The Cook (1918)

Cooks make hovoc in seaside resort hotel.

Director:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle

Writer:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (story)

Stars:

Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle	...	Chef
Buster Keaton	...	Assistant Chef
Al St. John	...	Holdup Man
Alice Lake	...	Waitress / Cashier
Glen Cavender
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luke the Dog	...	Dog

Storyline

In an attempt at greater efficiency, the chef of a fancy oceanside restaurant and his assistant wreak havoc in the establishment. Adding to the complications is the arrival of a robber.

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Plot Keywords:

seaside resort | cook | restaurant | dog | fishing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1918 (USA)

Also Known As:

El chef

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comique Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Considered lost for several years. A surviving print was found and shown, for the first time in over 70 years, in Venice 1999. The surviving print was found in the attic of a former hospital in Norway. Apparently, the director of the hospital in the 1920s and 30s felt that laughter and comedy helped soothe mentally challenged patients and kept a collection of short films by Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin on hand. None of the other short films found were considered lost.

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Connections

Featured in Silent Clowns: Buster Keaton (2006)

User Reviews

What silent comedy should be

I was amazed at the effortlessness and grace of this "lost and found" Fatty Arbuckle-Buster Keaton comedy. The first reel is particularly hilarious, with Fatty cooking and juggling his utensils, "flipping a flap" onto waiter Buster's plate. A less inhibited Buster also provides a spontaneous, exotic dance. And, as usual, Arbuckle's nephew, Al St. John, heartily contributes to the anarchy.

One get the sense that these three men (along with Luke the dog) had the time of their lives designing such memorable slapstick!

This treat ranks alongside "The Garage" has one of the best Keaton-Arbuckle shorts!