Film #035 - The Bell Boy (1918)
Viewed February 4, 2006
The Bell Boy is another case of a Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle short with too little meat on its bones. But the performances are at least strong and the comedy lively.
The basic sructure of The Bell Boy is the wacky goings-on at a hotel. Caught in the middle of it all is Cutie Cuticle (Alice Lake), a manicurist over which bellboys Arbuckle and Buster Keaton spar (with desk clerk Al St. John in on the action, as well).
The comedy is not far removed from what has come before, but there is at least the romantic angle to give this one some form and therefore is an improvement over most of the Arbuckle/Keaton canon.
Arbuckle still isn’t as appealing as he was in The Butcher Boy (1917), but he comes closest here. It’s his apparent disregard for the customers (he is often needlessly cruel) that hurts his portrayal and makes him less sympathetic. But he is still charming enough to Miss Cuticle, so one can at least see why she would be interested in him.
All the actors, even Lake, go through major acrobatic stunts in the course of the film. Keaton, naturally, gets the bulk of them (and the most dangerous ones) and comes through with his typical enthusiastic performance. None really have that “Wow” factor, however, but are entertaining anyway.
The Bell Boy is a decent short with nothing terribly wrong with it. It’s biggest fault is its formulaic nature. It follows a basic outline and never does anything to break the mold. A mostly successful, if forgettable, entry.