First Kings of Comedy Collection ("The Golden Age Of Comedy" and "When Comedy Was King")

Description

The First Kings of Comedy Collection is a hilarious, joyous, and timeless tribute to the era of silent slapstick comedy and all the uproarious comedians who built the comedy genre. The collection consists of two great feature-length compilations, The Gol

SlapHappy Movie: Silent Comedy's Funniest Compilation of Silent Comedians with Chaplin, Keaton, Keystone Cops, Laurel, Hardy, Lloyd, Arbuckle, Normand, Langdon, Our Gang, Ben Turpin, Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, WC Fields, Will Rogers, etc.

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SlapHappy Movie: Silent Comedy's Funniest Compilation of Silent Comedians with Chaplin, Keaton, Keystone Cops, Laurel, Hardy, Lloyd, Arbuckle, Normand, Langdon, Our Gang, Ben Turpin, Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, WC Fields, Will Rogers, etc.
Starring: Keystone Cops , Stan Laurel , Lloyd Hamilton , Will Rogers , and Our Gang
Manufacturer: Fishigan Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

90 Minutes of the Craziest Clips from the Slaphappy TV Series!
Includes superb print quality, lively narration, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
Seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000V7S9BO

Product Description

Save 40% and purchase the entire 11 DVD SlapHappy Collection. 30 Half-hour shows on 10 DVDs + SlapHappy: The Movie. Best Value. Search SlapHappy Collection on Amazon! SlapHappy: The Movie includes 90 Minutes of the Craziest Clips from the Slaphappy TV Series! Includes superb print quality, lively narration, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records. Featuring Stan Laurel, Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy, A Ton of Fun, Monty Banks, Billy Dooley, Bobby Vernon, Colleen Moore, Mark Jones, Lige Conley, Lloyd Hamilton, Al St. John, Lupino Lane, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Raymond Griffith, Mabel Normand, The Keystone Cops, Ben Turpin, Chester Conklin, Fatty Arbuckle, Mack Swain, Billy Bevan, Mabel Normand, Charley Chase, Clyde Cook, Snub Pollard, Our Gang, Paul Parrott, Harold Lloyd and Will Rogers. Clips include FRAUDS AND FRENZIES, HORSESHOES, STICK AROUND, HEAVY LOVE, PLAY SAFE, EASY CURVES, SAPPY SERVICE, ELLA CINDERS, FAMILY LIFE, AIR POCKETS, CAREFUL PLEASE, STUPID BUT BRAVE, ROAMING ROMEO, THE CHAMPION, COPS, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS, THE MASQUERADOR, A SCOUNDREL'S TOLL, MABEL FATTY AND THE LAW, LOVE LOOT AND CRASH, A CLEVER DUMMY, THE WAITERS BALL, A MOVIE STAR, WHISPERING WHISKERS, THE EXTRA GIRL, MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE, STARVATION BLUES, IT'S A GIFT, THE SUN DOWN LIMITED, DEAR OL' PAL, NUMBER PLEASE, THE FRAIDY CAT and BIG MOMENTS FROM LITTLE PICTURES.

The Charley Chase Collection, Vol. 1 (Slapstick Symposium)

Average customer rating:

Some great stuff
Mine Played Fine
Defective dvd don't buy
Silent Screwball Comedy
Charley's Back!

The Charley Chase Collection, Vol. 1 (Slapstick Symposium)
Starring: Charley Chase , William V. Mong , Martha Sleeper , Milla Davenport , and William Blaisdell
Director: Leo McCarey
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CHIEC
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Description

Bringing a collection of seven 2-reeler comedies from the golden period of this acting/producer legend, the CHARLEY CHASE DVD is a fantastic introduction to the funny and frenetic world of Charley Chase and a rare chance to experience the work of one of the most influential short-film comedians of the late 1920s. The CHALEY CHASE DVD brings the following short films: MUM'S THE WORD (1926), APRIL FOOL (1926), CRAZY LIKE A FOX(1926), LONG FLIB THE KING (1923), MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE (1926), and ALL WET (1924).

In a series of one and two reelers at the Hal Roach Studios, Chase elevated the style of situation comedy to an art form with his unique combination of madcap adventures, beautiful women and wild misunderstandings. After a decade of working in front of and behind the cameras (he was Director General at the Roach Studios), Charley Chase was persuaded to start a new series of one reel comedies in 1923. From the first release, Chase became a hit with the public--"America's New Joy Boy" was filling theater houses with laughter from coast to coast.

Chase discovered that by starting with a simple predicament that any average person could get into, the public could identify with him. Then, gradually, by building a once plausible situation into a fiascfiasco, he could take them to a riotous conclusion that is unbelievable, yet, somehow conceivable. Carefree, frivolous, wild and woolly, Charley Chase was the "Good Time Charlie" that we all wished we could be. Fortunately, due to film preservation, we still have him.

Customer Reviews:

Some great stuff.......2007-06-22

Though he was the biggest comedian working in short subjects in the mid- and late Twenties, unfortunately Charley Chase is largely forgotten today. Happily, however, as more of his work becomes available on DVD and released to the public, it seems as though more and more fans of vintage comedy are rediscovering just how talented and funny he truly was, right up there with the likes of Keaton, Chaplin, Lloyd, and Linder. This disc brings together six of his shorts, four two-reelers and two one-reelers.

