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LAUREL & HARDY U.S. FOREST SERVICE PROMOTIONAL FILM "TREE IN A TEST TUBE" 34554

2,264 views · Published 10 April 2017 · 5:49 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: PeriscopeFilm · 2017 · Education

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This film, THE TREE IN A TEST TUBE was shot in late November of 1941, and released in 1942 as part of the burgeoning war effort. It features the voice of Pete Smith and was made by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and distributed by the U.S. Forest Service. The film is rather interesting in that it features famous Hollywood comics Laurel and Hardy -- appearing here in their only color role! At the time both were over the age of 50, and their careers were on the wane. Still they manage quiet a funny (albeit silent) routine. The narration here is read by veteran MGM announcer and producer Pete Smith. As you'll see, the film is an excuse to show the broad range of products that contain wood, paper and wood by-product such as cellulose, demonstrating the importance of wood to the economy. Incidentally, THE ROGUE SONG (1930) a film shot in Technicolor, also featured Laurel and Hardy. But that film is now considered "lost", leaving TREE IN A TEST TUBE as their only extant color film.

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