Out West (1918)

“Out West” is a 1918 silent American comedy, a spoof of Westerns, featuring Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, and Al St. John. Notably, it marked Arbuckle’s first “Comique” film shot on the West Coast, in contrast to the prior five filmed in New York City. The story concept originated from Natalie Talmadge, who would later become Buster Keaton’s first wife.

In “Out West” (1918), following Fatty’s encounter with hostile Indians, a drifter bartender and a saloon owner join forces, facing a merciless outlaw targeting a vulnerable Salvation Army girl. What unfolds next in this showdown of wits?

*P.S: Similar to numerous American films from that era, Out West underwent edits mandated by city and state film censorship boards. For instance, the Chicago Board of Censors demanded the removal of scenes showing arrows in a man’s back and their subsequent removal, a man’s back being burned with gas flames, and the shooting of the bartender.

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Cast

• Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle portrays a Train Rider and Bartender.
• Buster Keaton takes on the roles of Sheriff and saloon owner.
• Al St. John plays Wild Bill Hickup.
• Alice Lake stars as Sue, the Salvation Army lady.
• Joe Keaton appears as a Man on the train.
• Ernie Morrison Sr. also features in the film.

Out West (1918) – Story line

Arbuckle plays a hobo who stows away on a train, getting tossed off after swiping food. Chased by Indians, he serendipitously arrives in Mad Dog Gulch and interrupts Wild Bill Hickup’s robbery. The sheriff appoints the hobo as the new bartender.

Later, a drunk Hickup causes chaos in the bar, getting forceful with Salvation Sue. The bartender and sheriff try knocking him out to no avail, instead subduing him by tickling until he flees.

Seeking revenge, Hickup kidnaps Sue as his gang distracts the lawmen. The bartender breaks free and pursues Hickup to his shack, where he once again tickles him into submission. The bartender and Sue then push the shack, with Hickup inside, off a hill.