Fatty Arbuckle

The clowns of the American silent screen bring laughter to a new generation in this wonderful box set, featuring 53 short films from the era's funniest comic talents: Laurel and Hardy, Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Mack Sennett, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, Harry Langdon, Will Rogers, Ben Turpin and more. Meticulously prepared for DVD with fresh new musical scores, "Slapstick Encyclopedia" is a unique collection of silent comedy gems.

Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle made his triumphant return to comedy in the six sparkling Vitaphone shorts he headlines in this collection, two co-starring Shemp Howard himself. While Fatty’s return was tragically cut short by his untimely passing, another talent was on the rise – Shemp Howard, sporting one unforgettable mug. Witness Shemp’s career path from bit player to chief second banana in the span of two short years. The 18 shorts found in this 2-Disc collection were all shot in Depression Era Brooklyn by the Vitaphone team, providing a magical (and hilarious!) look at a lost time and place.

Charlie Chaplin joined Mack Sennett’s Keystone Film Company in late 1913 after being seen in Fred Karno’s touring vaudeville troupe. After a few initial uneasy steps, his rise was meteoric — making 35 films in a single year, directing more than half of them, and developing his much-loved persona, the Tramp.

Charlie Chaplin joined Mack Sennett’s Keystone Film Company in late 1913 after being seen in Fred Karno’s touring vaudeville troupe. After a few initial uneasy steps, his rise was meteoric — making 35 films in a single year, directing more than half of them, and developing his much-loved persona, the Tramp.