'He' is never once named in the novel but there is never a moment's doubt who he is: Stan Laurel. He is he because he was really Arthur Stanley Jefferson, son of a theatrical promoter in Northern England. He is the idiot partner of Norville 'Babe' Hardy but he is really the brains and driving force in the partnership. Babe married three times, Stan married anywhere between five and nine times, although he woman who he spent much of his early life with and who came up with the new name was never his wife. In reality, the great love of his life was Babe. Babe, in return, loved many people, though he probably loved Stan most of all.
Loads of Connolly's story is familiar or even well known - but then so are Laurel and Hardy's movies; it doesn't stop us loving them. There are also things I didn't know (and it so happens I know quite a lot about the silent cinema). I didn't know about Babe's brother. I didn't know much about James Finlayson. And I never had such insight into the mysterious death of Thelma Todd.
That said, the bit I enjoyed best was the filming of 'The Trail of the Lonesome Pine' number from Way Out West. A beautiful scene, beautifully done by Connolly.
An accidental find and a real treat.
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