Bright Lights (1916 film)

Bright Lights is a 1916 American silent short comedy film directed by Roscoe Arbuckle^[1] and starring Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, and Al St. John.

Bright Lights
Lantern slide with Al St. John, Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle
Directed by	Roscoe Arbuckle
Produced by	Mack Sennett
Starring	Roscoe Arbuckle Mabel Normand Al St. John
Distributed by	Triangle Film Corporation
Release date	February 20, 1916 (1916-02-20)
Running time	2 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot summary

The story begins in a lively bar, where Fatty encounters Mabel, played by Mabel Normand, a spirited and resourceful young woman. The two characters quickly form a partnership as they navigate a series of humorous and chaotic situations.

The bar, managed by a bartender played by Al St. John, serves as the backdrop for much of the film's slapstick humor. The scenes are characterized by exaggerated physical comedy, including mishaps with drinks, misunderstandings, and altercations. One notable sequence features Fatty using another character, portrayed by Joe Bordeaux, as a battering ram during a brawl, exemplifying the film's reliance on visual gags and physical humor.

The plot also introduces a city slicker, played by William Jefferson, whose sophisticated demeanor contrasts with Fatty's clumsy yet endearing personality.

The film progresses through a series of escalating comedic scenarios, culminating in a resolution that highlights the collaborative dynamic between Arbuckle and Normand.

Cast

• Roscoe Arbuckle as Fatty
• Mabel Normand as Mabel
• Al St. John as The Bartender
• Joe Bordeaux as Man Used as Battering Ram by Fatty
• Jimmy Bryant as Minor Role
• Minta Durfee as Minor Role
• Gilbert Ely as Minor Role
• William Jefferson as The City Slicker

See also

• List of American films of 1916