The Butcher Boy was Buster Keaton's first steps into the world of cinema. And for this reason alone, the film has made its own niche in cinematic history. Although it stars Fatty Arbuckle, Fatty was unusually generous in allowing Buster a considerable amount of film time, considering how new Buster was to the medium. The Butcher Boy opens up at a butcher shop where Fatty, the butcher, deals with a number of customers in his own unique way. One, of which, happens to be Buster. The 21 year old Buster interacts with the veteran Arbuckle like someone who has been doing this all his life (a tribute to his vaudeville training). From the butcher shop the scene shifts to an all girl school in which Fatty, trying to sneak a visit with his girlfriend, disguises himself as a girl (dressing in drag seems to be a recurring theme in Fatty's films). His rival for the girl, Al St. John, does the same thing and utilizes Buster to assist him in an attempted kidnapping of the object of his affection. The plot, as with just about every comedic short of that era, has the feel of being made up on the spot. And although the film is void of any real belly laughs there are a few moments that might illicit a chuckle or two. However, the film stands best as simply a curiosity, and will always be remembered not so much as another Arbuckle film, but rather as the film that began the impressive film career of one of the true geniuses of comedy, Buster Keaton.
18 Reviews
A fine cut
hte-trasme4 February 2010
This Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle comedy is best remembered for featuring a young Buster Keaton, fresh from splitting with his family's roughhouse Vaudeville act, in his film debut. Buster gets quite a substantial part in this film and it's quite a funny one overall. "The Butcher Boy" has lots of laughs and is an example of pure old-fashioned slapstick done well, though it would seem to come from the brief era of two-reel comedies when filmmakers still imagined in one-reel segments as a matter of course.
The first half of the film takes place in a general store, with Arbuckle as the the butcher boy of the title. It's an excuse to mine the many possibilities for fast physical humor that a general store provides, and Arbuckle really shows himself to be a 300-pound acrobat, demonstrating subtlety, skill, and grace in his performance of what might have been unremarkable slapstick routines that raise them to a different level. A running gag has him flipping a large butcher knife casually so that it spins accurately into it's proper position stuck into the cutting board, and I'm still stunned that Arbuckle really seems to do it each time. There's also a really nice gag that sees him leaning on his scale and confused as to why his cuts of meat weigh so much.
Buster Keaton is a boy who comes into to buy some molasses, and performs deftly in a foot-stuck-to-floor routine that follows. Apart from the odd and almost unsettling half-smile, his idiosyncratic attitude and body language make him recognizable immediately as the Buster we know. He even has his eventually-trademarked flattened hat -- here destroyed for the first time when filled, of course, with molasses.
The second half of the film moves into more situation-based comedy and Arbuckle and his rival Al St. John dress in drag to infiltrate Fatty's girlfriend's boarding school. A lot of the humor also comes from the generally surreal and mysteriously laugh-inducing sight of these two odd fellows wearing drag and trying to "be girls." buster is in this segment too, but mostly stands there in the occasional cutaway, helping St. John.
The ending of "The Butcher Boy" becomes a little emptily frenetic, but on the whole and beyond its historical curiosity interest, it's a well-done comedy that gets just the knockabout laughs it is going for.
The first half of the film takes place in a general store, with Arbuckle as the the butcher boy of the title. It's an excuse to mine the many possibilities for fast physical humor that a general store provides, and Arbuckle really shows himself to be a 300-pound acrobat, demonstrating subtlety, skill, and grace in his performance of what might have been unremarkable slapstick routines that raise them to a different level. A running gag has him flipping a large butcher knife casually so that it spins accurately into it's proper position stuck into the cutting board, and I'm still stunned that Arbuckle really seems to do it each time. There's also a really nice gag that sees him leaning on his scale and confused as to why his cuts of meat weigh so much.
Buster Keaton is a boy who comes into to buy some molasses, and performs deftly in a foot-stuck-to-floor routine that follows. Apart from the odd and almost unsettling half-smile, his idiosyncratic attitude and body language make him recognizable immediately as the Buster we know. He even has his eventually-trademarked flattened hat -- here destroyed for the first time when filled, of course, with molasses.
The second half of the film moves into more situation-based comedy and Arbuckle and his rival Al St. John dress in drag to infiltrate Fatty's girlfriend's boarding school. A lot of the humor also comes from the generally surreal and mysteriously laugh-inducing sight of these two odd fellows wearing drag and trying to "be girls." buster is in this segment too, but mostly stands there in the occasional cutaway, helping St. John.
