While there are some funny scenes at an opera concerning Ford Sterling, with his crude pantomime demonstration of what he thinks of the woman sitting next to him, and Fatty Arbuckle, who is sitting with wife Mabel Normand and her mother in a row of seats across from Sterling and his two women, as well as some after that when Fatty ditches his wife and mother-in-law to join Sterling and his women in a restaurant, this was mostly a blah short for me about Fatty and Mabel's marriage, his cheating and neglecting her, and their eventual reconciliation. The whole thing was a bit too dramatic for a slapstick comedy with Sterling getting most of whatever laughs came. And I can't believe Mabel forgave Fatty so quickly! Worth a look for silent movie buffs, worth avoiding for everyone else.
8 Reviews
A bit generic, but not all bad
Horst_In_Translation28 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"That Little Band of Gold" is a 21-minute black-and-white silent film starring Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle and Mabel Normand in the lead roles. These two were easily among the biggest stars back then before both their careers plummeted quickly due to unlucky circumstances and a real criminal mystery in terms of the guy. Despite being only in their 20s, the duo had extremely prolific careers already and Arbuckle also wrote and directed this film. I like both, especially Normand, who is easily among my favorite silent film actresses, probably number one, but I must say their collaboration here did not really result into one of their best films. The two play a married couple and there is some chaos again as always and struggling relationships, but it's all more comedic than dramatic. Hardly anybody knows about Arbuckle today compared to the popularity of Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd, but he well deserves his place in silent film history, even if this 100-year-old film is probably not among his finest achievements.
Rather Amusing, & Just a Bit Poignant At Times
Snow Leopard8 February 2005
Mabel Normand, Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, and Ford Sterling make this short comedy rather amusing, despite only the sketchiest of plots. The gag material allows all three to get the chance to use their slapstick abilities and to have plenty of screen time. There are also a couple of moments when the story turns ever-so-slightly poignant, not for long, but enough to suggest that there is some depth behind the slapstick story.
The plot has 'Fatty' as a recently married husband, who has already begun to neglect his wife (Mabel). When Sterling, as Arbuckle's disreputable friend, happens on the scene, the domestic problems burst into conflict and slapstick. Most of it is pretty amusing, and the material is generally pretty good. Certainly it's the kind of thing that Arbuckle and Sterling, in particular, can do effortlessly.
Normand has fewer comic moments, but she makes her character very sympathetic, and amidst the comedy, she is able to communicate the hurt feelings caused by a carousing husband. She is also both funny and engaging in the finale. It's a pretty good movie overall.
The plot has 'Fatty' as a recently married husband, who has already begun to neglect his wife (Mabel). When Sterling, as Arbuckle's disreputable friend, happens on the scene, the domestic problems burst into conflict and slapstick. Most of it is pretty amusing, and the material is generally pretty good. Certainly it's the kind of thing that Arbuckle and Sterling, in particular, can do effortlessly.
Normand has fewer comic moments, but she makes her character very sympathetic, and amidst the comedy, she is able to communicate the hurt feelings caused by a carousing husband. She is also both funny and engaging in the finale. It's a pretty good movie overall.
Reginald Van Arbuckle
bkoganbing24 June 2007
That Little Band of Gold finds Roscoe Arbuckle newly married, but henpecked, living with both wife and mother-in-law. He's far from ready to settle down as a night at the opera where he winds up taking both his women with him proves.
The wife in this Mack Sennett feature is Mabel Normand. Said that both would have their careers end in scandal and die so young. Mabel has little to do in this film, but look winsome and hurt.
Watching Arbuckle perform he reminded me very much of Jackie Gleason when he would do his Reginald Van Gleason character. Same kind of loutish behavior even for one in a tuxedo. Mabel was the ever suffering Alice Kramden like wife, bringing him down to earth.
That Little Band of Gold was an interesting insight into one of the characters that Arbuckle created.
