Top-Tier Alternatives In the Shadow of The Garage: Cult Guide

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Johnny, the tourist, picks up the girl walking back from an auto ride. She invites him to dine with her folks. The pair of crooks are also dining there and discover the value of a well on the premises. Helen's parents are warned that unless the taxes are paid that day the property will be forfeited. Johnny overhears the crooks plotting and with Helen in the flivver starts for the tax office at the same time the crooks start in their touring car. Both machines meet with difficulties, with the flivver the eventual winner.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of My Stars perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Johnny tries hard to impress his girl, but she seems to be much more interested in movie stars.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Lupino Lane is a wealthy young sap very much loved by the young hostess at the party, but not by the young clubman athlete who is his rival. The latter finds cause to eject him from the house and does so. Lane is advised to start training in a gymnasium and eventually to get his revenge. After six lessons he thinks the time has arrived, but gets himself another beating. A month later a regular bout between them is arranged and after a terrific battle Lane is again defeated. Still later he meets the girl and his rival on the links and in a rough, and tumble fight wins, only to find the girl has fled over the course with two other suitors.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Fighting Dude perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

When Buttonshoe Bill steals some papers from Buckwheat Ben, and kidnaps Ben's daughter, Rodney Hemingway comes to the rescue.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Reggie Hemingway is a rich broker who continually bullies his valet. World War I breaks out and the valet enlists immediately. Reggie goes to the army later and arrives at the training camp to find that his valet is now a tough sergeant in charge of the recruits.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Curses! perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

In 1830, a train known as the Iron Mule is loaded with passengers, and starts off on its trip. Along the way, the train faces numerous obstacles and delays. The engineer is prepared for most of them, but the real challenges come when the train is ambushed by Indians.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Buster manages the store while Roscoe delivers the mail, taking time out for hide-and-seek with Molly. The constable, also interested in Molly, steals $300 while being observed by Buster.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of His Private Life perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Working their fingers to the bone to prepare the set for an upcoming performance, the enthusiastic stagehands, Roscoe and Buster, find themselves on stage when the cast quits. However, is will alone enough to earn a big round of applause?

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

The Sheriff is a "desert hero," so lucky as never to get a scratch amid all the shooting, such a remarkable shot himself that he hits the cuckoo in a clock and causes it to drop into a glass of beer below, converting it to a cocktail. He thwarts all the villains, foils all the plots, rescues the persecuted maiden, destroys the bar, closes the dance hall, and is instrumental in converting a long line of hardened gunmen to lives of usefulness as members of the Salvation Army.

Dir: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

A young man faces perilous adventures when he is evicted from his apartment.