Stan Without Ollie

<p> Long before his momentous teaming with Oliver Hardy comedian Stan Laurel (1890-1965) was a motion picture star in his own right. From his film debut in <I>Nuts in May</I> (1917) through his final solo starring effort <I>Should Tall Men Marry?</I> (1928) Laurel headlined dozens of short comedies for a variety of producers and production companies often playing characters far removed from the meek dimwitted Stanley persona that we know and love. This is a film-by-film look at the pictures Stan made as a solo artist as well as those he wrote and directed for other stars shows his development as a movie comedian and filmmaker.</p><p> Comedy legend Jerry Lewis a longtime friend and admirer of Stan Laurel provides an affectionate and eloquent foreword. Included are several rare photographs and production stills.</p>