Mack Sennett Collection Vol. 1 Season 1 Episode 50 The Fatal Glass of Beer

The Mack Sennett Collection Vol. 1 season 1 episode 50, entitled "The Fatal Glass of Beer," is a classic comedy short film produced by Mack Sennett in 1933. The film is a parody of melodramatic Hollywood films of the era, featuring a satirical view of the Yukon and the iconic "mountie" figure.

The film begins with a narrator introducing the setting as the "great frozen North" and the film's protagonist as a father named Mr. Snavely, who lives with his wife and son Eskimo in a small cabin in the Yukon. Mr. Snavely is a logger, but his real passion is storytelling. He tells his son a dramatic tale of his own youth, in which he won the heart of a beautiful woman by saving her from a villainous mountie. However, just as Mr. Snavely is finishing his tale, a mountie (who happens to be the same one from his story) arrives at the cabin to inform him that his long-lost brother has left him a fortune.

Mr. Snavely and his family travel to the Yukon's only civilized town to collect the inheritance, but they soon find that the town is full of unsavory characters who are after their newfound wealth. They are confronted by crooked lawyers, conniving bankers, greedy women, and even the villainous mountie himself. However, the true danger turns out to be a seemingly innocent glass of beer, which Mr. Snavely drinks in a local saloon after being told it will settle his nerves. The beer turns out to be "jolt" – a highly potent concoction that causes Mr. Snavely to hallucinate and imagine a variety of absurd scenarios involving his long-dead brother.

The film is considered a masterpiece of its genre, combining satire, slapstick humor, and melancholic sentimentality in a unique and compelling way. The performance of the lead actor, W.C. Fields, is particularly praised for its perfect balance of comedy and pathos. The film was also famous for its highly detailed production design, which recreated the look and feel of the Yukon wilderness in intricate detail.

"The Fatal Glass of Beer" is a must-watch for fans of classic comedy and Hollywood history. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring appeal of Mack Sennett's unique vision and the iconic performers who brought it to life.