The Forgotten Films of Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle

For fans of silent film comedy, The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is certainly the greatest DVD release of 2005, and this remarkable four-disc set also represents a kind of latter-day vindication for Arbuckle--a mentor to Buster Keaton and one of the reigning kings of silent comedy--whose stellar career was effectively ruined by Hollywood's first major scandal (to this day, the popular media perpetuates the falsehood that the cheerfully chubby Arbuckle allegedly raped and accidentally killed actress Virgina Rappe during a notorious cocktail party in 1921, conveniently ignoring the fact that Arbuckle was eventually found innocent of any crime). Under the exacting supervision of film historian and filmmaker Paul E. Gierucki (with the assistance of film preservation experts and archivists from around the world) these 32 films rescued from oblivion--many of Arbuckle's films are or were presumed lost or exist only in wretched states of delicate preservation--attest to the fact that if it hadn't been for the scandal, Arbuckle would surely have been ranked as one of the acknowledged legends of silent comedy. The talented actors in this set (including Chaplin, Keaton, Mabel Normand, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, and lesser-known but equally splendid performers such as Charley Chase and Edgar Kennedy) are further testament to Arbuckle's respected status among his gifted and famous contemporaries. A slapstick innovator who never used his 266-pound girth for an easy laugh, Arbuckle (who died of heart failure in 1933, at age 46) was a surprisingly agile performer, admired as an amiable Everyman; among the many highlights that showcase his comedic skill, "Love" from 1919 (previously assumed "lost" and painstakingly reassembled here) is a shining example. A historian's dream, this treasure of a boxed set features DVD extras including expert commentaries, optional music scores for selected films, and a 35-page booklet containing several well-written mini-essays about Arbuckle's career, the scandal, and the restoration efforts. All of this, and more, qualifies The Forgotten Films of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle as an essential addition to any silent-film buff's collection, and a highly recommended purchase for libraries everywhere. Editor's Choice. (J. Shannon)