The Bell Boy (1918)

In the 1918 film “The Bell Boy,” you’ll find Arbuckle and Buster Keaton taking on the roles of bellboys at the Elk’s Head Hotel. Interestingly, many of the comedic elements from this film reappeared later in Keaton’s 1937 production, “Love Nest on Wheels.” Notably, there’s a sequence featuring a mop that Keaton recycled for one of his final film appearances in “The Scribe.”

Interesting Tidbits and Notable Slip-Ups:

1. Elevator Drama: During the “elevator malfunction” sequence, the elevator, three segments of the elevator cable, and even the horse pulling the cable seem to have a mind of their own, moving or staying put independently.
2. Mop Mischief: In the scene where Buster playfully drips mop water into the guest’s top hat, keen observers will spot his feet positioned differently in both long and close-up shots.
3. In this rare instance, Buster Keaton can be seen wearing a smile, a departure from his usual demeanor in films.

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Cast

• Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle as Bellboy, barber
• Buster Keaton as Bellboy
• Al St. John as Desk Clerk
• Alice Lake as Cutie Cuticle, manicurist
• Joe Keaton as Guest
• Charles Dudley as Guest

The Bell Boy (1918) – Story line

In this classic silent comedy, the bumbling bellhops Buster and Fatty fumble luggage and slack on the job at their hotel. When a guest resembling Rasputin arrives seeking a shave, barber Fatty obliges, styling his hair into figures like Grant, Lincoln and the Kaiser.

Their attention turns to the new manicurist Cutie, and the rivals start fighting for her affections. While Fatty finishes with Rasputin, Buster gets stuck in the elevator. Trying to free him, Fatty accidentally launches Cutie onto a mounted moose head, but both bellhops rescue her – though Fatty takes all the credit and charms Cutie.

To look more heroic for Cutie, Fatty has Buster and the clerk pretend to rob the bank so he can “stop” them. But the bank is already being robbed for real!

In the chaos, the crooks get away on a horse and trolley, with the bellhops and constable giving chase on foot and motorcycle. The trolley detaches uphill and speeds back, crashing into the hotel. The thieves are arrested, Fatty is rewarded for “catching” them, and plants a kiss on smitten Cutie.