The Knockout is a 1914 American silent comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. It also features Charlie Chaplin in a small role, his seventeenth film for Keystone Studios.[1] It is one of only a few films in which Chaplin's Little Tramp character appears in a secondary role, not appearing until the second half of the film. It also stars Arbuckle's wife, Minta Durfee, Edgar Kennedy and Keystone owner, Mack Sennett in a minor role as a spectator. The film was directed by Charles Avery.
| The Knockout | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Avery |
| Produced by | Mack Sennett |
| Starring | Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Minta Durfee Edgar Kennedy Charlie Chaplin Frank Opperman Al St. John Hank Mann Mack Swain |
| Cinematography | Frank D. Williams |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Mutual Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 27 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent film English (Original titles) |
Plot
editTwo down-and-out hoboes pretend to be pugilists in order to make some money to eat. One of them claims to be Cyclone Flynn, the boxing champion. In the meantime Pug, a good-hearted local strongman, has fought and defeated several mashers who were bothering his girlfriend. The mashers make up with Pug and propose to enter him to fight the fake Cyclone Flynn at a local theater.
Enter the real Cyclone Flynn, who expels the hoboes and takes over the engagement. The fight starts, comically refereed by Chaplin's character. It quickly deteriorates into chaos, after Pug steals a gambler's revolvers and chases the champion from the ring. A long chase sequence involving the boxers, spectators, Pug's girlfriend, and the Keystone Kops follows.
Reception
editA reviewer from Moving Picture World wrote, "Roscoe Arbuckle, ably supported, makes barrels of fun in this two-reel comedy release. In its early stages, the story has a particularly well connected plot, but things go to smash a little in this line when a big chase is introduced in the second reel. This chase, as well as a comedy prize fight, is unusually funny."
Cast
edit- Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle - Pug
- Minta Durfee - Pug's girlfriend
- Edgar Kennedy - Cyclone Flynn
- Charlie Chaplin - Referee
- Frank Opperman - Fight promoter
- Al St. John - Pug's rival
- Hank Mann - Tough
- Mack Swain - Gambler
- Luke the Dog – uncredited
References
edit- ^ Walker, Brent E. (2010). Mack Sennett's Fun Factory: A History and Filmography of His Studio and His Keystone and Mack Sennett Comedies, with Biographies of Players and Personnel. McFarland Inc. p. 295. ISBN 9780786457076. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
See also
editExternal links
edit- The short film The Knockout is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
- The Knockout at IMDb
- The Knockout on YouTube
- The Knockout at the TCM Movie Database
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