The ending of "The Butcher Boy" becomes a little emptily frenetic, but on the whole and beyond its historical curiosity interest, it's a well-done comedy that gets just the knockabout laughs it is going for.
Buster Keaton's film debut
mjneu595 November 2010
The early two reelers of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and his young apprentice Buster Keaton offer a rare opportunity to glimpse the genesis of Keaton's soon to become indelible comic persona, but beyond their not inconsiderable academic interest each is also a lot of fun. When they first met, Arbuckle was an established star while Keaton was only a vaudeville performer with little knowledge of the embryonic movie business, but all that changed when Fatty invited him onto the set of 'The Butcher Boy', and from their first moment on screen together the rapport between the two comedians is instantly apparent. Neither makes any attempt to out-stage the other and their talents are remarkably well matched, with Arbuckle the rotund but surprisingly graceful lead and Keaton (among others) as the acrobatic foil who took the pratfalls. Like all the early Arbuckle/Keaton comedies, 'The Butcher Boy' is loose, unstructured, unsophisticated, spontaneous, primitive, completely informal, and made in the same fun spirit in which they were meant to be seen.
An incredible debut
Damfino18956 March 2002
While everyone knows that this is Buster Keaton's debut into movies and a taste of genius to come, I find the most incredible fact is that at the start of the day this movie was filmed Buster had no plans to go into movies, he was, in fact, about to start work in a New York theatrical show. He was invited to work on the film by Fatty and basically improvised his very first scene with the props to hand, in this case a barrel of brushes, he had never been in front of a movie camera before and in those days there was very little rehearsal, proof of his natural ability for the moving picture medium.
This is a typical Arbuckle slapstick, very frenetic, but, lots of fun, but, it is mainly a curiousity as it was Keaton's debut. An interesting thing to do is watch all Keaton/Arbuckle movies in the order they were made and see Keaton's increasing influence on them, a real taste of things to come when Keaton was making his own movies.
By the way, as usual Luke the dog comes very close to stealing all the scenes he's in.
This is a typical Arbuckle slapstick, very frenetic, but, lots of fun, but, it is mainly a curiousity as it was Keaton's debut. An interesting thing to do is watch all Keaton/Arbuckle movies in the order they were made and see Keaton's increasing influence on them, a real taste of things to come when Keaton was making his own movies.
By the way, as usual Luke the dog comes very close to stealing all the scenes he's in.
The Butcher Boy made a fine debut for one Buster Keaton
tavm15 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I've just seen Buster Keaton's film debut in Fatty Arbuckle's The Butcher Boy and-despite the crude way everything just seems to happen for almost no logical reason-I found plenty to laugh at. Like when Buster orders molasses from butcher boy Fatty, Fatty makes Buster come back to pay, Buster says he put it in the bucket that has the molasses, Fatty dumps molasses in Buster's hat and takes money, Buster takes hat back on head as it gets stuck, Fatty attempts to remove it while molasses fall to floor, Buster's feet are now stuck on floor and so on. That probably didn't read funny but on screen it was hilarious as were some more slapstick involving flour being thrown and a later sequence that takes place in Fatty's girlfriend's boarding school with Fatty dressed in drag and Buster helping Fatty's rival also in drag. Like I said, many scenes don't make a lick of sense but the visuals, especially those involving Arbuckle and Keaton, are laugh inducing even today. Recommended viewing for Keaton completists.
dopey fun
planktonrules11 May 2006
This film certainly wasn't very sophisticated. No, the humor was in fact pretty dumb now that I think about it. But, also while I think of it, I did laugh--proving decent comedy doesn't need to be very deep.
Fatty Arbuckle is the definite star of this short, despite Buster Keaton's appearing in the film as well. He is the butcher in an old-time grocery store. A lot of silly stuff occurred in the store and I think I laughed the most at the coffee grinder sequence--you'll just have to see it yourself.
Anyway, later, Fatty's girlfriend is forced to go to a girls' school and because he can't stand to part, he dresses in drag and infiltrates the school. Arbuckle is one ugly woman! So, for silly and unsophisticated fun, see this film. It won't change your life and is a very slight picture, but it's also fun.
Fatty Arbuckle is the definite star of this short, despite Buster Keaton's appearing in the film as well. He is the butcher in an old-time grocery store. A lot of silly stuff occurred in the store and I think I laughed the most at the coffee grinder sequence--you'll just have to see it yourself.
Anyway, later, Fatty's girlfriend is forced to go to a girls' school and because he can't stand to part, he dresses in drag and infiltrates the school. Arbuckle is one ugly woman! So, for silly and unsophisticated fun, see this film. It won't change your life and is a very slight picture, but it's also fun.
