Out
West (1918) – This rough ‘n’
tumble comic western marks one of Buster’s first major rolse in an Arbuckle
movie. Like many Arbuckle shorts, it’s
more of a set piece than a story, mostly an excuse to perform as many Wild West
gags as can be crammed into two reels. Fatty
rides the rails to a frontier town, and with the help of sheriff/saloon owner
Buster, he saves his girl from an unsavory character in a big, climactic
blowout.
Best
Buster Bit: When the loutish Wild Bill Hickup first shows
up in the saloon, making trouble, Buster’s attempts to oust him are as dogged
as they are ineffectual, and it’s wondrously funny.
The
Bell Boy (1918) – This might be my
favorite of the lot. Here, Fatty and
Buster run amok as jacks of all trades in a two-bit motel. There are tons of Buster-ish mechanical gags,
including some fantastic stuff with the elevator, and I love the shaving
sequence.
Best
Buster Bit: In a moment of peril, Buster executes this
amazing, almost muay thai move and then launches instantly into a series of
proto-parkour tumbling that’s simply stunning to watch.
The
Cook (1918) – Fatty is a
short-order cook with a knack for juggling (one who can apparently produce
anything from the same pot,) and Buster is a loudmouth waiter who can catch
anything on a plate. The long string of
spaghetti gags is particularly noteworthy.
Best
Buster Bit: There’s some fabulous dancing that I can
hardly believe anyone was doing in 1918.
It’s both delightful and awesome.
Back
Stage (1919) – Buster’s
vaudeville background was probably instrumental in the creation of this short,
which sees Fatty and Buster as stagehands at a low-rent playhouse. They get up to enough hijinks behind the
scenes, but the real fun starts when the talent backs out and the crew has to
put on the show themselves.
Best
Buster Bit: It’s a tie between some impressive acrobatics
in a dress and a daring aerial apprehension.
The things he did were just incredible.
The
Garage (1919) – At the
garage/firehouse where they live and work, Fatty and Buster cause some havoc,
anger some motorists, and get into lots of trouble. Lots of mechanical gags here, thanks to a
massive turntable, spring-action beds, and a collapsing car. Buster’s shimmying on the firemen’s pole is
terrific, and there’s a fun rescue.
Best
Buster Bit: Everything involving Buster losing his
pants. It sounds cheap/shallow, but it’s
hilarious and creative, and I love his seamless coordination with Fatty in the
sequence’s last gag.
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