OK - excuse the pun, but this is an absolute gem!! This really is slapstick at its best, combined with a good storyline. It's a bargain and a must for any comedy collection!!!

Like all the Laurel and Hardy discs in this series, this DVD presents some of their best work in top-quality restored versions. The main feature, though, isn't the best thing on it -'Saps at Sea' was Laurel and Hardy's last production for the Hal Roach studios, is largely a rehash of earlier work and plays like an extended short rather than a genuine feature, but it's still highly entertaining, and features an inspired cameo by Ben Turpin. The silent short, 'You're Darn Tootin', is a beatifully restored print of one of their earliest films as a team, but the main reason for buying this disc must be 'Below Zero', presented here in three different versions. (This is the film where they are scraping a living as street musicians in a rough neighbourhood in the depths of winter.) The regular version, once again, is a pristine print, but of even greater interest is the Spanish version, which includes extra scenes that enrich some of the gags and flesh out the story a little. It's fascinating to watch the boys speaking their own dialogue in Spanish. (In the early days of sound movies, before dubbing, it was common practice to make foreign-language version of films in parallel with the English versions.) It's curious that many of their films exist in longer versions in other languages. My only complaint is that, since many of the dialogue scenes in the Spanish version don't appear in the English one, one would think that subtitles would not have been asking too much.

The low point of the disc is the colourised version of Below Zero. Like all the colourised films on these discs the image quality is distinctly poorer, and this one suffers from about five minutes of inexplicable cuts. Otherwise, this is another fine disc they've gotten themselves onto.

What can I say...this L&H classic is one of my alltime favourites. Unfortunately, my wage packet was rather tight this month and I could only afford one Laurel & Hardy DVD from this newly released collection. I chose 'Saps at Sea' and wasn't disappointed...and neither will you be!

First, a brief synopsis for those who havn't seen this one hour film. Stan and Ollie are working in a horn testing factory. However, the constant noise and irritation brings Olly down with an extreme case of 'Horn-o-phobia', turning him into an uncontrollable violent maniac whenever he hears any sort of horn.

After unsuccessful attempts to recover at home (which involve usual L&H chaos including a unique music lesson, an encounter with a cross eyed plumber and Stan's destruction of their apartment lobby), Ollie take's his doctors advice (the legendary 'Fin') and decides to live on a dock-tied boat, in order to benefit from the sea air.

Unfortunately the boat doesn't stay tied to the dock for long, and ends up drifing far out to sea...with the presence of escaped convict "Nick". With the boys at the mercy of this violent killer, it's a case of keeping him happy until help arrives. And if you think THAT goes according to plan, you really need to watch more L&H!!!

The DVD presentation is wonderful..it is the clearest picture I have ever seen for one of these classics, and the sound enjoys excellent restoration also. Not bad for a movie made approximately sixty years ago! There are some good extras on here, including "Below Zero" when our heros try their luck at busking.

There is also the option of watching the movies in glorious B&W or even the computerized colour versions that were created in the early 1990s. Plus a Spanish version of 'Below Zero' and a silent movie are thrown in for good measure.

A great movie, wonderful presentation. If you're having one of those days when its raining outside and you feel low...spend an hour with the boys..you won't be disappointed.