Not a masterpiece, but special for being Keaton's first
gbill-7487717 March 2023
The way Buster Keaton told it, his first encounter with Roscoe Arbuckle happened by chance on a rainy day in New York in March, 1917. Having recently left his family's act The Three Keatons, he accepted Arbuckle's invitation to come do a scene in The Butcher Boy, and the rest, as they say, is history.
In the first half of the film, we meet Arbuckle, a butcher who is light on his feet and gracefully slides over the countertop, or easily maneuvers around the shop on a mounted wall ladder on wheels. He casually flicks a cut of meat over his back to have it land on a hook, and tosses his knife into the air to have it land embedded into the board. These are the same kinds of things we would see from Keaton in later films. Meanwhile, the shop's dog Luke runs on a giant treadmill to grind pepper, which was a funny contraption, and probably the film's best gag.
It's at the 6:25 mark that Buster shows up, and after sampling some molasses that he's wiped off the bottom of his shoe, decides to buy some. Arbuckle, Keaton, and sticky molasses - you can clearly see that hijinks are coming. Keaton's money gets stuck in the bottom of the bucket, his hat gets stuck on his head, his foot gets stuck on his floor, etc. The butcher has eyes for the shop manager's daughter (Alice Lake), but she's also being pursued by Slim, the store's clerk, and the two of them get into a fight over her, resulting in bags of flour being hurled all over the store, Keaton (naturally) joining in the fray. Gags with sticky goo and food fights have been done countless times over the 106 years since this was made so it's not going to wow anyone today, but it's watchable, and seeing this pair in their earliest scenes together was special.
In the second half of the film, in response to the brawling, the father sends his daughter away to a boarding school where no men are allowed. To get around this rule, Arbuckle dresses up as a girl and meets with the teacher to enroll. Unfortunately, his rival has the same idea, and they end up in the same room with her. The gags that result, including the two men fighting, Arbuckle being spanked by the teacher, and Slim and his accomplices (including Buster) attempting to kidnap the young woman, aren't all that funny, relying more on the novelty at the time of the men in drag than anything else. The teacher wielding a gun and good boy Luke helping Arbuckle get the girl was cute though. Overall, it's certainly not great, but not bad either, and it got bonus points from me for it being Keaton's first film.
In the first half of the film, we meet Arbuckle, a butcher who is light on his feet and gracefully slides over the countertop, or easily maneuvers around the shop on a mounted wall ladder on wheels. He casually flicks a cut of meat over his back to have it land on a hook, and tosses his knife into the air to have it land embedded into the board. These are the same kinds of things we would see from Keaton in later films. Meanwhile, the shop's dog Luke runs on a giant treadmill to grind pepper, which was a funny contraption, and probably the film's best gag.
It's at the 6:25 mark that Buster shows up, and after sampling some molasses that he's wiped off the bottom of his shoe, decides to buy some. Arbuckle, Keaton, and sticky molasses - you can clearly see that hijinks are coming. Keaton's money gets stuck in the bottom of the bucket, his hat gets stuck on his head, his foot gets stuck on his floor, etc. The butcher has eyes for the shop manager's daughter (Alice Lake), but she's also being pursued by Slim, the store's clerk, and the two of them get into a fight over her, resulting in bags of flour being hurled all over the store, Keaton (naturally) joining in the fray. Gags with sticky goo and food fights have been done countless times over the 106 years since this was made so it's not going to wow anyone today, but it's watchable, and seeing this pair in their earliest scenes together was special.
In the second half of the film, in response to the brawling, the father sends his daughter away to a boarding school where no men are allowed. To get around this rule, Arbuckle dresses up as a girl and meets with the teacher to enroll. Unfortunately, his rival has the same idea, and they end up in the same room with her. The gags that result, including the two men fighting, Arbuckle being spanked by the teacher, and Slim and his accomplices (including Buster) attempting to kidnap the young woman, aren't all that funny, relying more on the novelty at the time of the men in drag than anything else. The teacher wielding a gun and good boy Luke helping Arbuckle get the girl was cute though. Overall, it's certainly not great, but not bad either, and it got bonus points from me for it being Keaton's first film.
Buster Keaton's first film appearance...
AlsExGal26 December 2023
... but don't get your hopes up about Buster contributing that much to this short. He was invited to participate by the short's actual star, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. That's not me calling Mr. Arbuckle names, but is actually his name in the credits of his films.
