Turpin had a reputation as being somewhat argumentative with directors.
One day while he was making a film at Sennett Studios, he was giving
one director quite a bit of trouble. Exasperated, the director said,
"One more word from you, Ben, and I'll uncross your eyes!" (it was
commonly believed at the time that a sharp blow to the head could cause
crossed eyes to uncross). Terrified of losing his claim to fame, Turpin
was compliant for the rest of the day.
Mack Sennett himself heard the
exchange, and from then on whenever Turpin started acting up on the
set, Sennett would make the same threat, and Turpin would immediately
behave himself.
