The Inimitable Ben Turpin: A Pioneer of Silent Films and Slapstick Comedy (1874-1940)

Early Life and Entry into Showbiz

Just look at that face! How could one not laugh? Silent film clown Ben Turpin was born Bernard Turpin in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 19th September 1874. Before gracing the silver screen, Ben appeared on stage, in burlesque shows, and in vaudeville. His journey into the world of cinema began with Essanay Studio in 1907, a time when the film industry was still in its infancy.

The Art of Silent Films and Historical Film Formats

Silent films were a unique art form, relying heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue. During this era, various film formats were in use, such as 35mm and 16mm cine film. These formats were the precursors to the modern digital formats we are accustomed to today. At Digital Converters, we specialise in converting these vintage cine films into digital formats, preserving the essence of this bygone era for future generations.

Working with Legends: From Chaplin to Sennett

Ben Turpin appeared in some early Charles Chaplin shorts but primarily worked for Mack Sennett as a featured player. Sennett, known as the "King of Comedy," provided the perfect platform for Ben's unique brand of slapstick humour. Later, he also worked for Hal Roach and Pathé during the 1920s, another golden era for silent films.

The Iconic Crossed Eyes and Insurance by Lloyd's of London

Known for his severely crossed eyes, Ben became an iconic figure in silent films. His unique look became so synonymous with his brand that he had his eyes insured by Lloyd's of London—in case they ever became uncrossed. This was more than a mere publicity stunt; it was a testament to the unique physical comedy that Ben brought to the screen.

Transition to the Sound Era and Later Life

As the industry transitioned into the sound era, Ben adapted by taking on cameo and character roles in occasional films for Paramount and Warner Brothers. His versatility allowed him to remain relevant even as the industry underwent significant changes.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ben was married twice: first to actress Carrie Turpin, who passed away in 1925, and then to Babette Dietz in 1926. This second marriage lasted until Ben's death from heart disease on 1st July 1940, in Santa Monica, California.

Digital Converters: Preserving the Legacy

At Digital Converters, we understand the historical and emotional value of films like those featuring Ben Turpin. Whether it's converting cine film to DVD or VHS tapes to Digital, we are committed to preserving these irreplaceable memories and moments in history.

