Mister Fatty
Is the character "Mister Fatty" supposed to be Fatty Arbuckle?
shareDon't know. Never saw the movie but did own "movie book". I was only 14 at the time so I seriously doubt I would've been allowed to watch it.
It would make sense though, albeit not flattering. His real name was Roscoe.
I did see the REAL Nureyev once in Don Quixote when I was in my early 20s, unbelievable!. It was the only time I went through the notorious "Combat Zone" (Boston)!
Not flattering is a gentle way to put it. This film is almost entirely fiction, and the Arbuckle character is the most seriously libeled. He was never loud, obnoxious, and quick tempered as he's portrayed in the film, (nor did he and Valentino ever quarrel), and he certainly never paraded around with two different women on his arm. And though he drank, (more so after he was more or lessframed by a trumped up murder charge), he was known as being quite shy and courteous. He didn't gather "orgies" as was stated in press, and despite being blackballed by his own studio and several theater owners, Valentino and numerous other stars of the day, including his best friend Buster Keaton, came rallying to his defense. Obviously he's not here to defend himself, but it is sad to see that even 50 years after his career was destroyed, he was still being smeared when this film came out. Even sadder is the fact that many will take it as fact.
shareThis is just Ken being Ken,as he is more interested in making a statement, then he is in presenting a history lesson. And what would a Russell film be without a "smear" or two. Especially, with his two favorite targets: religion . . .
"Crimes of Passion" -- street corner preachers
"The Devils" -- nuns
"Lair of the White Worm" -- boy scouts
"Tommy" -- messiahs
. . . and the Wagner Family
"Lisztomania" -- Richard
"Mahler" -- Cosima
And if one thinks this "smear" is bad, then one probably has not seen "Dance of the Seven Veils." Even Russell's strongest supporters cringe at what Ken has to say about Richard Strauss in that one.