The real
purpose of the book is to inform and entertain us, and this is precisely
what the author has done. "From the Forties Forward" also has interesting material on movie re-releases and Robert Youngson's silent-comedy features. They gave many of
us the chance to see L & H "in the theaters" for the first time (most of us
weren't born or were too young when the original films played in the '30s and
'40s). There is also quite a bit about Laurel & Hardy on TV and video. Especially enjoyable was the section on Laurel & Hardy home movies. It brings back
great memories of seeing Laurel & Hardy on my own movie screen. The book is jam-packed with new information and fresh material from the
years when so little was written. Mr. MacGillivray has given us such a
wealth of new information, that in the future, historians and buffs will
routinely use the factual information in this book as if it were their own
(as the case with Wm. K. Everson..often quoted, rarely credited). There are also many
rare photos. My personal copy of "From the Forties Forward" is falling apart
from use, so if you're a serious Laurel & Hardy fan, be sure to order two copies!
Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Work on Laurel & Hardy After 1940
Review: If you like Laurel & Hardy, you MUST get a copy of Scott MacGillivray's book
"Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward." It is the definitive work on
Laurel & Hardy after 1940. Most L & H books never discuss their later
careers, but this book starts where the others leave off. I disagree with the reviewer who thought this book was "contradictory" and
that the films were "garbage." I've always found it amusing that everyone
dismisses the team's '40s features as being terrible. Yet
when pressed, everybody will admit to having at least one favorite from the group if
not two, or perhaps three. Mr. MacGillivray tries to be fair in his
reporting, so his comments are balanced, not contradictory. And he's right,
Stan and Ollie's later films are well worth your time. I've watched several
of them recently and enjoyed them more than ever. The publisher's claim on the back cover says this book demonstrates that the
later works of perhaps the greatest comedy team in history are worthy of
study and consideration. One reader seems to have taken this claim too
literally: does one really need to rely on a book to be convinced? Of course
not. As with the lesser Hitchcocks and sometimes-painful-to-watch
Keaton talkies, ALL of their works are worthy of study and consideration. The real
purpose of the book is to inform and entertain us, and this is precisely
what the author has done. "From the Forties Forward" also has interesting material on movie re-releases and Robert Youngson's silent-comedy features. They gave many of
us the chance to see L & H "in the theaters" for the first time (most of us
weren't born or were too young when the original films played in the '30s and
'40s). There is also quite a bit about Laurel & Hardy on TV and video. Especially enjoyable was the section on Laurel & Hardy home movies. It brings back
great memories of seeing Laurel & Hardy on my own movie screen. The book is jam-packed with new information and fresh material from the
years when so little was written. Mr. MacGillivray has given us such a
wealth of new information, that in the future, historians and buffs will
routinely use the factual information in this book as if it were their own
(as the case with Wm. K. Everson..often quoted, rarely credited). There are also many
rare photos. My personal copy of "From the Forties Forward" is falling apart
from use, so if you're a serious Laurel & Hardy fan, be sure to order two copies!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating work!
Review: Most Laurel and Hardy books cover the years 1926 to 1940 in their professional and personal lives in great depth. 1941 to 1965 gets very little attention. Perhaps the writers feel that the readers want information about the "heart" of their careers, but three decades is a long period to ignore.
Ofcourse this book focuses mainly on their 1941 to 1945 film output for 20th Century Fox and MGM. Most L & H fans know that the Boys left relative creative freedom at Hal Roach Studios for the basic assembly-line approach of the big studios, quite unintentionally. The result was a series of movies which used very little of their talent - characterization took a back seat to "situation". Most of the material would have suited *any* team.
What is not understood by many is that great comedy in the feature length form is very difficult to make, and most comedies are not funny throughout. Actually, the team's only real competitor at the time was Abbott and Costello, and most of their footage cannot be considered "classic", either. The Marx Brothers' pictures of the '40s were, like Stan and Ollie's at that time, very disappointing. Interestingly enough, for this reviewer anyway, the *Three Stooges'* one reelers were the funniest and most creative comedies of the era!
Scott M. has taken a strong, objective look at all the L & H's post-1940 and has persuaded us that most of that product was better than what was described in many books. The photos, interviews, and memorabilia are remarkable. I enjoyed reading about their 1950-51 European effort, "Atoll K", which, despite its' less than *nice* messiness, contains the purest Laurel and Hardy since Hal Roach!
