There is no exact date for this silent home movie shot at the ReseÂda, CA home of Stan LauÂrel’s daughÂter, Lois. But the year must have been 1956, because, durÂing that year, OlivÂer Hardy, the othÂer memÂber of the great comÂic duo, lost more than 150 pounds, resultÂing in a comÂplete change of his outÂward appearÂance. Hardy had a mild heart attack in 1954 and startÂed lookÂing after his health. But letÂters by Stan LauÂrel indiÂcate that OlivÂer was also sufÂferÂing from canÂcer. In SepÂtemÂber 1956 — probÂaÂbly not long after this movie was made — OlivÂer sufÂfered a major stroke, which left him unable to speak and conÂfined to bed for sevÂerÂal months. Then, at the beginÂning of August 1957, he had two more strokes and slipped into a coma from which he nevÂer recovÂered. He died on August 7 that year.
ExactÂly one week after OlivÂer’s death, Stan gave a rare radio interÂview and recountÂed the moment when he and OlivÂer met for the first time. The full, one-hour interÂview can be enjoyed here. Stan died on 23 FebÂruÂary 1965 after sufÂferÂing a heart attack of his own. He was buried at ForÂest Park MemoÂrÂiÂal Park in BurÂbank. Footage from the funerÂal shows celebriÂties such as Dick Van Dyke, Buster Keaton and George ChanÂdler in attenÂdance. Stan’s friend Dick Van Dyke delivÂered this movÂing euloÂgy.
