The big picture
- Chris Farley was set to play silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle in a biopic before the former's tragic death in 1997.
- Farley and Arbuckle also struggled with fame, self-esteem, and the pressures of celebrity.
- Although the project did not come to fruition, Arbuckle's portrayal of Farley may have shown an unseen talent.
Making a name for himself with improvisational performances via The Second City, Chris Farley he hit the big time with a five-year career Saturday night live and successfully transitioned into film acting with several beloved roles. But his life and career were tragically cut short by his untimely death on December 18, 1997. Decades later, however, Farley's legacy remains as cherished as ever, as Hollywood prepares to adapt the 2009 book, The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Actsfor the big screen with Paul Walter Hauser playing the legendary performer and actor Josh Gad directing
While Farley is widely remembered by audiences for his hilarious turns as maniacal motivational speaker Matt Foley, an aspiring Chippendales dancer opposite. Patrick Swayzeand the lovable titular character of the 1995s Tommy Boy, there was another side to the comedy legend that never fully made it to the screen. As is often the case with comedians, Farley had aspirations of exploring more dramatic fare before his death, and among the list of projects he had lined up was a biopic about famed silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle.
Who was Roscoe Arbuckle?
Born in 1887, Roscoe Arbuckle would make a name for himself as a young man performing in vaudeville, carnivals and traveling theater companies. Multi-talented and versatile, he sang, told jokes and even tried magic tricks. But physical ability was his highest mark despite having a robust frame and weighing up to 300 pounds for much of its life. After years of acting, he gained more attention after appearing in several films produced by Keystone Studios, a major player in the production of comedy films in the silent era. It was around this time that he also began to exercise greater control over his work through writing and directing. And it was while working for Keystone that he acquired an unfortunate nickname that would stick with him for years: Fatty.
Steadily rising through the film ranks, Arbuckle took over the Comique Film Corporation in 1917, making several short films as director and protagonist. While working at Comique, he arguably made one of his greatest contributions to the film industry when he met a young, unknown performer named Buster Keaton. With a keen eye for talent and a generous spirit, he believed in Keaton as a talent and took a chance on hiring the aspiring actor. It wouldn't be long before the two men forged a creative partnership that led to a close friendship. As he took on more responsibility as a filmmaker and actor, Arbuckle's star continued to rise even after he began to rely less and less on physical comedy.. In 1921, however, one of the film industry's first major controversies erupted, and the 34-year-old Arbuckle found himself at the center.
A highly publicized scandal derailed Roscoe Arbuckle's career
In September 1921, Roscoe Arbuckle was doing very well. As one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, bringing in $1 million a year courtesy of Paramount Pictures, he traveled to San Francisco for a Labor Day meeting. In the midst of the days of prohibition and relentless partying, he and a group of friends and acquaintances went for three days in the adjoining rooms of the Hotel St. Francis. Among the attendees was a 25-year-old aspiring actress Virginia Rappe and her friend Maude Delmont, the latter of which would play a major role in derailing Arbuckle's thriving career. According to Delmont, shortly after Arbuckle and Rappe got together in private, Rappe was heard screaming and, upon inspection, appeared to be in pain and claimed Arbuckle assaulted her. After being taken to a hospital, Rappe died on September 9 of a ruptured bladder.
As scandalous wheels were set in motion, media mogul William Randolph Hearst seized on the incident and ran accusatory and scathing headlines about the actor's alleged assault on Virginia Rappe. Although Maude Delmont would later be determined to have a history of fraud and extortion, her scathing but unverified testimony against Arbuckle put the nail in the coffin. While the actor had some support from Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, both rushed to his defense and made statements about his honorable character, the damage to his reputation had been done. In accordance with Smithsonian Magazine, several jurors issued the following statement in Arbuckle's third trial: “Acquittal is not enough for Roscoe Arbuckle. We believe that a great injustice has been done to him… there was not the slightest evidence adduced to connect him in any way with the commission of the crime.”
Although the silent film star avoided criminal conviction, his career and public image would never fully recover. The negative publicity led Hollywood to distance itself from Arbuckle, even leading to a temporary ban on his films before the infamous Hays Code censorship regime, which would be implemented years later as a result of 'these notorious scandals involving movie stars and filmmakers. Under a pseudonym, Arbuckle continued to work throughout the 1920s as a manager and even returned to his vaudeville roots. On June 29, 1933, he died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Chris Farley became interested in the story of Roscoe Arbuckle
By 1997, Chris Farley had quickly risen through the ranks of fame and show business. As one of the outstanding stars of the cast of his generation Saturday night live, gave audiences some of the show's most iconic characters, bringing a level of freaky energy and slapstick comedy to the show that hadn't been seen in years. But the small screen simply wasn't big enough to contain his abilities as a performer, and his transition from TV to movies was swift. Despite some critics' lack of enthusiasm, Farley was a favorite among viewers Tommy Boy, Black Sheepi Beverly Hills Ninja among others. And like many comedians, he wanted to challenge himself by trying his hand at meaningful and dramatic material.
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Before he died at the age of 33, one of the many projects Farley had in the works would have seen him play Roscoe Arbuckle in a biopic. In his book, The Chris Farley Show, Tom Farley (Chris' brother) sheds light on a meeting the actor had with a renowned playwright and screenwriter David Mamet to discuss the planned film. “Chris came to the meeting at a little restaurant in town, and he was the good Chris, the well-mannered Chris, because he couldn't believe that David Mamet didn't even want to meet him,” Farley writes. “Mamet loved it. It was a great meeting. He said yes before we even got off the table, and he wrote it for Chris. To this day, I know it would have changed his career.” Although the film never quite came to fruition, the idea that Chris Farley stepped into the shoes of the silent actor remains an exciting prospect to speculate about.
Chris Farley saw himself in Roscoe Arbuckle
Chris Farley's struggles with self-esteem and substance abuse are well known. As with many comedians, his desire to win the approval of others was undoubtedly an influential factor in his work, so it is not surprising that he was drawn to Roscoe Arbuckle's life story given the parallels between the two men. Despite their obvious physical similarities and talent for slapstick humor, Farley and Arbuckle had reservations about using their physical girth for each other's entertainment. Coping with the spotlight of fame, they struggled with the often overwhelming pressure that comes with celebrity. But regardless of the level of self-consciousness that could lead to insecurity, they both had an unwavering desire to entertain.
According to Tom Farley, “As soon as he heard little details about Arbuckle's life, he said, 'That's me.'” It was the idea that no one understands the real person underneath.I'll tell you about the real Fatty Arbuckleand maybe they'll understand the real Chris Farley.'” Perhaps this role would have opened new and promising doors for Chris Farley, taking him to greater heights of opportunity and recognition. While we'll never know exactly what his portrayal of Arbuckle would have arrived at, it is safe to assume that he had an innate and deep understanding of the man he was to play and that the result may have surprised the audience by revealing a level of depth and performative insight they had not yet seen from the. comic actor
