At a busy seaside restaurant, the kitchen is a whirlwind of activity – and at the center of the madness stands Roscoe, the jovial yet hopelessly clumsy cook. Armed with a giant chef’s hat, an endless supply of kitchen gadgets, and boundless enthusiasm, Roscoe is determined to serve his customers…even if it means wreaking absolute havoc in the process.

As the lunch rush hits, Roscoe teams up with his equally hapless waiter – played by a young Buster Keaton – and together they turn the restaurant into a stage for one slapstick calamity after another. Plates fly, soup spills, fish flop onto unsuspecting patrons, and even the simplest tasks become riotous spectacles of comic timing and physical humor.

Amid the chaos, Roscoe sets his sights on a charming young woman dining at the restaurant, trying to win her affection with a mixture of awkward flirtation and misguided chivalry. But standing in his way is a brutish rival who threatens to spoil both his romantic aspirations and his kitchen “masterpieces.”

What follows is a gleeful series of gags – from food fights to pratfalls to elaborate kitchen choreography – culminating in a madcap chase that takes the action outside the restaurant and into the seaside funfair.

“The Cook”, written, directed by, and starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, is a prime example of silent-era slapstick at its most inventive and charming. With Arbuckle’s impeccable comic timing and his effortless chemistry with the deadpan Buster Keaton, the short film serves as both a showcase for their unique styles and a celebration of physical comedy.

Lead Cast

• Al St. John
• Buster Keaton
• Roscoe Arbuckle