A Small Town Idol (1921)
Directed by Erle C. Kenton
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Synopsis by Dan Pavlides
This hilarious slapstick comedy from Mack Sennett finds Sam Smith (Ben Turpin), the resident of a small town, accused of stealing. The jealous villain J. Wellington Jones (James Finlayson) orchestrated Sam's frame-up to keep him from wooing Mary (Phyllis Haver), the prettiest single girl in town. Sam moves to Hollywood where he meets movie-star Marcelle Mansfield (Marie Prevost). He manages to get into the film business and stars as a Roman gladiator, but his helmet keeps slipping down over his crossed eyes. He gets a job as a stuntman when he tries to kill himself and lands a part as a western hero. Sam returns to his hometown a celebrity, but Jones once again tries to discredit him and abduct Mary. Sam uses his acting skills to chase down the villain -- the ensuing chase destroying the entire town -- and save the damsel in distress.
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Keywords
Hollywood, kidnapping, movie-star, small-town, stuntperson