Anyone who has read Jerry Stahl's remarkable fictionalised autobiography I, Fatty or David Yallop's The Day the Laughter Stopped will know that Arbuckle was a mighty talent of the early silent era and that he was definitely more sinned against than sinner. Arbuckle's many innovations as physical comedian, writer and director of over 150 shorts had a profound influence on everyone from Chaplin and Keaton to Bob Hope and Chris Farley. Arbuckle was a consummate craftsman and the very essence of the appeal of silent comedy is in the films he made before scandal struck him low. Park Circus has quite a body mass index when it comes to the work of Mr Arbuckle. From stellar Arbuckle and Keaton shorts The Bellboy, Back Stage (pictured) and Butcher Boy to the equally delightful, sadly relevant sanatorium-set comedy Good Night, Nurse! It's time to loosen that Arbuckle.
