Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Butcher Boy (1917)

The Butcher Boy (1917) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 6 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   333 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for The Butcher Boy on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 April 1917 (USA) more
Genre:
Short | Comedy more
Plot:
Customers and clerks frolic in a general store. Roscoe walks out of the freezer wearing a fur coat, then does some clever cleaver tossing... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
Keaton's first! more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle ... Fatty / Saccharine (as 'Fatty' Arbuckle)

Buster Keaton ... Buster
Al St. John ... Alum
Josephine Stevens ... Almondine
Arthur Earle ... The Manager
Joe Bordeaux ... Accomplice (as Joe Bordeau)
Luke the Dog
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
30 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White (tinted)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
Certification:
Spain:T

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
First movie for Buster Keaton. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Great Stone Face (1968) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful:-
Keaton's first!, 29 August 2000
6/10
Author: Rob Bray (rbray50876@aol.com) from Salem, Oregon

The Butcher Boy was Buster Keaton's first steps into the world of cinema. And for this reason alone, the film has made its own niche in cinematic history. Although it stars Fatty Arbuckle, Fatty was unusually generous in allowing Buster a considerable amount of film time, considering how new Buster was to the medium. The Butcher Boy opens up at a butcher shop where Fatty, the butcher, deals with a number of customers in his own unique way. One, of which, happens to be Buster. The 21 year old Buster interacts with the veteran Arbuckle like someone who has been doing this all his life (a tribute to his vaudeville training). From the butcher shop the scene shifts to an all girl school in which Fatty, trying to sneak a visit with his girlfriend, disguises himself as a girl (dressing in drag seems to be a recurring theme in Fatty's films). His rival for the girl, Al St. John, does the same thing and utilizes Buster to assist him in an attempted kidnapping of the object of his affection. The plot, as with just about every comedic short of that era, has the feel of being made up on the spot. And although the film is void of any real belly laughs there are a few moments that might illicit a chuckle or two. However, the film stands best as simply a curiosity, and will always be remembered not so much as another Arbuckle film, but rather as the film that began the impressive film career of one of the true geniuses of comedy, Buster Keaton.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Butcher Boy (1917)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Hayseed A Reckless Romeo He Did and He Didn't His Wedding Night The Rough House
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Short section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.