Pool Sharks

Pool Sharks is a 1915 silent film that marked the film debut of W. C. Fields. This short film, directed by Edwin Middleton, follows the standard style of romantic slapstick comedy shorts of that time: two men, Fields and his rival (played by Bud Ross) vie over the affection of a woman. When their antics get out of hand, it is decided that they should play a game of pool, but each of them is a pool shark, and the game turns into a farce. A fight ensues and Fields throws a ball at his rival, who ducks. The ball flies through the window and breaks a goldfish bowl, hanging over the woman they are fighting over, soaking her and leaving goldfish in her hair. She storms into the pool hall and rejects both men.

As the first of Field's films, Pool Sharks was intended to highlight a pool ball juggling act that featured in the actor's vaudeville show. It was later decided, however, to replace the genuine act with several poorly edited stop motion sequences depicting impossible shots. Though innovative for the time, they are poorly animated, and the animator's hand can actually be seen moving the balls along in one of the frames. Today, Pool Sharks is best remembered as the film that launched Field's film career.