Ben Turpin’s Silent Films

Eyes Have It, The (1928) Idle Eyes (1928) Seein’ Things (1928) Woman’s Way, A (1928) Wife’s Relations, The (1928) …. Rodney St. Clair… aka Lost Heiress, The (1928) (UK) Broke in China (1927) Love’s Languid Lure (1927) Pride of Pikeville, The (1927) Daddy Boy (1927) … aka Daddyboy (1927) (USA: copyright title) College Hero, The (1927) …. The Janitor Bull Fighter, The (1927) Jolly Jilter, The (1927) Hollywood Hero, A (1927) Harem Knight, A (1926) …. Rodney St. Clair Prodigal Bridegroom, A (1926) When a Man’s a Prince (1926) Blonde’s Revenge, A (1926) …. Gerald Montague Steel Preferred (1926) …. Bartender Hogan’s Alley (1925) …. A Stranger Marriage Circus, The (1925) Raspberry Romance (1925) Wild Goose Chaser (1925) Reel Virginian, The (1924) Three Foolish Weeks (1924) …. Rodney St. Clair Romeo and Juliet (1924) Yukon Jake (1924) …. Sheriff Cyclone Bill Hollywood Kid, The (1924) Ten Dollars or Ten Days (1924) Pitfalls of a Big City (1923) Where’s My Wandering Boy Tonight? (1923) Daredevil, The (1923) Asleep at the Switch (1923) Hollywood (1923) …. Cameo appearance… aka Joligud (1923) Shriek of Araby, The (1923) …. The Sheik Home Made Movies (1922) Step Forward (1922) Bright Eyes (1922) Love’s Outcast (1921) Love and Doughnuts (1921) Molly O’ (1921) (uncredited) Home Talent (1921) …. Stranded Actor She Sighed by the Seaside (1921) Small Town Idol, A (1921) …. Sam Smith Bloggie’s Vacation (1920) Countess Bloggie (1920) You Wouldn’t Believe It (1920) Married Life (1920) …. Rodney St. Clair Quack Doctor, The (1920) Down on the Farm (1920/I) …. Her Husband Star Boarder, The (1920) East Lynne with Variations (1919) When Love Is Blind (1919) Salome vs. Shenandoah (1919) Uncle Tom Without a Cabin (1919) …. Uncle Tom… aka Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1919) Lady’s Tailor, A (1919) Sleuths (1919) Dentist, The (1919) No Mother to Guide Him (1919) Yankee Doodle in Berlin (1919) …. A Guardsman… aka Kaiser’s Last Squeal, The (1919) (USA) Cupid’s Day Off (1919) Hide and Seek Detectives (1918) Whose Little Wife Are You? (1918) She Loved Him Plenty (1918) Two Tough Tenderfeet (1918) Love Loops the Loop (1918) Battle Royal, The (1918) Saucy Madeline (1918) Sheriff Nell’s Tussle (1918) Cactus Nell (1917) Pawnbroker’s Heart, The (1917) Sole Mates (1917) Taming Target Center (1917) When Ben Bolted (1917) …. Ben… aka He Looked Crooked (1917) (USA)… aka Why Ben Bolted (1917) (USA) Are Waitresses Safe? (1917) Bedroom Blunder, A (1917) … aka Room 23 (1917) Roping Her Romeo (1917) Lost: A Cook (1917) Clever Dummy, A (1917) Oriental Love (1917) (unconfirmed) Caught in the End (1917/II) Bucking the Tiger (1917) Frightened Flirts (1917) Masked Mirth (1917) His Bogus Boast (1917) … aka Cheerful Liar, A (1917) Studio Stampede, A (1917) Butcher’s Nightmare, The (1917) Musical Marvel, The (1917) Circus Cyclone, A (1917) He Did and He Didn’t (1916) Jealous Jolts (1916) Lost and Found (1916) Taking the Count (1916) …. A Cabin Steward Shot in the Fracas (1916) Waiting Game, A (1916) …. A Tramp Wicked City, The (1916) Picture Pirates (1916) Some Bravery (1916) …. A Bellhop Safe Proposition, A (1916) …. A Burglar Ducking a Discord (1916)Essanay-Chaplin Revue of 1916, The (1916) …. The property man… aka Chaplin Revue of 1916, The (1916) (USA: alternative title) Poultry à la Mode (1916)… aka Harem, The (1916)… aka Poultry (1916) (USA) Doctoring a Leak (1916)… aka Total Loss, A (1916) Bungling Bill’s Dress Suit (1916) Some Liars (1916) Stolen Booking, The (1916) For Ten Thousand Bucks (1916) …. Bloggie Deep Sea Liar, A (1916) …. Bloggie… aka Landlubber, The (1916) Hired and Fired (1916/I) …. Bloggie… aka Leading Man, The (1916) Just for a Kid (1916) Iron Mitt, The (1916) …. Bloggie When Papa Died (1916) Delinquent Bridegrooms (1916) …. Bloggie His Blowout (1916) …. Bloggie… aka Plumber, The (1916) Nailing on the Lid (1916)… aka Nailing a Lie (1916) (USA) National Nuts (1916) Burlesque on Carmen (1916) …. Renandados… aka Charlie Chaplin’s Burlesque on Carmen (1916) (USA: complete title) Bunch of Matches, A (1915) Burlesque on Carmen (1915) …. Remendado… aka Charlie Chaplin’s Burlesque on Carmen (1915) (USA: complete title) Christmas Revenge, A (1915) Clubman’s Wager, The (1915) Coat Tale, A (1915) Curiosity (1915) Hash House Fraud, A (1915) Hogan Out West (1915) Hogan’s Romance Upset (1915) Love and Trouble (1915) Quiet Little Game, A (1915) Snakeville’s Debutantes (1915) …. Bloggie Sweedie and Her Dog (1915) Sweedie Goes to College (1915) Sweedie Learns to Ride (1915) Sweedie’s Hero (1915) Sweedie’s Hopeless Love (1915) Sweedie’s Suicide (1915) Too Much Turkey (1915) Two Bold, Bad Men (1915) Two Hearts That Beat as Ten (1915) Undertaker’s Wife, The (1915) Snakeville’s Champion (1915) …. Bloggie Merry Models, The (1915) …. Bloggie It Happened in Snakeville (1915) …. Bloggie Snakeville’s Hen Medic (1915) …. Bloggie Versus Sledge Hammers (1915) …. The Count Bell-Hop, The (1915) …. The Bell-Hop Snakeville’s Twins (1915) Others Started But Sophie Finished (1915) Sophie and the Fakir (1915) How Slippery Slim Saw the Show (1915) Their Social Splash (1915)… aka Social Splash (1915) (USA) Champion, The (1915) …. Salesman… aka Battling Charlie (1915)… aka Champion Charlie (1915)… aka Charlie the Champion (1915) (USA) Night Out, A (1915/I) …. Fellow Reveller… aka Champagne Charlie (1915)… aka Charlie’s Drunken Daze (1915) (USA)… aka Charlie’s Night Out (1915) (USA)… aka His Night Out (1915) (USA) His New Job (1915) …. Film Extra, in Anteroom… aka Charlie’s New Job (1915) Fickleness of Sweedie, The (1914) Golf Champion ‘Chick Evans’ Links with Sweedie (1914) Madame Double X (1914) She Landed a Big One (1914) Sweedie and the Double Exposure (1914) Sweedie and the Lord (1914) Sweedie and the Troublemaker (1914) Sweedie at the Fair (1914) Sweedie Learns to Swim (1914) Sweedie Springs a Surprise (1914) Sweedie’s Skate (1914) Ben Gets a Duck and Is Ducked (1909) Case of Seltzer, A (1909) New Cop, The (1909) (unconfirmed) Hustling Advertiser, A (1909) …. The Young Man Mr. Flip (1909) …. Mr. Flip Mexican’s Gratitude, A (1909) Rubes and the Bunco Men, The (1909) Energetic Street Cleaner, The (1909) Midnight Disturbance (1909) …. The Burglar Tag Day (1909) …. The Tramp Haunted Lounge, The (1909) Breaking Into Society (1908) Oh, What Lungs! (1908) Younger Brothers, The (1908) Free Lunch, A (1907) Mr. Inquisitive (1907) Awful Skate, or The Hobo on Rollers (1907) …. The Hobo