The wife in this Mack Sennett feature is Mabel Normand. Said that both would have their careers end in scandal and die so young. Mabel has little to do in this film, but look winsome and hurt.
Watching Arbuckle perform he reminded me very much of Jackie Gleason when he would do his Reginald Van Gleason character. Same kind of loutish behavior even for one in a tuxedo. Mabel was the ever suffering Alice Kramden like wife, bringing him down to earth.
That Little Band of Gold was an interesting insight into one of the characters that Arbuckle created.
Pretty good film--though still about average for Arbuckle
planktonrules16 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The film shows Fatty getting married to sweet Mabel. However, the film then cuts to a little time later, and Fatty is a terrible husband--out drinking and carousing. Shortly after arriving home after going on a bender, he is to take his wife and mother-in-law to the opera. Once they arrive, a still inebriated Fatty sees a buddy across the auditorium and begins calling out to him--annoying everyone in the theater. The two guys slip out and the friend (Ford Sterling) brings along two ladies. Fatty, a real jerk in this film, spends much of the film making passes at the one lady--but Ford also seems to like this lady best and they begin arguing over her. Then, of course, Fatty's reckoning day arrives and he gets it in the end--after an annoyed Sterling phones Fatty's wife to tell her about his actions!). Fortunately, although they decide to then divorce, there is a ray of hope at the end as Fatty repents and begs her to take him back.
A fun to watch film but nothing earth-shatteringly new or wonderful.
A fun to watch film but nothing earth-shatteringly new or wonderful.
Superior Keystone
boblipton5 August 2002
One of the excellent and innovative comedies that Roscoe Arbuckle directed and starred in during his last couple of years at Keystone. Although for his own starring vehicles for Comique he retreated to simpler plotting and camera work, in these, he experiments with lighting, camera movement. elaborate plotting and fairly elaborate gag sequences, as opposed to his artful toss-them-off technique in his Comique vehicles -- but then, he didn't have Buster Keaton to play against at Keystone.
In this one he is well supported, as usual, by Mabel Normand. Ford Sterling, in his Dutch Comic makeup, snarls his way amusingly through the piece also. In fact, Sterling steals the entire movie.... or perhaps Roscoe lets him have it.
In this one he is well supported, as usual, by Mabel Normand. Ford Sterling, in his Dutch Comic makeup, snarls his way amusingly through the piece also. In fact, Sterling steals the entire movie.... or perhaps Roscoe lets him have it.
This is a breezy number
deickemeyer24 October 2019
A two-reel farce comedy subject which finds Ford Sterling again with his former associates. Fatty and Mabel. The men take their ladies to the theater. Fatty and Mabel having been married but a short time before. Ford then lures his corpulent friend into a restaurant where they wine and dine Ford's friends, to the neglect of Fatty's wife. When Mabel appears there is trouble. A divorce follows and then both repent and they marry again. This is a breezy number, but escapes anything of a decidedly risque character. The photography is very fine. - The Moving Picture World, March 13, 1915
Disappointing
Michael_Elliott25 February 2008
That Little Band of Gold (1915)
** (out of 4)
Fatty and Mabel Normand are married but after the wedding he starts going out every night with his friends. Mabel finally demands that he takes her to the opera but once there he runs off with another woman for some drinks. Like many of Arbunkle's two-reelers, this one here spends about fifteen-minutes building everything up for the ending but none of it is very funny. Some of these two-reelers are very weird because it seems that they are never going for laughs and there's just way too much dead time before we get down to the action. Charley Chase can be spotted playing a telephone operator.
** (out of 4)
Fatty and Mabel Normand are married but after the wedding he starts going out every night with his friends. Mabel finally demands that he takes her to the opera but once there he runs off with another woman for some drinks. Like many of Arbunkle's two-reelers, this one here spends about fifteen-minutes building everything up for the ending but none of it is very funny. Some of these two-reelers are very weird because it seems that they are never going for laughs and there's just way too much dead time before we get down to the action. Charley Chase can be spotted playing a telephone operator.
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