"We never tried to use funny clothing. Of course, there were times when we would wear odd garments for a special humorous effect, but as far as our two characters were concerned, we never tried to get very far from what was real. We always wore a stand-up collar but there wasn't anything unreal about them, especially in the twenties and early thirties. Stand-up collars were formal and slightly different, but never too obviously so. They gave us, together with our derbies, a something we felt these characters needed—a kind of phony dignity. There's nothing funnier than a guy being dignified and dumb. [...] The derby hat to me has always seemed part of a comic's make-up for as far back as I can remember. I'm sure that's why Charlie wore one. Most of the comics we saw as boys wore them, so I guess you'd say that's one item that's strictly in the public domain."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Academy Award winnersImmigrants to the United StatesActors from EnglandComedians from EnglandFilm directors from England
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
p. 135
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stan_Laurel
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Stan Laurel
(born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, writer, and film director who was one-half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his performing partner in 107 film comprising shorts, features and cameo roles.
33 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Stan Laurel →
Related Quotes
"It's a strange thing, but we really only got to know each other in the last years of his life. When we were making pi…"
"[He can't stand to watch their old comedies on TV because] because they're so cut up. [...] I wish I could have edite…"
"I don't see many people anymore. It's a long way out here to . And I can't go any place. I have and still haven't com…"
"We had different hobbies. He likes horses and golf. You know my hobby—and I married them all."
"If anyone at my funeral has a long face, I'll never speak to him again"
"I suppose we had very little of what you'd call family life. We were very seldom all together. I was almost always ei…"
"I remember one time Charlie [Chaplin] and I were walking over to the theater all dressed up, hanky up the sleeve, spa…"
"I wish they’d re-release '... I guess maybe I’d like to see it again because it has one beautifully funny sequence th…"
"I am now in the home of the master."
"It has to be visual stuff. Too many radio writers are writing radio gags for television, which is a visual medium."