Fatty is an employee in a general store of the period, and he loves the proprietor's daughter, Amanda. The owner doesn't want Fatty anywhere near his daughter and sends her to a boarding school where men are not allowed and Amanda is only allowed mail from her parents. Fatty decides to dress up like Amanda's female cousin so that he can see her, but a fellow rival for Amanda, Slim (Al St. John), has a similar idea. So the store portion comprises the first half and the boarding school portion the second half.
This short is pure 1910's comedy with food fights, lots of flour throwing, and pants -kicking. Buster is just a guest star in all of this, with his main contribution being posing as a grocery store customer who comes in to get some molasses but winds up with it in his hat and stuck to his head and with it stuck to the bottom of his shoes so that he cannot walk.
Buster's role in the creative process of Arbuckle's shorts increased over the couple of years that they worked together such that, by the time of their last collaboration in "The Garage" in 1920, you can definitely see that Keaton's brand of gadget filled comedy and complex gags have won the day.
Fatty is an employee in a general store of the period, and he loves the proprietor's daughter, Amanda. The owner doesn't want Fatty anywhere near his daughter and sends her to a boarding school where men are not allowed and Amanda is only allowed mail from her parents. Fatty decides to dress up like Amanda's female cousin so that he can see her, but a fellow rival for Amanda, Slim (Al St. John), has a similar idea. So the store portion comprises the first half and the boarding school portion the second half.
This short is pure 1910's comedy with food fights, lots of flour throwing, and pants -kicking. Buster is just a guest star in all of this, with his main contribution being posing as a grocery store customer who comes in to get some molasses but winds up with it in his hat and stuck to his head and with it stuck to the bottom of his shoes so that he cannot walk.
Buster's role in the creative process of Arbuckle's shorts increased over the couple of years that they worked together such that, by the time of their last collaboration in "The Garage" in 1920, you can definitely see that Keaton's brand of gadget filled comedy and complex gags have won the day.
First Buster Keaton Film Appearance
springfieldrental24 July 2021
The details of how Buster Keaton first met Roscoe Arbuckle are murky, but when they did, the initial encounter introduced to the screen one of cinema's greatest silent movie comics.
Keaton is included in the top handful of comedic actors during that era who's acting continues to have an enormous impact in today's films. His trademark calm demeanor in the midst of utter chaos on the screen stood in stark contrast to the helter skelter world of the popular Keystone comedians, of which Arbuckle was one of them. Yet Keaton's cool film personality not only endured, but created a new kind of comedy acting imitated in future generations of movie humorists.
Keaton's first appearance in film is seen in April 1917's "The Butcher Boy," with "Fatty" Arbuckle starring and directing the two-reeler. He shows up part-way into the movie, examining brooms in their holder at the shop. Keaton does some nifty handling of these sweepers in this debuting sequence. Later on, his struggle with molasses, a cinematic classic, with Fatty literally cements the pair's on-screen association. Altogether, the two actors appeared in 14 movies, proving the first meeting was especially pivotal to the 21-year-old Keaton.
Buster, contracted to play in in the Broadway revue "The Passing Show," met on a New York City street either a mutual friend of Arbuckle's or a professional associate of Paramount Pictures. Either way, the person invited the vaudeville star to stop by the local film studio where Fatty was rehearsing for his next movie, "The Butcher Shop." He did, and Fatty, knowing of Keaton, invited him to play a small role in his movie. Buster had some free time and dived in, and like lightening, the two comedians clicked. An anecdotal tale has Keaton so intrigued by what he had just witnessed in the studio he asked to borrow a camera for the night. He proceeded to take apart and put together again in his hotel room the camera to understand its inner mechanisms.
Keaton is included in the top handful of comedic actors during that era who's acting continues to have an enormous impact in today's films. His trademark calm demeanor in the midst of utter chaos on the screen stood in stark contrast to the helter skelter world of the popular Keystone comedians, of which Arbuckle was one of them. Yet Keaton's cool film personality not only endured, but created a new kind of comedy acting imitated in future generations of movie humorists.
Keaton's first appearance in film is seen in April 1917's "The Butcher Boy," with "Fatty" Arbuckle starring and directing the two-reeler. He shows up part-way into the movie, examining brooms in their holder at the shop. Keaton does some nifty handling of these sweepers in this debuting sequence. Later on, his struggle with molasses, a cinematic classic, with Fatty literally cements the pair's on-screen association. Altogether, the two actors appeared in 14 movies, proving the first meeting was especially pivotal to the 21-year-old Keaton.
