Before that, I wanted to give a final shout-out to Mack Sennett and his repertory players, specifically Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, and Ford Sterling. They all make an appearance in A Film Johnnie, a meta-movie directed by George Nichols, in which Chaplin visits the Keystone Studios lot. The mayhem that follows is a prelude to the real-life relationship difficulties that soon existed between each of these stars.
Showing posts with label Sterling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sterling. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
September Slapstick: The Super Friends | A Film Johnnie (1914)
On this final day of September, I'm posting a couple entries on silent comedy teams -- those two are coming later today.
Before that, I wanted to give a final shout-out to Mack Sennett and his repertory players, specifically Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, and Ford Sterling. They all make an appearance in A Film Johnnie, a meta-movie directed by George Nichols, in which Chaplin visits the Keystone Studios lot. The mayhem that follows is a prelude to the real-life relationship difficulties that soon existed between each of these stars.
Before that, I wanted to give a final shout-out to Mack Sennett and his repertory players, specifically Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, and Ford Sterling. They all make an appearance in A Film Johnnie, a meta-movie directed by George Nichols, in which Chaplin visits the Keystone Studios lot. The mayhem that follows is a prelude to the real-life relationship difficulties that soon existed between each of these stars.
Monday, September 24, 2012
September Slapstick: Villainy Defined | Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life (1913)
Barney Oldfield -- 1st car racer to break 60mph on an oval, and later 100mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- is the celebrity focus of the title, but it is Ford Sterling who steals the show, hamming it up as the sneering, mustache-twisting, henchmen-having villain.
This 4th Keystone Cops movie also features Mabel Normand and Mack Sennett, who pulls double-duty as Mabel's boyfriend as well as the film's Director. It contains one of the earliest examples of a young damsel (Normand) tied to the tracks of an oncoming locomotive train. The rescue chase is thrilling, and the ending left me jaw-dropped stunned.
This 4th Keystone Cops movie also features Mabel Normand and Mack Sennett, who pulls double-duty as Mabel's boyfriend as well as the film's Director. It contains one of the earliest examples of a young damsel (Normand) tied to the tracks of an oncoming locomotive train. The rescue chase is thrilling, and the ending left me jaw-dropped stunned.
Monday, September 17, 2012
September Slapstick: Keystone "Cops" | The Bangville Police (1913)
I place "Cops" -- sometimes spelled "Kops" -- in quotes only because the officers in The Bangville Police more closely resemble a militia or rural vigilantes instead of the uniformed bumblers of later movies.
Regardless, this is the oldest surviving appearance of the Keystone Cops (Hoffmeyer's Legacy is considered their first appearance, but that film is currently lost), and Mabel Normand steals the show.
Regardless, this is the oldest surviving appearance of the Keystone Cops (Hoffmeyer's Legacy is considered their first appearance, but that film is currently lost), and Mabel Normand steals the show.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
September Slapstick: Keystone Mack [Sennett] Daddy | The Water Nymph (1912)
With The Water Nymph (aka The Beach Flirt) -- the very first Keystone Comedy -- begins an era of dominance in movie slapstick by Mack Sennett and his repertory players.
Those who either received their first break in the movie business at Keystone, or rose to prominence therein, include Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Ford Sterling, Gloria Swanson, Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon, and Chester Conklin. And, of course, there's the Sennett Bathing Beauties.
P.S. If anyone can find a higher quality version of this film, please let me know.
Those who either received their first break in the movie business at Keystone, or rose to prominence therein, include Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Ford Sterling, Gloria Swanson, Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon, and Chester Conklin. And, of course, there's the Sennett Bathing Beauties.
P.S. If anyone can find a higher quality version of this film, please let me know.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Slapstick Summer Series! - The Sprinkler Sprinkled (1895), 1st Movie Comedy
Though not slapstick, strictly-speaking, Lumière's The Sprinkler Sprinkled (aka L'Arroseur Arrosé and The Waterer Watered) earns the starting spot in this summer series for three main reasons:
- It's the 1st comedy film.
- What's more Summer-y than sprinkling sprinklers?
- The film's alliterative English name compliments the blog title.
Thus begins the Summer of Slapstick, which will contain the early shorts of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, Max Linder, Ford Sterling and the Keystone Cops, and other surprises.
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