Years ago I saw a small silent film clip on television of a man being chased by what appeared to be hundreds of policemen. It may have been used for a commercial, but I am not sure. Either way, I had no idea where it was originally from but the image always stayed with me. Recently I finally found the film that scene comes from. It is from Buster Keaton's 1922 classic short Cops.
The movie opens with Buster standing in front of some bars appearing to be in jail. The camera pulls back and we see that he is looking through a gate to the woman he loves who tells him that she will not marry him until he becomes a business man. Buster then goes through a series of events and coincidences. He comes into money, loses the money, accidentaly steals someone's furniture, horse and wagon. He absentmindedly helps a terrorist attack the police, and finally ends up being pursued by hundreds of policemen.
The movie has a quick pace and ends in the huge chase. The antics and physical jokes make this a classic short. My youngest son laughed hardest at the bomb scene. My favorite part is when Buster runs into a street, turns and pauses to stare at the pursuing policemen. As a car passes by, he reaches out, grabs onto the moving car and it literally lifts him off his feet and carries him away. I am amazed his arm was not pulled out of it's socket.
Buster co wrote and co directed this movie with Edie Cline. At less than a twenty minutes running time this film holds many memorable scenes. From the chase, to the car grab, to the scene of all of those policemen packing through the doorway, to it's laugh out loud ending. Cops is one entirely memorable, and unfortunately short, film.
