The Keystone Cops

The Bangville Police
R: Henry Lehrman. D: Mabel Normand, Fred Mace, Nick Cogley. P: Keystone Film Company. USA 1913

“The Keystone Cops (often spelled “Keystone Kops”) were fictional incompetent policemen, featured in silent film comedies in the early 20th century. The movies were produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. The idea came from Hank Mann who also played police chief Tehiezel in the first film before being replaced by Ford Sterling. Their first film was Hoffmeyer’s Legacy (1912) but their popularity stemmed from the 1913 short The Bangville Police starring Mabel Normand.
As early as 1914, Sennet shifted the Keystone Cops from starring roles to background ensemble, in support of comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle. The Keystone Cops serve as supporting players for Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand, and Chaplin in the first full-length Sennett comedy feature, Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1914), as well as in Mabel’s New Hero (1913) with Normand and Arbuckle (see below); Making a Living (1914) with Chaplin in his first screen appearance (pre-Tramp); In the Clutches of the Gang (1914) with Normand, Arbuckle, and Al St. John; and Wished on Mabel (1915) with Arbuckle and Normand, among others. Comedian/actors Chester Conklin, Jimmy Finlayson, Ford Sterling and director Del Lord were also Keystone Cops.”
Wikipedia

“The Keystone Kops were a ragtag gang and began as prize fighters, race car drivers, circus acrobats, strongmen, clowns, roustabouts and vaudevillians. They were a wild bunch, up for nearly any stunt the Sennett writers could concoct, and left behind a hilarious legacy of diverse performances. They were doused in oil, tossed off rooftops, launched into the ocean, butted by wild animals and plastered with pie. Their wacky “Kopwagon” was rigged to handle outrageous chases, near misses, collisions and explosions. Through improvisation and experimentation they developed many stunts and stunt techniques that remain popular today. The Keystone Kops were the first Movie Stunt Team and is a great example of why being a great acrobat is of so importance as a stunt performer.”
Donovan Montierth
Brothers’ Ink Productions

Mabel’s New Hero
R: Mack Sennett. D: Mabel Normand, Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Charles Inslee, Virginia Kirtley, Edgar Kennedy, ‘Keystone Kops’. P: Keystone Film Company. USA 1913

Pingback: Al St. John | TRAUM UND EXZESS - Silent Cinema Index
Pingback: A Tribute to Mabel Normand | Klaus Kreimeier
Pingback: Jean Durand | THE EARLY SILENT ERA 1895-1915
Pingback: Jean Durand: Zigoto, 1912 | THE EARLY SILENT ERA 1895-1915
Sid Eckroad 04:26 on May 27, 2020

Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any points for newbie blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

LikeLike
Klaus Kreimeier 17:42 on May 27, 2020

Sorry, Sid, I’m film historian and book author, but unfortunately I’m not able to help through any technical support.
KK

LikeLike
Maragaret Mazzeo 21:29 on August 31, 2020

After research a few of the weblog posts on your website now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site checklist and can be checking again soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

LikeLiked by 1 person
arlissarchives 18:46 on August 15, 2022

I heard a lot about the Sennett comedies in my teenage years, and especially glowing references to the Kops. But when I finally saw a couple of the films – poor looking prints on TV run at the wrong speed, I was crestfallen. Even then I could understand that the speed could be corrected, and even better image quality obtained. But I was surprised at the slapdash disorganization as the story unfolded. It was said these Keystones were often made up on the spot – Kid Auto Races in Venice is a good example – and from what I’ve seen through the years they sure looked like it. Today there’s been major restoration of the Keystones; image quality and speed look great and the music is quite appropriate. But the action still looks disorganized. On a brighter note, Mack Sennett was the star on a 1954 “This is Your Life” and there was an ongoing gag by guys dressed as the Kops coming in and running out quite disorganized. History repeats itself! Host Ralph Edwards finally stopped them and they introduced themselves – all Sennett veterans. The show can be seen on Youtube.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand | THE EARLY SILENT ERA 1895-1915
Klaus Kreimeier 18:36 on August 18, 2022

Thank you, Bob, for your post! Allright, the Sennett “comedies” look “slapdash disorganized”. I’d say: they are completely disorganized in deed, because they don’t intend to succeed as comedies but as pure action, high-speed action and very often violently demonstrated action. Action, action, action! Nothing else. And exactly that’s their special quality in early American, pre-Hollywood film history. You ask for the logic structure of story telling in the sense of “drama”, “comedy” etc.? Forget it, there is no story, no logic, no drama – instead you’ll find just their parodies. You ask for characters? There are no characters – instead you see “prize fighters, race car drivers, circus acrobats, strongmen, clowns, roustabouts and vaudevillians” (Donovan Montierth)”. In other words, we have to consider their background: it’s the world of pre-cinematic media of 19th century! All these people are used to “make up on the spot”. Call it childish, but the “Keystone comedies” took place during the childhood of cinema, let’s say between 1912 and 1917, five years for the box office, but up to now for a worldwide public in TV and on YouTube.
Bob, excuse me, in Germany we have over 35 degree C. since weeks, it’s not a good time to write extensive essays on film theory – anyway: let’s stay in contact!
Regards from Berlin, Klaus

LikeLike

Teilen mit:

Like this: