The Villain

The Villain

21 mins | Comedy | July 14, 1917

In The Villain, Billy attempted something a little different. He's still imitating Chaplin, but this time he's playing the wicked, top-hatted Charlie found in some of his earliest Keystone appearances (e.g. Mabel at the Wheel), the ones where Charlie himself seemed to be imitating the studio's recently departed Ford Sterling. Throughout this short there is much spoofing of old-time melodramas, a frequent motif of Sterling's comedies.

The Villain

21 mins | Comedy | July 14, 1917

The Villain
In The Villain, Billy attempted something a little different. He's still imitating Chaplin, but this time he's playing the wicked, top-hatted Charlie found in some of his earliest Keystone appearances (e.g. Mabel at the Wheel), the ones where Charlie himself seemed to be imitating the studio's recently departed Ford Sterling. Throughout this short there is much spoofing of old-time melodramas, a frequent motif of Sterling's comedies.
Producers King Bee Studios
Original title The Villain
Directors Arvid E. Gillstrom
Writers

Cast

Billy West

as The Villain

Oliver Hardy

as Nell

Florence McLaughlin

as Florence

Bud Ross

as Nell's Sweetheart

Ethelyn Gibson

as Unknown role

Leo White

as Unknown role

Joe Cohen

as Unknown role