Disc 1 contains the programs “In the Beginning: Film Comedy Pioneers” and “Keystone Tonight!: Mack Sennett Comedies.”
2- `Keystone Tonight' - Ninety odd minutes worth of early Mack Sennett/Keystone Studio one- and two-reelers. Highlight is the 16-minute `The Rounders' from 1914. Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle star as a couple of lushes who flee from their wives so they can continue getting sloshed in the hotel bar. A lot of funny-drunk sight gags. Both had and would make more memorable films, but interesting to see how these two ad-lib off each other. This section also contains Harry Langdon's `Saturday Afternoon,' (1926, 30mins.) one of those `hen-pecked husband stepping out' movies. Some claim Langdon was the fourth great silent comedian, and his films are generally less available than Chaplin's, or Keaton's, or Lloyds's. As an innocent man-child, somewhat the waif, and a great pantomime, Langdon reminded me a lot of Stan Laurel. A somewhat creepy Laurel, to be sure. There are a couple more Langdon shorts in this set, so you can decide his claim to glory for yourself.
The Rounders (1914) with Charles Chaplin and Roscoe Arbuckle. Two drunks avoid their wives and disrupt a restaurant. From a very-good 16mm print that is missing its main title and the intertitles that still exist in other prints. The print and transfer are far better than the home video edition of the film from Kino International available on VHS, also previously released on laserdisc in 1988. Small orchestra music by Robert Israel.
A Muddy Romance (1913) with Mabel Normand and Ford Sterling. A young couple (Normand and Sterling) fend off the overtures of any undesired suitor by draining a park lake. From a very-good, though worn and sometimes jittery, 35mm print. Synthesizer music by Brian Benison.
A Movie Star (1916) with Mack Swain and Louella MaxamJack (Swain) is a big movie star, who goes to a neighborhood nickelodeon to see one of his own films. From a very-good 16mm print. Fotoplayer music by Robert Israel.
Teddy at the Throttle (1917) with Gloria Swanson and Bobby Vernon. Gloria loves Bobbie, but their guardian, Henry Black (Wallace Beery), wants to make himself rich with Bobbie’s estate and keep Gloria for himself. The jilted Black ties Gloria to railroad tracks in revenge. Will Teddy the dog save her in time? From an excellent, though worn, 35mm print. Small orchestra music by Robert Israel.
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