The Washington times., 1915-05-04
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
John Bunny Made the
World Laugh, But
Never Caused
It to Blush

Motion picture producers through
out the world will find much to
profit them by studying the methods
OF the late John Bunny. The big.
genial comedian-the author of the
greatest amount OF clean fun that
has been exhibited on the screen
never appeared In a picture that had
the slightest taint OF coarseness or
vulgarity. The leader in what has
been called the slapsuck comedy,
as well as the more quiet and refined
sort, he never resorted to methods
that were questionable to secure a
laugh.
Coarseness and vulgarity have
no place on the screen. There
10 not the slightest excuse
tor them. While few people
might laugh, In the long run
they destroy not only the value. the
drawing power. Of the comedian
OF utilizing them, but likewise the
company that permits him to use
them In its production.
Comedy Is the most difficult thing
20 secure for the motion picture, so
the producers tell us. They have
the greatest trouble in finding good
humorous subjects. This prob
ably accounts for the imita-
tive character Of the comedy
In most screen product lions.
One company finds q character that
makes a hit with the people in the
original reels-or set of charac-
ters. And then most OF the other
companies attempt to produce the
same kind Of a thing-usually maxi
tnT rather poor limitations Of the
When unfavorable criticism has
been evoked by a broad comedy the
attack on the slapstick style. Slap
stick comedy is perfectly good COM
edy. many times. 1t Is very laugh
able and Is much in demand by q
class Of people representing practi-
cally every strata of society. There
should not turn out slapstick COM
edies to their hearts content. so
long as It is salable.
The objection we have to much OF
the slapstick that is being shown
today Is that 1t depends upon meth
DDS and situations that are In ques-
donable taste. Some years ago
one OF the greatest none y-making
hrms In the amusement business was
the Hanlon Brothers. They pro-
duced a wide variety Of comedy OF
tho pure slapstick style. 1t had
tho very broadest character The
most limited mental effort was re-
Suired to understand it and yet II
was the cleanest, most enjoyable
sort Of comedy. for the reason that
It never descended to Questionable e
methods.
There are a number OF people of
@e highest intelligenas who Nke
this sort Of thing. There isn't the
slightest reason why they shouldn t.
The most laughable situation in the
have studied the subject. is tina,
sips and p yal. an on ga banaDa %o%aa peeInS Mne
Such an incident. seen on the street
provokes q laugh from the mos,
eaturnine. The slapstick comedy is
based upon the same principal; /,
It 10 humor. And there Is every
reason why 1t should be continued
In his lifetime John Bunny real
ised this. Max Linder, the French
comedian also realized it. And yet
neither Of them ever stopped to
make anything else of 1t. They de-
veloped It. twisted 1t. revamped it,
and got laugh after laugh Of pure.
innocent amusement. There is an
other comedian on the screen today,
who. by his quaint figure, his ridicu-
lous mannerisms. and his real COM
edy walk and general makeup. has
the opportunity to make himself a
real comedy classic-provided he
sticks to legitimate comedy. His
style is broadly slapstick.
He can do it probably as we'll as
any one who has been seen on the
stage or on the screen. But there
has been a tendency to vulga rity
and coarseness in the photoplays in
which he has recently been seen
that will soon destroy his usefulness
as an entertainer II hts methods are
not revised.
John Bunny will be held in pleas
ant memory by people of every ma
ton His name will be as great ir
the history Of the photoplay as |.
that Of Jefferson or Florence Of
John T. Raymond on the stage. Anc
for the same reason. His method,
were clean. wholesome, honest. Tn,
whole world laughed at Hmm,
single person in it ever blushed be
cause Of him, or had an unpleasan
unhealthy thought in connection
with any play in which he appeared
That. II seems to US. Is about tn,
hnest epitaph that could be given
paid entertainer. G.. NJ.