Buster, contracted to play in in the Broadway revue "The Passing Show," met on a New York City street either a mutual friend of Arbuckle's or a professional associate of Paramount Pictures. Either way, the person invited the vaudeville star to stop by the local film studio where Fatty was rehearsing for his next movie, "The Butcher Shop." He did, and Fatty, knowing of Keaton, invited him to play a small role in his movie. Buster had some free time and dived in, and like lightening, the two comedians clicked. An anecdotal tale has Keaton so intrigued by what he had just witnessed in the studio he asked to borrow a camera for the night. He proceeded to take apart and put together again in his hotel room the camera to understand its inner mechanisms.
Arbuckle and Keaton (Keaton's Debut)
romanorum11 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"The Butcher Boy" is a two-reeler in two distinctive parts. Right away the main characters in the general store are introduced. They include Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (as Fatty / Candy), Al. St. John (as Slim), Josephine Stern (as Amanda) - the boss' daughter, and the boss, Arthur Earle (as Mr. Grouch).
In Part I, Fatty begins his shift at the butcher counter; whenever he enters the cold storage room, he wears a fur coat. Fatty exhibits his adeptness as he flips his cleaver several times on the counter. Also, he demonstrates his cigarette-rolling adroitness. In the general store a lady orders ten cents worth of ground pepper. Luke the dog shows his worth as he runs on the endless belt of the pepper grinding mill. Customer Buster Keaton orders a bucket of molasses; unfortunately he leaves his coin on the bottom of the bucket! Well, what follows demonstrates what passed for sanitation nearly a century ago. Before the end of the first part, Amanda and Fatty express their love for each other. Unfortunately, Slim likes her too. There is the inevitable flour (and pie) fight involving Fatty, Slim, and Keaton that soils the store, to say the least.
In Part II, Amanda is off to a very strict girls' boarding school. No men are permitted beyond the front gates. So Fatty's solution is to do what he does in many of his shorts. That is, to dress in drag. He disguises himself as Cousin Candy and successfully enters the school to see Amanda. Meanwhile Slim prepares his own invasion, also in drag! He has Keaton as an accomplice. Slim is unaware that Candy is really Fatty, and vice-versa. At dinner, sloppy Slim slurps soup; dainty he isn't! After dinner Fatty and Slim have a "girl" fight. The head mistress spanks Fatty, who in turn spanks her back! In the meantime Slim plans on kidnapping Amanda, but his disguise fails. All the while Luke the dog is confused. There is a disturbance in the girls' dorm that morphs into madness. The head mistress retrieves her gun and fires away. Keaton and Slim surrender, and the cops arrive. Fatty sneaks outside with Amanda and the two lovers decide to get married right away.
"The Butcher Boy," a typical slapstick for the time, is spontaneous and unrefined, and probably unrehearsed. Three silent screen actors act impromptu. Keaton, invited by Arbuckle and fresh from vaudeville, was self-assured and fit right in during his first movie role. His quick reactions and natural stunt work were always terrific; the man knew how to fall. "The secret," he once said, "is in landing limp and breaking the fall with a foot or a hand. It's a knack. I started so young that landing right is second nature with me." Title cards vary with the source. For instance, Amanda is Almondine in some prints; Candy can be Saccharine; and Slim changes to Alum. Luke the dog becomes "Teddy" in the French version. The movie editing is quite annoying throughout; perhaps some film frames were lost in time. Nevertheless, with Arbuckle and Keaton at the helm, you should not be disappointed.
In Part I, Fatty begins his shift at the butcher counter; whenever he enters the cold storage room, he wears a fur coat. Fatty exhibits his adeptness as he flips his cleaver several times on the counter. Also, he demonstrates his cigarette-rolling adroitness. In the general store a lady orders ten cents worth of ground pepper. Luke the dog shows his worth as he runs on the endless belt of the pepper grinding mill. Customer Buster Keaton orders a bucket of molasses; unfortunately he leaves his coin on the bottom of the bucket! Well, what follows demonstrates what passed for sanitation nearly a century ago. Before the end of the first part, Amanda and Fatty express their love for each other. Unfortunately, Slim likes her too. There is the inevitable flour (and pie) fight involving Fatty, Slim, and Keaton that soils the store, to say the least.
In Part II, Amanda is off to a very strict girls' boarding school. No men are permitted beyond the front gates. So Fatty's solution is to do what he does in many of his shorts. That is, to dress in drag. He disguises himself as Cousin Candy and successfully enters the school to see Amanda. Meanwhile Slim prepares his own invasion, also in drag! He has Keaton as an accomplice. Slim is unaware that Candy is really Fatty, and vice-versa. At dinner, sloppy Slim slurps soup; dainty he isn't! After dinner Fatty and Slim have a "girl" fight. The head mistress spanks Fatty, who in turn spanks her back! In the meantime Slim plans on kidnapping Amanda, but his disguise fails. All the while Luke the dog is confused. There is a disturbance in the girls' dorm that morphs into madness. The head mistress retrieves her gun and fires away. Keaton and Slim surrender, and the cops arrive. Fatty sneaks outside with Amanda and the two lovers decide to get married right away.
"The Butcher Boy," a typical slapstick for the time, is spontaneous and unrefined, and probably unrehearsed. Three silent screen actors act impromptu. Keaton, invited by Arbuckle and fresh from vaudeville, was self-assured and fit right in during his first movie role. His quick reactions and natural stunt work were always terrific; the man knew how to fall. "The secret," he once said, "is in landing limp and breaking the fall with a foot or a hand. It's a knack. I started so young that landing right is second nature with me." Title cards vary with the source. For instance, Amanda is Almondine in some prints; Candy can be Saccharine; and Slim changes to Alum. Luke the dog becomes "Teddy" in the French version. The movie editing is quite annoying throughout; perhaps some film frames were lost in time. Nevertheless, with Arbuckle and Keaton at the helm, you should not be disappointed.
Keaton's Film Debut (and Arbuckle's Second Indie Venture) is Light, but Amusing
drqshadow-reviews1 August 2020
Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton (in his first-ever film role) square off and ruin a humble neighborhood grocery in this early 20th century silent comedy. Arbuckle works the meat counter, carelessly flinging knives and beef slabs around the room whilst wooing the shopkeep's daughter, and Keaton tests his cinematic sea legs as a wiry customer with a pail needing molasses. The story couldn't be more rudimentary - it's just a troupe of well-versed vaudevillians, riffing on an idea - but the marquee names have strong chemistry right off the bat and that carries it a long way. The second reel, set in a girls-only boarding school with the big man disguised by a frilly dress, is more manic but less reliably entertaining.
Legend has it that Keaton nailed all his scenes on the very first take, unheard-of at the time, which got his foot in the door and earned him repeat roles in several future Arbuckle comedies. Curious in a historical sense, still good for a number of light laughs, but the storytelling is limited and the picture quality (even in the restored edition) is pretty rough.
Legend has it that Keaton nailed all his scenes on the very first take, unheard-of at the time, which got his foot in the door and earned him repeat roles in several future Arbuckle comedies. Curious in a historical sense, still good for a number of light laughs, but the storytelling is limited and the picture quality (even in the restored edition) is pretty rough.
Funny 'Fatty' film. 'The Great Stone Face' laughs.
sonnyschlaegel6 April 2008
I guess this is the first time I have seen a Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle movie. I really liked him in his (title) role as a butcher boy. The way he moves is very funny in my opinion, for example how he handles his knife and the way he rolls a cigarette. I think he is a good actor; his facial expressions really suit the role he plays, for example how he winks at the audience in the end. But one might add that that was probably not too difficult. Anyway I think he would have deserved a longer career. As you probably know it was ruined by greedy journalists who made money by printing false accusations that said he was involved in a scandal.
The plot is not very important. In the first half, Fatty and Alum are employees at a store and rivals for Almondine's affection. After a heavy food fight, Almondine is sent to a girls' school by her father, the store owner. (This is the beginning of the second half). Both Fatty and Alum enter the school in drag, and the fight for Almondine continues. (Some of the characters' names are different in the version that I have seen. It seems that for some reason they replaced the original title cards with new ones.)
There are a lot of corny gags like food fights and pratfalls, but they are done well in my opinion. And there are some gags I really liked, for example how they make the dog run the pepper mill (or is it a coffee mill?), or the scene when Fatty dons a coat although it is obviously not necessary, or when Miss Teachem, the head of the girls' school, spanks Fatty, and he spanks her back.
Buster Keaton is also funny in this, his first, movie; a good addition to the cast. In the first half he is a customer at the store, in the second half he supports Alum in his fight for Almondine. I liked his acrobatics, for example when Fatty pushes him from one room of the school to another, he doesn't show a simple pratfall but lands on his hands and his head and does a little pirouette. Watch out for one scene in the food fight: Alum throws a flour bag at him, but it misses and hits the store owner instead. That makes Buster laugh, which must be a rarity since he normally always shows a neutral expression (which - as you probably also know already - got him the nickname 'The Great Stone Face'). (One more note: Al St. John, who plays Alum, was 'Fatty' Arbuckle's nephew, and later became famous for the role of 'Fuzzy' that he played in lots of westerns.)
