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| '''Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle''' (], ] - ], ]) was an ] ] ] who gained the nickname "'''Fatty'''" (a name that he hated, and only used professionally) from his portly frame and who is best known for his involvement in the "Fatty Arbuckle scandal". He began his career with the ] in ] and soon after that he was a star in the '']'' comedies, eventually leaving and starring in a series of short films that won him acclaim and fortune around the world; at the height of his popularity, he was outshone only by ]. He also played together with ]. He discovered ] and made him a star; the duo became fast friends off the set. | '''Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle''' (], ] - ], ]) was an ] ] ] who gained the nickname "'''Fatty'''" (a name that he hated, and only used professionally) from his portly frame and who is best known for his involvement in the "Fatty Arbuckle scandal". He began his career with the ] in ] and soon after that he was a star in the '']'' comedies, eventually leaving and starring in a series of short films that won him acclaim and fortune around the world; at the height of his popularity, he was outshone only by ]. He also played together with ]. He discovered ] and made him a star; the duo became fast friends off the set. | ||
| At the height of his career, Arbuckle was under contract to ] for $1 million a year, at the time an astronomical sum. On ], ], Arbuckle took a break from his hectic film schedule, driving to San Francisco with two friends, ] and ]. The three checked into the ]. The three decided to have a party and invited several women to their suite. During the carousing, one of the women, a 26-year-old aspiring actress named ], became seriously ill, and she was examined by the hotel doctor, who concluded she was merely intoxicated. Rappe died three days later of ]. Matthew Brady, the San Francisco district attorney, quickly pursued charges against Arbuckle, releasing a statement to the press that essentially accused Arbuckle of raping or attempting to rape Rappe. However, the doctor who conducted the autopsy on Rappe found no evidence that violence had played any role in her death, nor did he find any evidence that she had been assaulted. Brady proceeded to trial against Arbuckle anyway. During the trial, Arbuckle testified that he had found Rappe vomiting in the bathroom and screaming in pain, that he had helped her to a bed, and that he had been alone with her no longer than 10 minutes. | |||
| Roscoe Arbuckle's career is seen by many film historians as one of the great tragedies of ]. At the height of his career, he suddenly found himself arrested and placed on trial for his role in the death of rising starlet ] - a charge he was acquitted of, though the case had to be tried three times before Arbuckle was pronounced innocent. The resulting infamy destroyed his career and his personal life.<div class="floatright">]</div>His case has been examined by scholars and historians over the years, and it is believed by most serious historians that Arbuckle was indeed an innocent man. | |||
| Roscoe Arbuckle's career is seen by many film historians as one of the great tragedies of ]. Although Arbuckle was acquitted of the allegations involving Rappe, the case had to be tried three times before he was pronounced innocent. The resulting infamy destroyed his career and his personal life. During the trial, morality groups nationwide called for Arbuckle to be sentenced to death, and studio moguls ordered Arbuckle's friends in the industry not to come to his public defense. | |||
| ⚫ | The Arbuckle case was one of three major scandals that rocked Hollywood, and led to calls for reform of the "indecency" being promoted by motion pictures. It resulted in the creation of the ], which set standards for decency in Hollywood films. | ||
| <div class="floatright">]</div> | |||
| His case has been examined by scholars and historians over the years, and it is believed by most serious historians that Arbuckle was indeed an innocent man. | |||
| ⚫ | The Arbuckle case was one of three major scandals that rocked Hollywood, and led to calls for reform of the "indecency" being promoted by motion pictures. It resulted in the creation of the ], which set standards for decency in Hollywood films. The ] banned all of Arbuckle's films, although ] later issued a statement that Arbuckle should be allowed to work in Hollywood. | ||
| <table align=left><tr><td>]</td></tr></table> | <table align=left><tr><td>]</td></tr></table> | ||
