The Bangville Police
Encyclopedia
The Bangville Police is a 1913 comedy short starring Mabel Normand
and the Keystone Kops
(Fred Mace
, Raymond Hatton
, Edgar Kennedy
, Ford Sterling
, and Al St. John). The film, notable for being regarded as the seminal Keystone Cops short, was directed by Henry Lehrman
. The first Keystone Cops comedy was Hoffmeyer's Legacy
(1912).
The actual title at the beginning of the film has no "the" and is simply written "Bangville Police" undertitled with "Farce Comedy".
) are in the barn. She is saying she wishes the cow would have a calf.
Left alone in the house she hears strangers in the barn and calls the police. She barricades herself in. Her parents return and have to break the door down. She thinks it is the robbers.
Meanwhile a smokey car brings the police (the Keystone Cops).
After misunderstandings are resolved they find a new-born calf in the barn.
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand was an American silent film comedienne and actress. She was a popular star of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers and directors...
and the Keystone Kops
Keystone Kops
The Keystone Kops were incompetent fictional policemen, featured in silent film comedies in the early 20th century. The movies were produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. The idea came from Hank Mann who also played police chief Tehiezel in the first film...
(Fred Mace
Fred Mace
Fred Mace was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 156 films between 1909 and 1916. Mace worked for Mack Sennett at Keystone Studios...
, Raymond Hatton
Raymond Hatton
Raymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
, Edgar Kennedy
Edgar Kennedy
Edgar Livingston Kennedy was an American comedic film actor, known as "the king of the slow burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper...
, Ford Sterling
Ford Sterling
Ford Sterling was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4' he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.-Biography:...
, and Al St. John). The film, notable for being regarded as the seminal Keystone Cops short, was directed by Henry Lehrman
Henry Lehrman
Henry Lehrman was an American actor, screenwriter and film director and producer.Born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, Lehrman emigrated to the United States at a young age and although he is best remembered as a film director, he began his career as an actor in a 1909 Biograph Studios production...
. The first Keystone Cops comedy was Hoffmeyer's Legacy
Hoffmeyer's Legacy
Hoffmeyer's Legacy is a 1912 comedy short directed by Mack Sennett and notable for being the first Keystone Cops comedy. However, the film many people consider the first real Keystone Cop comedy to be is The Bangville Police .-Cast:...
(1912).
The actual title at the beginning of the film has no "the" and is simply written "Bangville Police" undertitled with "Farce Comedy".
Plot
A farmer and his daughter (Mabel NormandMabel Normand
Mabel Normand was an American silent film comedienne and actress. She was a popular star of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers and directors...
) are in the barn. She is saying she wishes the cow would have a calf.
Left alone in the house she hears strangers in the barn and calls the police. She barricades herself in. Her parents return and have to break the door down. She thinks it is the robbers.
Meanwhile a smokey car brings the police (the Keystone Cops).
After misunderstandings are resolved they find a new-born calf in the barn.
Cast
- Mabel NormandMabel NormandMabel Normand was an American silent film comedienne and actress. She was a popular star of Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers and directors...
... Farm Girl - Nick CogleyNick CogleyNick Cogley was an American actor, director and writer of the silent era. He appeared in over 170 films between 1909 and 1934.He was born in New York, New York and died in Santa Monica, California.-Selected filmography:...
... Father - Dot FarleyDot FarleyDot Farley was an American film actress. She appeared in 280 films between 1910 and 1950. Mainly known for her roles in short comedies, prolific with Mack Sennett in the silent days;she was later notable as the Mother-in-law of Edgar Kennedy in most of his series of short films at the RKO...
... Mother - Fred MaceFred MaceFred Mace was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 156 films between 1909 and 1916. Mace worked for Mack Sennett at Keystone Studios...
... Police Chief - Betty SchadeBetty SchadeBetty Schade was a German-born American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 120 films between 1913 and 1921....
- Raymond HattonRaymond HattonRaymond William Hatton was an American movie actor who appeared in almost five hundred movies, including a stint of being paired in 1920s comedies with Wallace Beery....
... Policeman - Edgar KennedyEdgar KennedyEdgar Livingston Kennedy was an American comedic film actor, known as "the king of the slow burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper...
... Policeman - Hank MannHank MannHank Mann was a comedian and silent screen star who is best known as the last surviving member of the Keystone Cops. According to fellow actor and original member of the ensemble Edgar Kennedy, Mann was the originator of the idea for the Keysotne Cops...
... Policeman - Ford SterlingFord SterlingFord Sterling was an American comedian and actor best known for his work with Keystone Studios. One of the 'Big 4' he was the original chief of the Keystone Cops.-Biography:...
... Policeman - Al St. John ... Policeman