Following a Tribute Premier on Thursday 3rd September which will be attended by the UK's top comedy stars - Laurel and Hardy's award-winning movie Way Out West will open in London at The Prince Charles, Leicester Square on Friday 4th September.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of comedy's universally best loved double-act, from Friday 4th September cinemas across the UK will also be screening other classic Laurel & Hardy films. Sons of the Desert will be paired with Helpmates. Way Out West will be supported by the Oscar-winning short The Music Box.
Laurel and Hardy's influence is acknowledged by the UK's leading comics including; Reeves & Mortimer, Baddiel & Skinner, Fry & Laurie, Robbie Coltrane & John Sessions, Morecambe & Wise, Rik Mayall & Adrian Edmondson, Lee Evans, French & Saunders, Monty Python, Russ Abbott, Harry Hill and The Goodies:

"I loved them," says Hollywood star Steve Martin. "As a kid I'd see whatever movies they made. Laurel and Hardy are very dear to me."

"They were truly magnificent," said BAFTA winning Stephen Fry, while Monty Python star John Cleese reveals that "Laurel and Hardy still remain a real source of joy."


As one of the most popular Laurel and Hardy feature films, Way Out West achieved extra prominence, when a song taken from its soundtrack, The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine, reached number 2 in the UK charts in 1975. Stan Laurel claimed that it was his favourite feature length film.

Laurel and Hardy also continue to be a firm favourite on video. So far VVL (Vision Video Limited) has released 20 titles which have sold in excess of 200,000 videos across the counter. To coincide with the anniversary an additional 10 specially restored titles will be released on September 7th, including Way Out West, which will be on sale in exclusive packaging.

The Laurel & Hardy international appreciation society is campaigning to have a statue of the boys erected in Stan's birthplace in Ulverston, Cumbria. Donations should be made payable to The Laurel and Hardy Statue Appeal and sent to Eric Woods, 102 Hough Green Rd, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 4PF.

It was September 8th, 1928 that saw the release of "Should Married Men Go Home?", the first film branded a 'Laurel and Hardy' release, and the cause of this September's 70th anniversary celebrations.

Advance media screenings of Way Out West:
Monday 17th August, 12.30pm for 1.00pm
Polygram International, 8 St James' Square, London SW1

Tuesday 1st September, 6.00pm for 6.30pm
Polygram International, 8 St James' Square, London SW1

RSVP SASHA GIBSON OR JAMES TAYLOR @ AVALON PUBLICITY 0171 734 6677

* anniversary of the first film branded a 'Laurel and Hardy' release


All photos copyright CCA