Billy West
Actor · 1892 – 1975 · Russia
Billy West (September 22, 1892 – July 21, 1975) was a film actor, producer, and director. Active during the silent film era, he is best known as a semi-successful Charlie Chaplin impersonator. Beyond acting, he also directed shorts in the 1910s and 20s, as well as produced films. West ultimately retired in 1935.
Movies23
Movie7.8ComedyRomanceA runaway heiress makes a deal with the rogue reporter trailing her but the mismatched pair end up stuck with each other when their bus leaves them behind.
It Happened One Night
1934 · 1.5K votes
Movie7.2ComedyDramaWhen all Broadway shows are shut down during the Depression, a trio of desperate showgirls scheme to bilk a repugnant high society man of his money to keep their show going.
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933 · 183 votes
Movie6.4DramaComedyAn unpolished racketeer, whose racket is finding heirs for unclaimed fortunes, affects ethics and tea-drinking manners to win back the sweetheart who now works for his seemingly upright competitor.
Jimmy the Gent
1934 · 32 votes
Movie8.0DocumentaryThe whole world knows him. Burlesque comedy genius, popular actor, author, director, producer, composer, choreographer, Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) used his talent to serve an ideal of justice and freedom. But his best scenario was his own destiny, a story written into the political and artistic history of the 20th century.
Movie6.9ComedyCrimeAn ex-con uses his street smarts to become a successful photojournalist.
Picture Snatcher
1933 · 27 votes
Movie7.0ComedyThe Palmers, an apparently wealthy family, move into the house next door to the Lazarres. However, the Palmers are actually a gang of thieves plotting to rob the Lazarres.
Cheating Cheaters
1934 · 1 votes
MovieThe daughter of a local store fancies a man, but her father wants her to end up with a boxing champion.
Meet Father
1924
Movie5.3ComedyThe wealthy Van Dyke family are constantly in the media for outrageous behavior, much to the frustration of the patriarch, Dan Van Dyke. His self-centered wife has a fondness for foreign imports, including "pet projects" like dancers and such and his spoiled children Tony and Carol have constant run-ins with the law. When Dan himself ends up in the clink for five years for tax evasion, he becomes bunk-mates with ex-bootlegger Joe "Spots" Ricardi. Ricardi lectures him on being such a push-over for an out-of-control family, so a dying Dan makes Ricardi his estate trustee once he is released from prison. Ricardi is then thrust into high society and must do everything he once nagged Dan to do.
She Couldn't Take It
1935 · 3 votes
Movie6.5DramaRomanceA safecracker goes straight after doing a stretch for a bum rap. He agrees to do one last job for his "pals". He then flees from killers with a San Francisco fisherman's fiancee.
He Was Her Man
1934 · 10 votes
Movie4.0WesternReporter Speed Morgan helps Flash Barrett escape from the police and this gets him into Flash's gang where he poses as a gangster. Flash and his gang head west guning for Bill Miller who failed to send some diamonds on to Flash. Speed hopes to bring Flash to justice but is in trouble when his true identity is revealed.
Diamond Trail
1933 · 2 votes
Movie4.0ComedyEthelyn Gibson has run away from daddy Ted Lorch because he wants to sell her to Leo White, King of Little Italy, for his music hall. So she dresses as a man and runs into Billy West in this scattershot burlesque.
Italian Love
1920 · 1 votes
Movie5.4ActionThe Eagle uses sky writing to make threats against a corporation. Nathan Gregory owns a travelling fairground and is thought to be the Eagle. Craig McCoy is a pilot who goes looking for the Eagle when Gregory turns up missing.
The Shadow of the Eagle
1932 · 12 votes
Movie7.1DramaCrimeA sleazy lawyer's female assistant sets out to end his cheating ways.
The Defense Rests
1934 · 10 votes
Movie5.5ComedyIn The Villain, Billy attempted something a little different. He's still imitating Chaplin, but this time he's playing the wicked, top-hatted Charlie found in some of his earliest Keystone appearances (e.g. Mabel at the Wheel), the ones where Charlie himself seemed to be imitating the studio's recently departed Ford Sterling. Throughout this short there is much spoofing of old-time melodramas, a frequent motif of Sterling's comedies.
The Villain
1917 · 2 votes
Movie7.6MusicRomanceA New York tramp falls in love with the mayor's amnesiac girlfriend after rescuing her from a suicide attempt.
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
1933 · 10 votes
Movie5.0ComedyA Chaplin-like tramp is mistaken for a Bolshevik
Rolling Stone
1919 · 1 votes
Movie5.7ComedyA tramp enters a cabaret and orders a drink, but then is thrown out when he cannot pay for it. After trying again, he is told by the manager that if he wants to avoid being charged and sent to jail, he will have to work.
He's In Again
1918 · 3 votes
Movie4.2ComedyShort King Bee Studios slapstick comedy featuring Billy West and Oliver Hardy
The Scholar
1918 · 2 votes
Movie6.0ComedyCrimeWell respected local good guy, "Feet" Samuels finds himself heavily in debt due to an uncharacteristic gambling binge. Feet decides the only way to settle the bill is by selling his body to an ambitious doctor who agrees to allow him one last month to live life to the fullest, then kill himself.
A Very Honorable Guy
1934 · 2 votes
- MovieDocumentary
Slapstick experts host this look at the life and films of Charley Chase with rare film clips and photos.
Movie5.8ComedyThe Pest (aka The Freeloader) is a 1917 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy and starring Billy West in one of his "Charlie Chaplin" rip-off roles.
The Pest
1917 · 4 votes
Movie6.3ComedyRomanceAlthough free spirit Helen Bauer does not believe in marriage, she consents to marry Don, but his infidelities cause her to also take on a lover.
Ex-Lady
1933 · 23 votes
- Movie8.0Comedy
Paul plays at being a detective until dad, who is a revenue officer, sends him out to prove his worth by rounding up some desperate moonshiners.
Bone Dry
1922 · 1 votes