Luke the Dog is a frequent co-star in Fatty Arbuckle's Keystone comedies. And, frankly, most every time the dog shows up, the movie seems a little better! Really--this isn't just because I am a dog lover but because the dog was an excellent actor--perhaps better than some of the OTHER co-stars! While Luke's best film is Fatty and Mabel Adrift (though IMDb does not list this film among Luke's filmography), this is still a nice little film worth seeing. This isn't because there's a lot to the plot apart from the dog--there's way too much slapstick involving Fatty and Al St. John hitting each other. But, this very simple slapstick picks up greatly when Luke joins in and chases Al up a ladder and across roofs! He's a heck of a dog and seeing a person do all this just isn't too interesting.
8 Reviews
The originator of our American principle of "Guilty until proved innocent three times . . . "
cricket3016 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
" . . . and even then, you're still Guilty if any wannabe in the legal cogs or journalism racket feels like bamboozling the bumpkin majority which has always lorded it over the U.S. like an American Taliban" is pretty hilarious in FATTY'S FAITHFUL FIDO, which came out Pre-Scandal. According to Arbuckle himself, he may have met his nemesis, bladder cancer sufferer Virginia Rappe, the year FAITHFUL FIDO was made. Most everyone who actually knew Arbuckle testified at his three trials that he was the only actor in Hollywood history who was NOT a sex pervert. Naturally, this had all the ambitious Los Angeles D.A.'s salivating at the prospect of hiring a dying starlet butchered by her 6th abortion necessitated by the emissions of one of the thousands of REAL Sex-o-Maniacs to complain of a tummy ache for which Arbuckle provided an ice pack, which a previously convicted Racketeeress\forger\extortionist\bigamist could twist into an icicle dildo murder by way of HEARSAY accusation after "Miss" Rappe had been cremated. Patty Hearst's granddad, William Randolph "Rosebud" Hearst, made his fortune by headlining what all people with even half a brain knew to be Satanic lies from a consortium of perjurers, felons, crooked "lawmen," and prospective "Morality Czars" which have controlled Hollywood well into the 21st Century. Ironically, Hearst followed up Arbuckle's eventual acquittal with all kinds of Hollywood celebrity murders on his yacht, alongside of which Natalie Wood's drowning pales by comparison. But everyone was frightened of the Rosebud boy, so Karma did not catch up to the Hearst clan until CITIZEN KANE and the Symbionese Liberation Army. At the end of FATTY'S FAITHFUL FIDO, these real-life events are foreshadowed, as the honest Fatty, Satan (played by Al St. John), and the evil One Lung all end up together in the same Purgatorial vat of suffering.
Uneven Comedy With Luke the Dog As The Highlight
Snow Leopard23 November 2005
Luke the dog, engaging as always, is the highlight in this uneven but generally entertaining Keystone comedy. Although Luke is out of the action for much of the time, he still gets the best scenes, giving him a chance to show considerable resourcefulness and agility. The rest of it is hit-and-miss, combining some very funny moments with some stretches that are less entertaining.
The story has a familiar setup, with Roscoe Arbuckle and Al St. John playing rivals for the hand of Minta Durfee. St. John is helped of a crew of ruffians, but Arbuckle has Luke on his side, which makes it an even battle. Some of the more knockabout stretches are less funny, but there are some good highlights. Luke chasing St. John across the rooftops is probably the funniest, and there are also some good moments when St. John hires a henchman to get Arbuckle during a dance.
Part of the screen time is taken up with a stereotyped Chinese laundry owner played by Frank Hayes. Nothing at all against Hayes, whose distinctive appearance and style are a plus in any one-reeler. But the character is treated too roughly for those parts to be particularly funny.
The rest of it, though, is entertaining, and it has some good gags. It just would have been nicer to see more of Luke, since his scenes are both funny and engaging.
The story has a familiar setup, with Roscoe Arbuckle and Al St. John playing rivals for the hand of Minta Durfee. St. John is helped of a crew of ruffians, but Arbuckle has Luke on his side, which makes it an even battle. Some of the more knockabout stretches are less funny, but there are some good highlights. Luke chasing St. John across the rooftops is probably the funniest, and there are also some good moments when St. John hires a henchman to get Arbuckle during a dance.
Part of the screen time is taken up with a stereotyped Chinese laundry owner played by Frank Hayes. Nothing at all against Hayes, whose distinctive appearance and style are a plus in any one-reeler. But the character is treated too roughly for those parts to be particularly funny.
The rest of it, though, is entertaining, and it has some good gags. It just would have been nicer to see more of Luke, since his scenes are both funny and engaging.
