The Round-up

As I have said often before, anyone who is a good cowboy is at the top of the movie profession. And Roscoe Arbuckle was a very good cowboy. Even if he was a sheriff, not a cowboy.

He knew how to mount his horse and seemed to be a good rider.

In fact, his acting was much better than would be expected by someone who knew only his knock-about and frequently hokey and silly comedies.

(When TCM presented "The Round-Up" on 18 October 2015, it was followed immediately by another example of good acting in "Life of the Party," a probably unfortunate title considering his acting career was ended by an incident at a party in his hotel room in San Francisco shortly afterward.)

All the actors, most of whom today are unknown, were excellent, and the directing included some great moving camera work.

"The Round-Up" is a wonderful surprise because Arbuckle, known entirely for comedy, played a (granted mild) dramatic role, but he pulled it off and reportedly audiences bought tickets.

So, it's a western and I'd buy a ticket, but it's such a good role for and by Roscoe Arbuckle I'd buy another ticket to see it again. And I highly recommend "The Round-Up" both for what it is, a very well-done movie, and for what most people wouldn't expect, a very good (sort of) dramatic performance by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.