The Butcher Boy

So Buster Keaton started his career as a kidnapper, eh? (A few films later, he'd be on the receiving end....) There are some zany antics, half at a store and half at a boarding school, with some decent but not amazing stunts. The highlight may have been that wall-spanning ladder, although Arbuckle's knife skills were impressive.

The first reel is (in hindsight) the best and funniest Fatty done. The second part is a step down from that.

Some fun gags but the whole boarding school thing is pretty bad.

A mildly funny short with the dog being the highlight. Buster Keaton has a small but funny role.

Às vezes acho que se não fosse pela descoberta do Buster Keaton e aquele infame caso Arbuckle nem sequer seria lembrado. Box Obras-Primas do Cinema Buster Keaton.

I am absolutely entertained by these Arbuckle-Keaton shorts, and St. John cracks me up as well. The first half in the shop plays like something I'd love to be shooting with my friends. If you're in touch with your inner child I don't see how you can't love these guys' physical comedy skills. The latter part in the girl's school was less funny, but still unashamedly goofy. There was a point I guess when Hollywood "grew up" but I'm glad we still have these childish shorts.

Started off well but turned out to be a senseless farce.

The first half has some inventive setups, but mostly eschews them in favour of chaos and bad slapstick. The second half is absurd in a bad way and pretty worthless.

Arbuckle's first self-produced film (and Keaton's film debut) shapes up to be an entry in the loose and chaotic school of slapstick. The first half is just an uninterrupted string of random comic business, but it actually works a bit better than the second half, which has more of a plot and much more actual film editing on display (with tons of cuts and scenes for something like this from 1917) but tries to wring far too much humor from Roscoe in a ridiculous dress and ringlets.

I'm disappointed with Arbuckle here, the thing just isn't interesting. Keaton isn't too hot either, once he takes the reigns of film making everything shines. I'd give most of the pre-20's comedy a miss because the 20's stuff is far superior.

Man dressing up as a fat lady is a bad taste, no matter who does that - Fatty Rosco or Eddie Murphy. I found it completely unfunny, and too long to keep interest at the technical side. Firs film appearance of Buster and he already shines above everything else in it.