The Fatty Arbuckle case (1962)

puttees and megaphone (the uniform for directors of the day), reported for duty to the small studio in Culver City. Doris came down to watch. With a copy of the script in his hand he showed Mary Tinsdale how he wanted her to hang up clothes so that various pieces of underthings would hit Walsh in the face as he tried to reason with her. "You're pouting," explained Arbuckle, "because your husband is using the car when you need it So you do everything angrily and quickly, but not too quickly." He illustrated how the clothes should be hung, playing her part. Then he illustrated Walsh's part and how he should react Then he yelled, "Action." He wasn't pleased with the first take and tried it again, with Mary first hanging up a pair of men's long underwear for a big laugh starter. He liked the second take. After it Doris took him aside and asked, "Do you think it might be dangerous for you to do a scene with long underwear just in case they find out Will B. Good is Roscoe Arbuckle?" "They won't find out," answered Arbuckle He liked directing. It was not like taking pratt falls, but he was happy, involved again in movie working. He'd work from early morning until late at night with his actors, trying to get the laughs. He had a big scene in which George, leaving on a business trip but very much in love with his Mary, was to say goodbye to her from the train steps. The train stops and goes, jerking and pulling, each time catapulting him into and out of her arms. Arbuckle took George's place and ran through the action. It was very funny and the crew and cast roared. Arbuckle retired to a dressing room where he sobbed. "I love to act and to make people laugh," he cried to his dresser. "This is no life for me." Doris, hearing of her husband's plight humored him and told him he would soon be back in front of the cameras. But Arbuckle now had his doubts. As he and Doris 146