I don't like this one as much as I like, for example, 'One Week' and 'The Balloonatic' (films that Buster made later, without 'Fatty'). And it didn't make me laugh out loud often - but it made me smile a lot, so I have given it eight points.
The plot is not very important. In the first half, Fatty and Alum are employees at a store and rivals for Almondine's affection. After a heavy food fight, Almondine is sent to a girls' school by her father, the store owner. (This is the beginning of the second half). Both Fatty and Alum enter the school in drag, and the fight for Almondine continues. (Some of the characters' names are different in the version that I have seen. It seems that for some reason they replaced the original title cards with new ones.)
There are a lot of corny gags like food fights and pratfalls, but they are done well in my opinion. And there are some gags I really liked, for example how they make the dog run the pepper mill (or is it a coffee mill?), or the scene when Fatty dons a coat although it is obviously not necessary, or when Miss Teachem, the head of the girls' school, spanks Fatty, and he spanks her back.
Buster Keaton is also funny in this, his first, movie; a good addition to the cast. In the first half he is a customer at the store, in the second half he supports Alum in his fight for Almondine. I liked his acrobatics, for example when Fatty pushes him from one room of the school to another, he doesn't show a simple pratfall but lands on his hands and his head and does a little pirouette. Watch out for one scene in the food fight: Alum throws a flour bag at him, but it misses and hits the store owner instead. That makes Buster laugh, which must be a rarity since he normally always shows a neutral expression (which - as you probably also know already - got him the nickname 'The Great Stone Face'). (One more note: Al St. John, who plays Alum, was 'Fatty' Arbuckle's nephew, and later became famous for the role of 'Fuzzy' that he played in lots of westerns.)
I don't like this one as much as I like, for example, 'One Week' and 'The Balloonatic' (films that Buster made later, without 'Fatty'). And it didn't make me laugh out loud often - but it made me smile a lot, so I have given it eight points.
Buster Keaton's Debut
SendiTolver20 August 2018
Although Fatty Arbuckle was already huge star by 1917 when this film was released, 'The Butcher Boy's historical value lies in the fact that it marked as the film debut of no other than the all magnificent Buster Keaton. He played supporting role, but still managed to show off some off his amazing comedic stunt skills while somersaulting through door or climbing on the shelf.
The film is pretty mediocre slapstick stuff without inventiveness and with very few actually hilarious moments. Still, it is entertaining enough to not feel bored.
The film is pretty mediocre slapstick stuff without inventiveness and with very few actually hilarious moments. Still, it is entertaining enough to not feel bored.
Not a botched film, but a pretty forgettable one
Horst_In_Translation27 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"The Butcher Boy" is an American movie from 1917 and as this one was released in Aoril already back then, it already made it past the century mark. The star here is of course Fatty Arbuckle, one of the biggest (no pun intended) personalities in film back then and he wrote, directed and starred in this one. But it also includes the very first on-screen performance by somebody who is probably even considered a bigger legend than Arbuckle and that one is of course Buster "Stoneface" Keaton and it should be one of many collaborations of his with Arbuckle. And if I mention the name Al St. John, then you probably know if you haven't before already that this is a black-and-white silent film that unites three of the great from its time. And there is also Luke the Dog, the Arbuckle equivalent to the Rascals' Pete the Pup. Anyway, back to this one here and it runs for 24 minutes roughly the version I watched and I see there's other indications too. But I think that the real problem here is that as good and funny as Fatty may be as an actor, he is perhaps not as good as the writer as really all the moments when he wasn't on screen just weren't entertaining. This also includes Keaton, but you cannot really blame him with his age and lack of experience at that time. There just isn't constant entertainment factor like in Fatty's films with Mabel Normand for example. Then again it doesn't have the amazing Mabel, so what do you expect. I cannot share the praise or popularity "The Butcher Boy" has received on several occasions and only recommend it to the very biggest Arbuckle fans.
A Historical Treasure, & Some Pretty Good Slapstick Too
Snow Leopard9 August 2001
This Fatty Arbuckle short feature is a historical treasure in that it was the first film appearance of the great Buster Keaton, and it has some decent slapstick too. The first half takes place in the general store where 'Fatty' is working as the "Butcher Boy", and it has some good moments, with a couple of clever gadgets, although no big laughs. The last half is the best part, with Fatty, Buster, Fatty's frequent foil Al St. John, and their dog all converging on a boarding school, in a manic sequence that includes some good material. It's unrefined, old-fashioned slapstick, but good fun for anyone who enjoys Arbuckle and/or Keaton.