Fatty, his dog, his rival and his crush
Horst_In_Translation5 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Fatty's Faithful Fido" is an American, black-and-white silent film from 1915, so this one is already over 100 years old. The director is Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle and he also plays the title character obviously. His antagonist is played by Al St. John, another silent film legend, and also some of the supporting players are names that people with an interest in the American silent film era may recognize if they really care for this kind of films. Sadly, I cannot say I am too impressed. the action here is as generic as it gets and the same like in many other silent film from back then. There are two rivals, one love interest, a pet and, most of all, lots of tohobohu, especially in the second half of the film. It is never really that funny and the film also suffers from a problem that many silent movies suffer from, namely the lack, in this case even complete lack, of enough intertitles that help the audience understand what is going on. As a consequence, I as as audience member was not really entertained at all by the slapstick comedy scenes following one another quickly. I've seen better stuff starring Arbuckle. Not recommended.
This film still entertains!
RINGO1214725 June 2001
While watching this movie I was amazed at how it can still be enjoyable after all these years. What was hilarious to audiences in 1915 spans time intact as to the laugh factor. While the plot is simple by standards of today this film shows that those early films were made to be part of a lasting medium. People involved in Fatty's Faithful Fido must have given thought to how audiences would react in years to come which showed great insight. Fatty is a riot. I really enjoyed the movie.
Fatty's Faithful Fido is an excellent Fatty Arbuckle comedy
tavm30 July 2007
This is an excellent Fatty Arbuckle comedy with Al St. John, his wife at the time Minta Durfee playing the girl both want, and Luke the Dog playing the title role. Lots of funny stuff involving bricks, rooftops, a dummy, a cat, a cross to mark a target, a Chinese laundry, its owner and bath inside, and a massive fistfight. Marvel at all the falls Mr. Arbuckle takes here! See Mr. St. John constantly try to either get away from Fido or have Fatty get knocked out or choked! Watch Ms. Durfee occasionally defend herself against Al! And see Fido get distracted by a cat after chasing St. John up a roof! This is one of the best Mack Sennett/Keystone comedies I've seen so far. Most highly recommended for silent movie fans especially those of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle!
Luke the Dog steals the show, though Al St. John comes in second
morrisonhimself27 November 2016
Even though Roscoe Arbuckle is listed as star, and the lovely Minta Durfee is billed second, Al St. John shines more brightly, but even he is overshadowed by Luke the Dog as "Fido."
Al and Roscoe are both tremendously gifted acrobatic actors, especially St. John, who carried his talent into countless roles during the coming years, especially into B Westerns.
Al "Fuzzy" St. John stole movie after movie from the likes of Buster Crabbe and Al "Lash" LaRue.
He was, in fact, one of the best cowboys on the silver screen.
Roscoe, known as "Fatty," didn't do so well, but became an admired director after a fatality incident ruined his reputation.
His own athleticism really made his role in this relatively minor short quite impressive. The story was slight, but the performers gave us LOTS of action, including fights galore.
"Fatty's Faithful Fido" is a charming knockabout that I do recommend your seeing, at least once.
Al and Roscoe are both tremendously gifted acrobatic actors, especially St. John, who carried his talent into countless roles during the coming years, especially into B Westerns.
Al "Fuzzy" St. John stole movie after movie from the likes of Buster Crabbe and Al "Lash" LaRue.
He was, in fact, one of the best cowboys on the silver screen.
Roscoe, known as "Fatty," didn't do so well, but became an admired director after a fatality incident ruined his reputation.
His own athleticism really made his role in this relatively minor short quite impressive. The story was slight, but the performers gave us LOTS of action, including fights galore.
"Fatty's Faithful Fido" is a charming knockabout that I do recommend your seeing, at least once.
Funny short
Michael_Elliott25 February 2008
Fatty's Faithful Fido (1915)
*** (out of 4)
Fatty and his bitter rival (Al St. John) get into a fight but Fatty's dog Fido saves the day. Later in the evening the rival hires two thugs to jump Fatty but the plan backfires. This is a pretty good short that moves by pretty quickly and contains some funny stunts and a couple nice fight sequences. The highlight is certainly the dog, real name Luke, who steals every single scene he's in. There's a great chase sequence where the dog has to climb up a ladder and do various other stunts.
*** (out of 4)
Fatty and his bitter rival (Al St. John) get into a fight but Fatty's dog Fido saves the day. Later in the evening the rival hires two thugs to jump Fatty but the plan backfires. This is a pretty good short that moves by pretty quickly and contains some funny stunts and a couple nice fight sequences. The highlight is certainly the dog, real name Luke, who steals every single scene he's in. There's a great chase sequence where the dog has to climb up a ladder and do various other stunts.
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