| Arbuckle tried to return to moviemaking, but audiences shunned him and he retreated into ] - in the words of his first wife "Roscoe only seemed to find solace and comfort in a bottle". ] attempted to help Arbuckle by letting him work on Keaton's feature films (Arbuckle has co-directing credit on Keaton's '']'' under the pseudonym of "Will B. Goodrich"), but Arbuckle had become irritable and difficult to control. Shortly before marrying for the third time, to Addie McPhail, Arbuckle signed a contract with ] to star in six two reel short comedies, using his own name. He finished the last of the two reelers on ] ], and was signed by ] to make a feature length film. | Arbuckle tried to return to moviemaking, but audiences shunned him and he retreated into ] -- in the words of his first wife, "Roscoe only seemed to find solace and comfort in a bottle". ] attempted to help Arbuckle by letting him work on Keaton's feature films (Arbuckle has co-directing credit on Keaton's '']'' under the pseudonym of "Will B. Goodrich"), but Arbuckle had become irritable and difficult to control. Shortly before marrying for the third time, to Addie McPhail, Arbuckle signed a contract with ] to star in six two reel short comedies, using his own name. He finished the last of the two reelers on ] ], and was signed by ] to make a feature length film, ''In the Dough''. | ||
| Roscoe Arbuckle died from ] on ], ], in ], ].<p> | Roscoe Arbuckle died from ] on ], ], in ], ].<p> | ||
Revision as of 02:27, 2 August 2004
Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 - June 29, 1933) was an American silent film comedian who gained the nickname "Fatty" (a name that he hated, and only used professionally) from his portly frame and who is best known for his involvement in the "Fatty Arbuckle scandal". He began his career with the Selig Polyscope Company in 1908 and soon after that he was a star in the Keystone Kops comedies, eventually leaving and starring in a series of short films that won him acclaim and fortune around the world; at the height of his popularity, he was outshone only by Charlie Chaplin. He also played together with Chester Conklin. He discovered Buster Keaton and made him a star; the duo became fast friends off the set.
At the height of his career, Arbuckle was under contract to Paramount Studios for $1 million a year, at the time an astronomical sum. On September 3, 1921, Arbuckle took a break from his hectic film schedule, driving to San Francisco with two friends, Lowell Sherman and Fred Fischbach. The three checked into the St. Francis Hotel. The three decided to have a party and invited several women to their suite. During the carousing, one of the women, a 26-year-old aspiring actress named Virginia Rappe, became seriously ill, and she was examined by the hotel doctor, who concluded she was merely intoxicated. Rappe died three days later of peritonitis. Matthew Brady, the San Francisco district attorney, quickly pursued charges against Arbuckle, releasing a statement to the press that essentially accused Arbuckle of raping or attempting to rape Rappe. However, the doctor who conducted the autopsy on Rappe found no evidence that violence had played any role in her death, nor did he find any evidence that she had been assaulted. Brady proceeded to trial against Arbuckle anyway. During the trial, Arbuckle testified that he had found Rappe vomiting in the bathroom and screaming in pain, that he had helped her to a bed, and that he had been alone with her no longer than 10 minutes.
Roscoe Arbuckle's career is seen by many film historians as one of the great tragedies of Hollywood. Although Arbuckle was acquitted of the allegations involving Rappe, the case had to be tried three times before he was pronounced innocent. The resulting infamy destroyed his career and his personal life. During the trial, morality groups nationwide called for Arbuckle to be sentenced to death, and studio moguls ordered Arbuckle's friends in the industry not to come to his public defense.
File:Arbuckle-Roscoe-sig.jpg
His case has been examined by scholars and historians over the years, and it is believed by most serious historians that Arbuckle was indeed an innocent man.
The Arbuckle case was one of three major scandals that rocked Hollywood, and led to calls for reform of the "indecency" being promoted by motion pictures. It resulted in the creation of the Production Code, which set standards for decency in Hollywood films. The Hays Office banned all of Arbuckle's films, although Will Hays later issued a statement that Arbuckle should be allowed to work in Hollywood.
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Arbuckle tried to return to moviemaking, but audiences shunned him and he retreated into alcoholism -- in the words of his first wife, "Roscoe only seemed to find solace and comfort in a bottle". Buster Keaton attempted to help Arbuckle by letting him work on Keaton's feature films (Arbuckle has co-directing credit on Keaton's Sherlock Jr. under the pseudonym of "Will B. Goodrich"), but Arbuckle had become irritable and difficult to control. Shortly before marrying for the third time, to Addie McPhail, Arbuckle signed a contract with Jack Warner to star in six two reel short comedies, using his own name. He finished the last of the two reelers on 28 June 1933, and was signed by Warner Brothers to make a feature length film, In the Dough.
Roscoe Arbuckle died from heart failure on 29 June, 1933, in New York City, New York State.
Buster Keaton stated repeatedly that Arbuckle died of a broken heart. Roscoe was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean by his third wife Addie McPhail, although it was erronously reported that he had been interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.