For Immediate Release

KINO ON VIDEO TO RELEASE THE SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM TOO

After the successful release of the first SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM, a series of four DVDs collecting silent film comedies starring Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase and Stan Laurel, Kino on Video is proud to release a second feast of some of the funniest short comedies ever made. THE SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM TOO makes available for the first time in the United States, the two-disc set THE HAROLD LLOYD COLLECTION II (SRP $29.95), THE CHARLEY CHASE COLLECTION II (SRP $24.95) and THE OLIVER HARDY COLLECTION (SRP $24.95). All three silent-comedy DVDs in this series will prebook on August 17, 2005, each with a street date of September 13, 2005.

Made possible by an unprecedented collaboration between Kino on Video and LOBSTER FILMS (www.lobsterfilms.com), the leading film restoration company in Europe, SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM TOO is a continuation of Kino on Video and Lobster's already acclaimed partnership, and a display of both company's commitment to employing state-of-the-art transfer technology to create high-standard DVD masters.

Also starting on September 13, Kino on Video will be offering all titles from its first SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM series at reduced prices; the two-disc set THE STAN LAUREL COLLECTION will now sell at $29.95, while the first installment of Kino's THE CHARLEY CHASE COLLECTION and THE HAROLD LLOYD COLLECTION will be priced at $24.95 each. The Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy feature film FLYING DEUCES will now sell at $14.95.

Kino's two-disc DVD set THE HAROLD LLOYD COLLECTION II brings 10 of Lloyd's most famous short films including the two-reelers HIGH AND DIZZY and NEVER WEAKEN, and the three-reelers NOW OR NEVER and AMONG THOSE PRESENT. Known as one of the most upbeat slapstick legends, Lloyd ascended to stardom by drawing laughter from a positive and hard-working screen character unlike the personas developed by Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Associated since his early days with production genius Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd made more money, and starred in more films, than Keaton and Chaplin in the1920s.

Perhaps one of Lloyd's most famous films, NEVER WEAKEN is the third film of his so called thrill comedies. Here playing a character named The Boy, Lloyd falls in love with The Girl (Mildred Davies), but mistakenly learns that she loves another. Deeply heartbroken, Lloyd spends most of NEVER WEAKEN orchestrating increasingly complicated attempts to end his life until he ends up on the beams of a high-rise construction site.

Kino's THE OLIVER HARDY COLLECTION comes with 8 two-reeler classics starring the law-student turned stoic comedian Oliver Hardy. His trademark character, a clumsily frustrated man, appeared in some of Hardy's early 20s Vitagraph films including this collection's THE SAWMILL (1922)before becoming a worldwide phenomenon due to his partnership with Laurel. Although better known for his innocent, harmless characters, Hardy's heavy physique and often severe stance also allowed him to play the role of slapstick robber and/or villain last seen in THE SHOW (1922), where Hardy tries to steal the payroll of a performance that Larry Semon is trying to stage. Also in this all-new DVD is STICK AROUND (1925), a 24-minute spectacle where Hardy and Bobby Ray turn a sanitarium into complete chaos. Another highlight in this DVD is 45 MINUTES FROM HOLLYWOOD, the first Hal Roach-produced film in which Ollie and Laurel appear in the same film. This hilarious film-themed comedy features Oliver Hardy chasing bank robbers passing as a film crew and is considered by many Hardy fans as one of his funniest early shorts.

Completing the SLAPSTICK SYMPOSIUM TOO is the newly produced THE CHARLEY CHASE COLLECTION II, an all-new DVD bringing six two-reelers (all between 20 and 25 minutes-long) and an eight-minute, special-feature montage about Chase's life and his slapstick work. Having worked in front and behind the cameras, Charley Chase became famous for starring in comedies populated with surreal misunderstandings originating from mundane situations. Known as the master of the comedy of embarrassment, Charlie Chase's nonchalant mannerisms, as well as his good looks, made him one of the most seductive silent-comedy heroes of the 20s. Here are some of the many shorts available in this second Charlie Chase DVD collection: SHINE 'EM UP (1922), HIS WOODEN WEDDING (1925), ISN'T LIFE TERRIBLE (1925), INNOCENT HUSBANDS (1925) and DOG SHY (1926).

THE HAROLD LLOYD COLLECTION II
$29.95

DOUBLE DVD SET

• High and Dizzy (1920) 26 min.
• From Hand to Mouth (1920) 22 min.
• Captain Kidd's Kids (1920) 20 min.
• Now or Never (1921) 36 min.
• Among Those Present (1921) 35 min.
• Ring up the Curtain (1919) 9 min.
• Two Gun Gussie (1918) 10 min.
• The Non Stop Kid (1918) 12 min.
• The City Slicker (1918) 9 min.
• Never Weaken (1921) 19 min.

THE CHARLEY CHASE COLLECTION II
$24.95

• His Wooden Wedding (1925) 19 min.
• Isn't Life Terrible (1925) 24 min.
• Innocent Husbands (1925) 24 min.
• Dog Shy (1926) 23 min.
• Bromo and Juliet (1926) 22 min.

• Shine 'Em Up (1922) 15 min.
• A Charley Chase Biography (2004) 8 min.
  A special montage (in English) about Chase's life, narrated by Serge Bromberg and directed by Eric Lange.

THE OLIVER HARDY COLLECTION ($24.95)

• The Show (1922) 25 min.
• The Sawmill (1921) 24 min.
• Should Sailors Marry (1925) 17 min.
• Hop to It (1925) 22 min.
• Stick Around (1925) 24 min.
• Along Came Auntie (1926) 23 min.
• Crazy to Act (1927) 25 min.
• 45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926) 21 min.