A great, great addition to any library of motion picture history.
Rating: 
Summary: A much needed book but the movies of the forties are awful
Review: No problem here in recommending this book as a "must have" for any Laurel and Hardy fan. The author doesn't claim the Boys' films of the forties are ignored gems, contrary to what has been implied in various reviews of this book. He confirms that these films are awful, in varying degrees of awful (even the most ardent Laurel and Hardy fan agonizes when watching the horrible Atoll K). What the author does do-that hasn't been done to date-is shed more light (much more) on what transpired during this period of time in the Boys' professional lives. As I stated previously this is must reading for any Laurel and Hardy fan.
Rating:
Summary: A great book, about a great time, about two great comedians
Review: Scott has done a great job putting to-gether a summary of the Boy's later films. Most fans wish to forget these films and complain they don't show any value to Stans and Ollies body of work. This book explains the events of what happened in great detail. The only complaint is this. I've spoken with Scott in person and he states that these films should not be put down for there quality or value to the history of Laurel and Hardy, but the books overtones don't always seem to share the authors personal opinion. He does write in the negative on many occasions in the book, but this does not affect the story of the making of the films. Nice to see the subject has had a quality book written about it. Great new selection of pictures.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo! Terrific book, good reading.
Review: Scott has written a wonderfully detailed and thouroghly researched book revealing just how enjoyable Laurel and Hardy's movies from the forties are. Don't listen to others who tell you these are awful movies, read Scott's book and find the truth behind the making of these later classics. Then seek the films out and watch them, you will find yourself enjoying them more than you admitted to in the past.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book and Long Overdue
Review: Stan Laurel and Babe Hardy didn't have many good things to say about their Fox and MGM films of the 1940's. So the legend has persisted that these films, with a couple of possibleexceptions, are unspeakable horrors and hardly worth the trouble of taking them out of the film can. Of course, at the big movie "factories," the boys were denied the kind of creative freedom they had enjoyed at the Hal Roach Studios, and their work suffered accordingly. But the time has finally come for a reevaluation of these later films. Scott MacGillivray has done just that in FROM THE FORTIES FORWARD. While Scott doesn't shy away from criticizing the weaknesses, he demonstrates that these films are frequently much better than their reputations would lead you to believe. There is also excellent coverage of Stan and Babe's European tours, the Robert Youngson compilations, the sometimes maze-like process of film reissues, and Laurel and Hardy on television. An essential book for Laurel and Hardy fans, and an excellent companion piece to both THE MAGIC BEHIND THE MOVIES and LAUREL OR HARDY.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book and Long Overdue
Review: Stan Laurel and Babe Hardy didn't have many good things to say about their Fox and MGM films of the 1940's. So the legend has persisted that these films, with a couple of possibleexceptions, are unspeakable horrors and hardly worth the trouble of taking them out of the film can. Of course, at the big movie "factories," the boys were denied the kind of creative freedom they had enjoyed at the Hal Roach Studios, and their work suffered accordingly. But the time has finally come for a reevaluation of these later films. Scott MacGillivray has done just that in FROM THE FORTIES FORWARD. While Scott doesn't shy away from criticizing the weaknesses, he demonstrates that these films are frequently much better than their reputations would lead you to believe. There is also excellent coverage of Stan and Babe's European tours, the Robert Youngson compilations, the sometimes maze-like process of film reissues, and Laurel and Hardy on television. An essential book for Laurel and Hardy fans, and an excellent companion piece to both THE MAGIC BEHIND THE MOVIES and LAUREL OR HARDY.
Rating: 
Summary: The first in-depth look at the post-1940 L & H films.
Review: The book features detailed reviews of each movie; scenes that were filmed but cut out before release; the Laurel & Hardy films that weren't made (including two major musicals!); the corporate decisions (who really produced and directed Laurel & Hardy's last Hollywood movie?); recollections by Stan's daughter, Lois Laurel Hawes; theatrical reissues and TV revivals; the tour years; the Robert Youngson compilations (with personal anecdotes from silent-film expert William K. Everson and Mrs. Jeanne Youngson); and dozens of never-before-published photos from Stan Laurel's personal collection.
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