Get ready to close the festival with a smile!
LAFFS IN THE AFT (formally 1000 Laffs) a trio and a bit of the best in silent comedy
*programming change-see below. For Heaven's Sake is being replaced by a rare comedy treat. Not to worry, Lloyd will return at a future date
Live Accompaniment: Jordan Klapman
Programmer and silent comedy expert Chris Seguin presents The Attack of the straw Boatered Comedians ;)
Laffs in the Aft presents a film never released in Canada or the US. It belonged on the big screen so we're bringing it back! Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in LEAP YEAR 1921.
Plus the attack of the straw boatered comedians.
Nothing says snappy slapstick like a chap sporting a straw boater. This year, the TSFF is proud to present the ever-embarrassed Charley Chase and a pre-Oliver Hardy Stan Laurel in a pair of comic triumphs.
But in our main feature, LEAP YEAR made in 1921 but never released in North America, is special. Special because of the man who made it, often called "the fourth genius of comedy" Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Arbuckle is also noted as the one of the most frequently asked for comedians at the Festival. Roscoe plays a young man, set to inherit millions from his crusty, misogynistic uncle and who falls for a nurse. That's sounds all well and fine unless you get yourself in more trouble by giving marriage advice to all his girlfriends.
But first, Stan Laurel sports a skimmer (in lieu of his trademark derby) in A MAN ABOUT TOWN, a fun ten minutes of merry mix-ups. Laurel & Hardy’s ubiquitous nemesis, James (“D’oh!”) Finlayson, joins in as a store detective who bases most of his detecting on a hunch.
ASSISTANT WIVES* sees Charley Chase, silent comedy’s ultimate everyman (if every man was unusually charming, charismatic and clever) in search of a wife — pronto! — to impress the boss. What follows is a frantic farce full of mistaken identities, slamming doors, clambering up and down fire escapes, and soup going unspilled.
Finally, we showcase a certain iconic animated mouse is his very first film (not the one you think), which was designed and produced for the silent screen. We’re proud to present it with a brand new score by our own Jordan Klapman.
*TSFF is grateful to Kit Parker Films, Richard M. Roberts and Paul Gierucki for the use of the new restoration of Assistant Wives and to Paul Gierucki again for screening materials of Leap Year.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!