Pest (1917)

Synopsis
Oliver Hardy plays a very Eric Campbell-like character opposite Charles Chaplin impersonator Billy West (contrary to popular belief, however, Hardy's roles in the West films were not always the comic "heavy"; he played a variety of parts). West plays a disorderly drunk who disrupts all the goings-on at a fancy hotel. After making the patrons of the hotel miserable, he eventually returns to his room. A dollar bill blows into Billy's room and a woman chases after it. Her husband (Hardy) searches for her, and when he finds her looking out of Billy's room, he assumes the worst and blows his stack. He goes raging after Billy and the chase leads them all over the hotel, from the rooms to the fire escape. Eventually Billy arrives back at his own room. The Pest seemed to be a popular title for comedies -- the same year this two-reeler came out, drawing room comedian Sidney Drew made a film by the same name, and in 1922, Hardy's future partner, Stan Laurel, would also make a film called The Pest. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide