The Bangville Police (1913)

The Keystone Cops was a series of silent film comedies very slapstick-like, relying on speed and numbers to achieve their comedy, rather than sophisticated wit.
They feature a totally incompetent group of policemen produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. Mack Sennett continued to use the Cops intermittently through the 1920s. By the time sound movies arrived, the Keystone Cops were an anachronism; symbolic of dated, lowbrow humor.
The idea came from Hank Mann, who also played police chief Tehiezel in the first film before being replaced by Ford Sterling.


Their first film was Hoffmeyer's Legacy (1912) but their popularity stemmed from the 1913 short The Bangville Police starring Mabel Normand.
This short, directed by Henry Lehrman, is notable for being regarded as the seminal Keystone Cops short.
At a farm near Bangville, the farmer's young daughter sees a group of local individuals in their barn. Fearful, she quickly rushes to the house and calls the police. The keystone crew in a haphazard rush across the countryside to get there in time.
This short is a visual comedy, with notable elements of slapstick.
You can buy Bangville Police (1913).

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