The Round Up (Blu-ray + DVD)

For some mysterious reason, producer Adolph Zukor decided to set the slapstick aside for Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's first full-length feature. Instead, he cast him in this Western comedy-drama, with an emphasis on the drama. In addition, Arbuckle's role of sheriff "Slim" Hoover was a secondary one, in spite of his star billing. The sheriff figures very little in the plot, which involves Dick Lane (Irving Cummings), a prospector given up for lost and his sweetheart, Echo Allen (Mabel Julienne Scott), who decides she loves Jack Payson (Tom Forman) anyhow. Dick's gold dust has been taken by Buck McKee (a villainous Wallace Beery, who stole the show), and McKee left him in the desert to die. Dick's brother Buddy gets tangled up in McKee's affairs and a hold up they commit is pinned on Payson. Eventually Slim rounds up the U.S. Cavalry and captures the bad guys. Lane is located, but he is mortally wounded, and Echo and Payson are happily married. The final shot shows Arbuckle, alone, saying, "Nobody loves a fat man." Nobody loved this picture, and it was a disappointment to his fans. A couple of interesting notes -- Arbuckle's longtime pal and former collaborator, Buster Keaton, stopped by to play an Indian extra. Also, the picture was based on a stage play by Edmund Day and during its long theatrical run the sheriff was played by Macklyn Arbuckle -- no relation to Roscoe.