DVD Review: Charley Chase at Hal Roach - The Talkies Volume 4

This is a good time to be a Charley Chase fan. All of his talkie shorts are now available and accessible. This fourth volume from Kit Parker films contains what had been his most elusive films; the early sound ones he made in 1929. These films were never part of any TV package and have never been issued on home video. Even some diehard Chase fans have never seen them. Each film on this disc will be reviewed separately.

THE BIG SQUAWK

Charley’s first sound short for Roach was only available via its visual elements until the sound discs were discovered and restored in the 1990s. As it turns out, The Big Squawk is one of Chase’s best films and really started his sound career off well. He is a saxophonist in the band whose flirtatious girl (Nena Quartero) causes him to hit sour notes every time he sees her with another man. This opening bit takes advantage of the sound medium, the “squawk” coming from his instrument causing the dancers to wince and the harried conductor (Edgar Kennedy) to react big. Perhaps the funniest visual is when Charley is driving thru a rainstorm to an isolated cabin he is using. Done in a studio, the weaving and circling of the car in the downpour, along with Charley’s reactions, make it consistently funny. Once he gets to the cabin, he discovers it is filled with women, who were out camping and have taken refuge to escape the rainstorm. This leads to further slapstick and farcical complications. The picture and sound elements are remarkable for a 1929 subject, and it is wonderful to have this hilarious and historically significant short available to all of us.

LEAPING LOVE

The conflict here is when Charley's girl has a pretty mother he falls for both of them. She has had a facelift, making her look much younger. It doesn't help matters that she is rather flirtatious herself. Another very funny short, it manages to use many of the elements established by Chase in silent movies. Charley gets at chance to be confident, and also embarrassed – bold and also shy. There are some great slapstick moments (a hurrying Charley repeatedly bumping into a man carrying flowers at the dock where his girl’s mother is arriving provides some good laughs). This is the first time Charley sings in a movie, and he would eventually add music to a lot of his talkies. However in one singing scene for Leaping Love, alum has been substituted for candy, so Charley must attempt to sing a song while his mouth is heavily puckering up. It is another one of the comedy highlights of the film – including the surrealism of some alum getting on the violinist’s instrument, causing his bow to pucker up! Great visual and sound on the DVD.

SNAPPY SNEEZER

Arguably the best film in this set, Snappy Sneezer had been presented via some silent clips in the Robert Youngson anthology Laurel and Hardy’s Laughing Twenties. Charley has a nasty case of hay fever and, while traveling by streetcar, keeps sneezing on the same stranger (Anders Randolf) who understandably gets madder and madder. The mishaps escalate with Charley and the man flying off the streetcar, and Charley causing him to fall into a mud puddle, and then pushes him into a vat of whitewash as a falling safe is about to drop on him. As it turns out, this stranger is the father of Charley's girl (Thelma Todd) and his new boss! Snappy Sneezer is one of the funniest comedies of Charley Chase’s entire career so it is especially great that we now have it available on DVD. There isn’t a wasted second in Snappy Sneezer and it benefits from Randolf (who would also be great in Laurel and Hardy’s Night Owls a year later) and Ms. Todd, who always worked well with him. Stating this is the highlight of this set is real praise, because all of the films are very good.

CRAZY FEET

I recall reading that before the sound discs for Crazy Feet were discovered, it was shown at some festivals and it went over well as a silent, because there is so much visual humor. Beautifully restored, it is another of the very best films in this set. The slapstick is indeed relentless. When Thelma Todd is in her car, she is approached by Eddie Dunn to whom she owes money. He reaches for her purse, just as Charley is strolling by, and he comes to help her. The three tussle in the car until a cop (Edgar Kennedy) comes along and believes Charley to be the culprit. Charley ends up in a chorus line and during rehearsal is completely out of step with the others. He also does a dance with Thelma Todd. Hilarious throughout.

STEPPING OUT

Here is a film where its visual elements have been very nicely restored but the sound elements have not been found. The film is presented with music and subtitles, allowing us to see this rare 1929 domestic comedy with Charley, Thelma Todd, and Anita Garvin. Thelma is his wife who never wants to go out. Anita is the pretty girl manicurist who Charley takes up with. Some very funny moments, including Charley being mistaken for a cop, causing all the club patrons to toss away their flasks (it was prohibition). I also loved the scene where Anita, taking full advantage of Charley, orders fully and expensively from a restaurant menu. Once again, there is so much visual comedy that the film plays well as a silent and it is a beautiful visual restoration.

GREAT GOBS

Another nicely restored short that is currently missing its sound elements, Great Gobs is also very funny, closing out this set’s 1929 film releases. Charley and Edgar Kennedy are sailors on leave. Edgar is pursuing a pretty senorita (Linda Laredo). Edgar tries to serenade her but his singing is so bad it only attracts a very homely woman (Alice Belcher). Charley’s harmonica is much more successful. There seems to be a fair amount of music in this short, which would benefit from its soundtracks, but once again there is so much visual comedy, our having only its picture elements still makes it fun and worthwhile.Charley worked so hard on these shorts that the stress led to a stomach ailment the required surgery by the year’s end.

This set is wonderful, with long elusive shorts now available and looking remarkable. Those that have restored soundtracks are especially welcome, but the two without still look fantastic and are nicely presented with subtitles and Andrew Earle Simpson’s great musical scores. There is also an optional commentary track by Richard Roberts.

The importance of these films makes this set an important release, especially for those interested in comedy film history. The disc can be ordered at this link: CHASE VOL 4