Forgotten Funnymen - Al St. John (DVD)

Before becoming one of the perennial screen sidekicks during the Western boom of the 1930s and '40s, Al St. John was a top comedy star of the silent era, appearing in many classic one- and two-reel shorts early in his career, often working with his real-life uncle, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Four of these classic shorts are included in this special collection.

St. John would reinvent himself as the bearded, grizzled saddle tramp "Fuzzy Q. Jones," in support of Buster Crabbe, Lash LaRue and even John Wayne. So popular was his new screen alter-ego that St. John was frequently billed as "Fuzzy" St. John. By the time of his death in 1963, St. John had appeared in almost 300 movies in a career that spanned over 50 years.

FATTY AND MABEL'S SIMPLE LIFE (1915): Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand are a "poor but honest" couple and St. John her unwanted suitor. Starring Al St. John, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand; Directed By Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

THE WAITERS' BALL (1916): There's trouble in the kitchen when "wobbly waiter" St. John clashes with short-order cook Arbuckle. Starring Al St. John, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle; Directed By Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.

STUPID, BUT BRAVE (1924): Luckless hobo St. John tries to nail down a job but calamity follows him at every turn. Starring Al St. John, Eugene Pallette; Directed By William Goodrich (Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle).

BRIDGE WIVES (1932): In this sound short, St. John plays a husband exasperated by his wife's total obsession with card playing. Starring Al St. John, Fern Emmett; Directed By William Goodrich (Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle).

• comedy