Fake Chaplin - BILLY WEST - The Candy Kid (1917)

Fake Chaplin - BILLY WEST - The Candy Kid (1917)
Billy West (September 22, 1892 - July 21, 1975) was an American film actor and director of the silent film era.
Born Roy B. Weissburg in Russia, West adopted his professional name some time after emigrating to America. He appeared in many short films, first in Apartment No. 13 in 1912, however he was to become best known as a Charlie Chaplin imitator, despite Chaplin not making his first film appearance until 1914. Oliver Hardy often appeared as his antagonist in a role reminiscent of those of Eric Campbell's in Chaplin's shorts with Mutual Films.
He later moved in to Directing/Producing, first himself and occasionally Ethelyn Gibson (famous for her early film verions of Winnie Winkle).

[@jamiejamesonxxx]

He got Charlie's movements. But there's no brilliance.

[@ronaldstrange8981]

Brilliant. The music was perfect. Loved it.

[@Chaplin1914]

I've NEVER seen a Billy West "Chaplin" film. It's amazing what they could get away with back then regarding STEALING someone's character and actually attempting to compete with Charlie with a knock-off product. I can only imagine what Charlie thought of this himself. Did he pursue any kind of legal action against the studio making these films? It's very interesting watch, but it proves that there was only ONE Charlie.

[@thehumancrayon3264]

That's quite an imitation!

[@waderaney7]

Good ☝😉

[@xylfox]

1:21-1:24 You recognize in this Scene: THATS Hardy before Laurel &Hardy!

[@m.j.c.6969]

I knew it the second I saw him.

[@antoniod]

I was watching a Billy West short on TV in the 60s, but I didn't recognize him as imitating Chaplin-I hadn't seen enough of the real one. My mother said:"Oh, Charlie Chaplin". I replied:"No, that's Billy West"! She countered"No, that's CHARLIE CHAPLIN!. I was confused. It said "Billy West". I thought He was just another mustache guy.

[@mabelnormand7244]

I know this is a very old comment, but I wanted to say thank you for your comment. I love hearing stories like this. :) Have a good day.

[@adnanKhan-br7rb]

103 year but laugh the people

[@martavictorino2334]

🏆🏆🏆💌

[@mikeb6450]

Chaplin once saw West filming and complimented him on his imitation. That aside, the really great thing here is Oliver Hardy; behind the Eric Campbell imitation his real individuality shines through.

[@m.j.c.6969]

Chaplin ALLEGEDLY saw West filming. This could be complete bullshit/hoopla!

[@TheVirajster]

Chaplin did try but then decided the public knew better....

[@fazzxides8429]

Might have mimicked Charlie’s mannerisms but what’s lacking is Chaplin’s charm.

[@m.j.c.6969]

What the fuck does that even mean?

[@allanbroadfield5121]

Chaplin was passing West at work one day and watched him. . 'I'm pretty sure he didn't approve but he went over and congratulated him on the effort.

[@m.j.c.6969]

Stop repeating that asshole! There is NO PROOF that ever actually happened! Do you just believe everything you hear on the internet? You're also like the fourth person to say it you dimwit! Read the other comments!

[@XZYOE]

Interesting.

[@ErichoTTA]

You'd think Billy West would do more voices.

[@lasarus1973]

@Nalekh Thanks!!!

[@lasarus1973]

@Chaplin1914 I think Chaplin knows about Billy's business because he worked with Laurel and Hardy anв been very famous too :) But copyright laws was not so ugly those years :) Anyway, it's part of cinema history too :)

[@m.j.c.6969]

West worked with Oliver Hardy years before Hardy met Stan Laurel and Chaplin knew Laurel from Fred Karno's Players. How the hell would Chaplin have learned it from Hardy? Hardy had yet to meet Laurel and neither was famous yet.

[@adalgarcia8652]

Saludos..de Guadalajara Jalisco..

[@JLogic72]

Chaplin himself saw the Billy West company filming on a Hollywood street, and told West, "You're a damned good imitator."Some West comedies were later re-released on the home-movie market as "Charlie Chaplin" pictures. Most of the West comedies of 1917-18 resembled the Chaplin comedies of 1916-17, with Oliver Hardy approximating the villainy

[@m.j.c.6969]

That was a rumor. Don't be the idiot who professes this to be fact!

[@belkys13]

can't match the original. especially that dancing attempt, miles away from chaplin's grace and the gags are pretty dumb. chaplin not only had a one and only body language, he had a one and only comic wit

[@generalBlasto]

I saw virtually no close-ups of the fake chaplin. making it more convincing that it was a chaplin picture. Funny I don't really care for any of chaplin's films, However I very much enjoyed the 1992 Bio pic. I also enjoyed "Harold Lloyd - The Third Genius " while not liking any of his films, Except Safety Last. IMO

[@stevef1264]

This guy is more like Chaplin than hardy is like hardy....if that makes any sense!

[@Cool2BCeltic]

So that's this guy's name, Billy West. A lot of people have difficulty recalling his name and his films are watched mainly nowadays because they feature this up and coming young comedian called Oliver Hardy. Just shows you don't become famous copying other people.

[@m.j.c.6969]

The objective wasn't to become famous dumbass! He and King Bee pictures successfully made a lot of money which was the whole idea in the first place. Who said he was attempting to become famous?

[@1313Clerk]

If this came out in 1917, then Chaplin was already in business as "The Tramp" , therefore West shouldn't have kept this going. Makes me sick

[@westfield90]

Didn't think the copy would be this blatant

[@m.j.c.6969]

Didn't think the cop would be this good!

[@jamtoniowashintonlll5623]

LOL! This guy's a better Chaplin than Chaplin!! (Now watch all the movie nerds dog pile on me!)

[@m.j.c.6969]

Because they don't have original thought and speak like idiots in cliches!