Buster Keaton's initial film appearance, as subserviant to Roscoe Arbuckle's starring role
weezeralfalfa27 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The first of 14 2 reel comedy shorts featuring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. Most also featured Al St. John, usually as Roscoe's nemesis. As in this film, Keaton didn't always form a functional pair with Roscoe. In fact, Keaton and Al interact more here. This film differs from most other films in this series(that I have seen). Most obviously, the action is accompanied by appropriate music, whereas the others I have seen are truly silent. Secondly, there are quite numerous explanatory placards sprinkled throughout, whereas in other films, placards are sparse. Sometimes, the placards aren't really necessary for understanding...... Keaton makes his first appearance as a customer in the general store where Roscoe and Al are employees. He does some acrobatics with the floor brooms. Then, he notices a bit of molasses on the floor under the spigot to the molasses keg. He likes its taste, so orders Roscoe to partially fill a small bucket he found. Unfortunately, Roscoe didn't notice that Keaton had placed his coin for payment in the bucket. Thus, Roscoe must try to retrieve the coin. After fishing for it doesn't work, while Keaton is looking around the store, Roscoe pours the molasses into Keaton's signature flattened pork pie hat, he left on the counter. He finds the sticky coin, and pours the molasses back into the bucket. Strangely, Keaton doesn't notice the residue when he puts his hat on, but does soon notice a strange sensation. He drops the bucket of molasses, which runs on the floor. Soon, he has his shoe stuck in it. Roscoe tries to help get it unstuck, to no avail, until he gets the idea of pouring the contents of a boiling kettle on and around the shoe. Of course, this scalds the foot, but the shoe is soon dislodged, as Keaton's pulling motion carries him sprawling out the door.......I noticed that Roscoe rolled a cigarette with one hand: not an easy trick......Roscoe and Amanda: the owner's daughter, flirt in the store. Al returns from a delivery, and sees this. He gets mad. Roscoe throws a small bag of flour at Al, hitting him in the face. He throws another. A direct hit. Now, Al is white from head to toe. Keaton happens to return just then, and accidentally gets the next one in the face. Keaton wildly swings a broom around, but misses, and they fight some more.....Amanda takes a car to Mrs. Teachem's boarding school for girls. Later, Amanda is sad that she hasn't received a letter from Roscoe. She goes outside and cries. Roscoe, disguised as a big girl, with a big white bow, and long curls, encounters Amanda, and suggests he apply to be enrolled in the school. His big baby face made him a natural as a plump tall girl. This he succeeds in. However, soon, Al also gets this idea and also succeeds in being enrolled. Soon, Al has Keaton and another sneak in a window, as accomplices in an attempt to kidnap Amanda. During the attempt, Roscoe hears the commotion, and enters the room. Pandemonium ensues, with much jumping on and off beds and pillow fighting. To heighten the scene of chaos, Amanda's room suddenly has multiple beds and roommates, who also get involved. Also, Luke the dog is confused and barking in the hall. Al is exposed as a fraud, as his costume comes off. The principal holds a gun on Keaton and his companion, when they seek safety in her room. Roscoe and Amanda run out the window, instructing Luke to stay and discourage any followers.
Arbuckle
Michael_Elliott10 March 2008
Butcher Boy, The (1917)
** (out of 4)
The butcher boy (Fatty Arbuckle) falls for the store owner's daughter and must fight to get her. The first half of the film takes place in the store and has Buster Keaton playing an obnoxious customer. This half is very funny but the second half dealing with Fatty dressing in drag in order to sneak into a boarding school really doesn't work.
Rough House, The (1917)
*** (out of 4)
Fatty Arbuckle helps run a seaside resort but trouble starts when a deliver boy (Buster Keaton) shows up. It's rather amazing to see how much time the star/director Fatty gave to Keaton who's allowed to steal the show with his physical comedy. Another interesting thing is that there's a dinner scene where Fatty puts forks in two rolls and does a dance, which Chaplin borrowed eight years later in The Gold Rush.
** (out of 4)
The butcher boy (Fatty Arbuckle) falls for the store owner's daughter and must fight to get her. The first half of the film takes place in the store and has Buster Keaton playing an obnoxious customer. This half is very funny but the second half dealing with Fatty dressing in drag in order to sneak into a boarding school really doesn't work.
Rough House, The (1917)
*** (out of 4)
Fatty Arbuckle helps run a seaside resort but trouble starts when a deliver boy (Buster Keaton) shows up. It's rather amazing to see how much time the star/director Fatty gave to Keaton who's allowed to steal the show with his physical comedy. Another interesting thing is that there's a dinner scene where Fatty puts forks in two rolls and does a dance, which Chaplin borrowed eight years later in The Gold Rush.
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