Classic Film Comedy Short Stories #9

One of the most famous images of classic film comedy is Charlie Chaplin doing the dance of the dinner rolls in his classic The Gold Rush. However this was performed earlier by Fatty Arbuckle in the 1917 short film, The Rough House. However Chaplin definitely brought his own unique charm to the bit.

 The underrated comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey were the first film comedy team to emerge out of the sound era, with the 1929 musical comedy Rio Rita, based off a stage play they themselves acted in. Interestingly Abbott and Costello would later star in another film version of Rio Rita, that film would be released in 1942.

For the film Blockheads, silent comedy legend Harry Langdon, drew the caricatures of Laurel and Hardy (the stars of the film) that appear in the opening credits. He also was a writer on the film.

 Though the feature film His First Flame was completed in 1925, it was not released until 1927. The film was made at the Mack Sennet studio, before the film's star Harry Langdon left for First National. Though Mack Sennet originaly did not want to release the film (It would have been the first feature starring Harry Langdon), he changed his mind after seeing the success of the feature films Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, The Strong Man, and Long Pants, all of which also stared Harry Langdon. Therefore it was released after Harry Langdon had proven himself to be successful in features.

W. C. Fields (along with staring in) wrote The Bank Dick. The writing credit for the film is given to  Mahatma Kane Jeeves. This is a fake name W. C. Fields made up. It is a play on words meaning "My Hat, My Cane Jeeves".

-Michael J. Ruhland

Classic Film Comedy Short Stories #8

A film that Charlie Chaplin wanted to make but never did was a film about the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, with himself playing Napoleon himself.

 Before he became a director, George Steven (The Diary of Anne Frank, Shane, The Greatest Story Ever Told) was a cinematographer on many Laurel and Hardy films.

In an effort to top the emotional impact of his own City Lights, Charlie Chaplin's originally scripted ending for Modern Times, involved the Gamin becoming a nun, and the tramp meeting her in the hospital after having another mental breakdown. He dropped this ending for the one that appears in the film today.   

When legendary silent comedian Harry Langdon became less popular an actor, he would also write for various comedy films. These films would include 4 Laurel and Hardy films; Block Heads, Flying Deuces, A Chump at Oxford, and Saps at Sea.

Before doing the films he is known for now Frank Capra (It's A Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) worked as both a writer and director for films staring Harry Langdon.

Though Harold Lloyd's characters often times had the first name Harold, the only time he played a character named Harold Lloyd was in Safety Last.  Though in much of the intertitles he is just referred to as the boy, on his paycheck you can clearly see the name Harold Lloyd.

Bill Strother who played Harold Lloyd's building climbing friend in Safety Last was actually a real building climber, and after Lloyd saw him performing this act, he came up with the idea for the film.



  -Michael J. Ruhland