Fisticuffs: Lupino Lane's Wild Ride 🥊

Alright, so if you're someone who gets a kick out of old-timey slapstick and just wants to see people fall down a lot, then Lupino Lane's Fisticuffs is definitely worth a look. If you need a story with, you know, words or a plot that makes sense, you're probably going to be pretty bored. This one’s for the silent film buffs, for sure, or anyone who appreciates the sheer athleticism of early screen comedians.

Lupino Lane, he's just… *built* for this stuff. His body moves like a spring-loaded doll. He twists, he tumbles, he bounces off walls in ways that still feel fresh, even a century later. You can tell he put his back into every single gag.

The movie is basically a sequence of escalating fights, often starting from the most mundane things. Like, someone bumps into someone else, and suddenly it's a full-on street brawl with five people involved. It's less about actual violence and more about the beautiful chaos of it all.

There's this one bit where he's trying to get away from a particularly grumpy fellow, played by Harry Dunkinson, and he just keeps slipping on a patch of ice. It goes on maybe 15 seconds too long, but then it becomes hilarious, like the universe itself is conspiring against him. Dunkinson’s mustache, by the way, deserves its own separate billing. It’s magnificent.

Ruth Eddings also pops up, and she brings a nice bit of exasperated charm to the proceedings. She's usually the one caught in the crossfire, looking utterly bewildered by the whole thing. Her reactions are just priceless, a subtle counterpoint to all the madness.

The pacing here is pretty relentless. It just keeps moving, from one ridiculous scenario to the next. You can almost feel the movie going, "Okay, what's the next silly thing we can do?" It doesn’t waste any time. And honestly, it doesn't need to.

One particular sequence involves a ladder, a bucket of water, and about three different people trying to climb over each other. It’s pure, unadulterated physical comedy. The kind of thing that probably took a dozen takes to get right, but it looks so effortlessly clumsy.

Wallace Lupino, another Lupino, is also great in his own smaller role. He’s got this wonderfully bewildered expression, like he just wandered into the wrong movie set. It adds another layer to the general mayhem.

The film doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's a short, sharp dose of laughs. No grand message, no deep character arcs, just good old-fashioned pratfalls. And sometimes, that's really all you need.

Did I mention the moment Lupino Lane slides down a banister, lands perfectly, and then immediately trips over his own feet? It’s *chef's kiss* perfect. You just gotta see it.

It’s not trying to be The Captive God or anything heavy like that. It’s light. It’s fast. And it’s a genuine smile-inducer. Just turn your brain off and enjoy the ride. 😊