German Expressionist director F.W. Murnau, who is known for films such as Nosferatu, Faust, Sunrise, and The Last Man, directed only one true comedy film. This film was 1924's "Finances of the Grand Duke". While this may not be as great of a work of art, as those previous films I mentioned, it is a very entertaining, and interesting experiment, that shows a different side to one of Germany's greatest film makers.
The famous Hollywood comedy director Ernst Lubitsch (To Be or Not to Be, The Shop Around the Corner) began his career in Germany as an an actor, mostly appearing in shorts.
After being accused of rape (probably falsely) silent film comedian Fatty Arbuckle no longer appeared in front of the camera. However he would direct some films under the name William Goodrich. His friend Buster Keaton suggested the name Will B. Good, but Arbuckle thought that would be too obvious.
There is a joke in the Marx Brother's film The Big Store in which Margret Dumount says to Groucho, "I'm afraid after we're married awhile, a beautiful young girl will come along, and, uh, you'll forget all about me" to which Groucho replies "Don't be silly. I'll write you twice a week.". Producer L. K. Sidney did not like this joke (for unknown to me reasons) and wanted it taken out of the movie. Director, Charles Reisner however insisted the joke stay in. Since this was an MGM picture, this argument was brought to Louie B. Mayer. When asked about the joke Louie B. Mayer replied "greatest line in the picture". The joke is still in the movie.
Comedy producer extraordinaire, Hal Roach (Harold Lloyd, Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang (Little Rascals), Charley Chase) is credited (On IMDb) with producing 1,198 films and 8 TV Series.
Friends and colleges of Charlie Chaplin tried to talk him out of making his film Shoulder Arms. Shoulder Arms was a comedy about WW1, made during WW1, and most of his friends and colleges felt it was too sensitive a subject to be made into a comedy. However Chaplin made it anyway, and it became his biggest hit up to that point.
Shoulder Arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyZzEH85FKM
-Michael J. Ruhland
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