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Reviews
The Cook (1918)
What silent comedy should be
I was amazed at the effortlessness and grace of this "lost and found" Fatty Arbuckle-Buster Keaton comedy. The first reel is particularly hilarious, with Fatty cooking and juggling his utensils, "flipping a flap" onto waiter Buster's plate. A less inhibited Buster also provides a spontaneous, exotic dance. And, as usual, Arbuckle's nephew, Al St. John, heartily contributes to the anarchy.
One get the sense that these three men (along with Luke the dog) had the time of their lives designing such memorable slapstick!
This treat ranks alongside "The Garage" has one of the best Keaton-Arbuckle shorts!
Now You Tell One (1926)
Inventive and charming
I was so impressed by the sheer inventiveness and unique combination of live action and animation in this short -- from the elephants storming the Capitol to a cat's tail spawning off a pussy willow. Mr. Charles Bowers is definitely an unsung comic innovator of the silent era -- he has the crafty sight gags and deadpan persona of Buster Keaton, the impishness of Harry Langdon, coupled with the absurd imagination of an animator. This film is one of the highlights of the mostly excellent compilation, "Slapstick Encyclopedia."