The Butcher Boy (1917 film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Butcher Boy


caption = A short clip of The Butcher Boy with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbucle
director = Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle
producer = Joseph M. Schenck
writer = Roscoe "Fatty' Arbuckle
Joseph Anthony Roach
starring = Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
Buster Keaton
Al St. John
Josephine Stevens
Arthur Earle
Joe Bordeaux
Luke the Dog
Charles Dudley
Alice Lake
Agnes Neilson
music =
cinematography = Frank D. Williams
editing = Herbert Warren
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = April 23, 1917
runtime = 30 minutes
country = USA
language = Silent film
English (original intertitle)
budget =
imdb_id = 0007761
preceded_by =
followed_by = |

"The Butcher Boy" is a 1917 short comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. This was the first in Arbuckle's series of films with the Comique Film Corporation, and Keaton's film debut.

Plot

The story involves Arbuckle working as the butcher boy in a country store. He falls in love with the cashier, who is the daughter of the store owner. He follows her, disguised as a female cousin, to an all-girl boarding school.

Cast

* Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Fatty / Saccharine (as 'Fatty' Arbuckle)
* Buster Keaton - Buster
* Al St. John - Alum
* Josephine Stevens - Almondine
* Arthur Earle - The Manager
* Joe Bordeaux - Accomplice (as Joe Bordeau)
* Luke the Dog
* Charles Dudley - (uncredited)
* Alice Lake - (uncredited)
* Agnes Neilson - Miss Teachem (uncredited)

Critical response

A contemporary "Variety" review indicates the film was well-received, stating: "The Comique Film Co.'s series of Arbuckle two-reelers starts off with Fatty shaking out a bag of laugh making tricks. The cast fits the star, and not the least important member is 'Luke,' the bull terrier. It is a wonder. Arbuckle's juggling with the accessories of the country store where he is an important factor, also his way of handling the feminine clothes worn in his visit to the girl's boarding school, is done in such a serious, earnest way the comic effect is all the more forceful... The first of the Arbuckle series has set a good mark to aim at. While there is some slapstick, the comedy is recommended."

ee also

* Fatty Arbuckle filmography
* Buster Keaton filmography

External links

*
* [http://www.archive.org/details/busterkeatonthebutcherboy Complete film (Public Domain) available for free download at the Internet Archive]

References

*"The Butcher Boy" (film review) in "Variety Weekly". April 20, 1917.
*Corliss, Richard. (2001) [http://www.time.com/time/sampler/article/0,8599,109415,00.html That Old Feeling: Fatty and Buster] at "Time" online.