I've just watched the 13 Arbuckle-Keaton shorts that were done just before this film. It is astonishing to watch how the films of Arbuckle grew during the Keaton period and astonishing to watch how Keaton's engineering of gags was developed so much further here in this film. This rivals Keaton's "Neighbors" and other early shorts for the elaborate development of the gags. It is also comparable to the Arbuckle-Keaton film "Oh Doctor" for the risque undertones.
Several people complained about the "Well" gags going on too long. On the contrary, I think they are are masterpiece of "topping," where each gag tops the previous one and increases in ridiculousness.
This film is evidence that Arbuckle belongs in stature with Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd in the evaluation of great artists of the medium. The false accusations and moral witchhunt that killed his career is equivalent to the false accusations and moral witchhunt that killed the career of Bill Cosby, the greatest television comedian of our times.
Several people complained about the "Well" gags going on too long. On the contrary, I think they are are masterpiece of "topping," where each gag tops the previous one and increases in ridiculousness.
This film is evidence that Arbuckle belongs in stature with Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd in the evaluation of great artists of the medium. The false accusations and moral witchhunt that killed his career is equivalent to the false accusations and moral witchhunt that killed the career of Bill Cosby, the greatest television comedian of our times.