'Mum's the Word' (1926) was previously released on Vol. 9 of 'The Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy.' Charley plays a young man who is coming home from school to visit his mother, who has just remarried. On the train home, he meets a young lady whom he, of course, falls in love with. It turns out that she's travelling to the same house he is, where she works as a maid, and that once home, he must pretend to be a new butler, for his mother hasn't yet told her new husband the rather important fact that she has a grown son. It also comes out that the new maid isn't being totally honest about her true identity either.

'Long Fliv the King' (1926) starts out with the not-so-original plot device of a young woman, Helga, having to marry by a certain date and time, but in this case she's not being rushed to marriage because she's got money coming to her--she's got a royal crown coming to her. She settles on Charley, who is in prison and scheduled to die soon. What the new queen didn't count on was that just after they were married and she left for her kingdom, Charley would be sprung from prison and cleared of the false charges against him. He trails her to her kingdom with his new friend/lackey Warfield, played by the wonderful Max Davidson, who is even more forgotten than Charley today. His own films aren't shown too often because of modern-day concerns and sensitivities towards the rather stereotyped Jewish characters he often was stuck playing, but in films such as this (though it does contain a few somewhat cringe-worthy moments), he was more or less allowed to just be himself and to be funny that way. Of course, complications arise when Charley arrives in Thermosa. Many people at court don't want some outsider on the throne, and try to overthrow him. Oliver Hardy also plays a small role in this one.

'April Fool' (1924) is from Charley's days playing a character called Jimmie Jump. Being a one-reeler, the plot is fairly simple and straightforward, people at his newspaper office playing tricks on one another all day, with his sweetheart, the boss's daughter, eventually getting in on the fun too.

'Mighty Like a Moose' (1926) was previously released on Vol. 9 of 'The Lost Films of L&H.' Charley, Mr. Moose, has horrible teeth, and his wife has a rather unfortunate nose. Unbeknownest to the other, they each get surgery, and are so unrecognisable to one another afterwards that they make a date to go to a party being thrown by their doctor. Since they both think they're cheating on the other spouse, a lot of comedy ensues as they're each getting ready for the date. Things get even more sticky when a picture of the two of them shows up on the front page of the paper after the party was busted for having alcohol.

'Crazy Like a Fox' (1926) was previously released on Vol. 6 of 'The Lost Films of L&H,' and co-stars Oliver Hardy in a minor role. Charley is very unhappy because he's being forced to marry a woman he doesn't know, and even more so after meeting and falling in love (or at least lust) at first sight with a young woman he meets at the depot. She too is being forced to marry against her will, but what neither of them know is that Charley is the man she's been matched with. Determined to avoid this marriage, Charley decides to pretend to be absolutely crazy when he arrives at the young woman's mansion. His riotous act may end up working a little too well, however.

'All Wet' (1924) is another Jimmie Jump comedy. Jimmie, who is staying at a boarding house, gets an important telegram telling him to be at the train station by 2:30 to pick up a litter of English Pitbull puppies. He happily dashes off to fulfill what he thinks will be a routine errand, but meets with nothing but car (and other) trouble along the way. Though he was really good in these one-reelers, he was just too funny and talented to be served well in such a short timeframe. He needed that extra reel to continue building up the storyline and his character.

Overall, this is a solid enough introduction to Charley's work for a new fan, though the one-reelers really aren't at the same mature polished level as the later four shorts. It's also unfortunate that fully one-half of this collection was previously released; it's not fair to fans to be asked to buy that much duplicate material just to see a few new shorts. Having three repeats from previous collections might not be that bad had there been more than just six shorts here, but since there are only six, it seems like it would have made more sense for there to be more newly-released material, no matter how great the three repeats are.

Mine Played Fine.......2005-10-15

Look right below me. Since when did this stop being a review symposium and start being the Complaints Department at Macey's? I'm here for the reviews, not for some dopey quality-control issue that should be brought up with the manufacturer and one that the manufacturer and distributer would certainly fix pronto. I hated Don Quixote because of a bad binding? I honestly expect more sense from a Top 500 reviewer. I just came from a review of a Hammer Film (The Devil Rides Out) where some loon from Italy goes on and on about all the DVDs that Amazon sends her are "100% Damaged" including the replacements!!! She's ordering DVDs from the US and she lives in Italy?! A Region Coding problem perhaps? Please visit the review and hit inappropriate, then go to her other reviews and do the same (They all complain about "100% Damaged" DVDs!!). Lets clear out the deadwood.

Anyway, I highly recommend this collection. Chase is a real surprise if you've been stuck with the usuals for silent comedy--his work almost seems like fun rips on Silents that would've been made in the Fifties for, say, "Singin' in the Rain." He especially had an acute eye for an outrageous site gag that somehow made sense. In one film (name forgotten) he's getting out of his car with his golf clubs and a women whizzes by him and nearly misses him. The golf clubs fly way too far up in the air and scatter ridiculously. It's a subtle bit of extra oomph that makes his work so enjoyable.

Thanks Kino--great job!!

Defective dvd don't buy.......2005-07-10

This dvd will only play the first short. There are no links to get to the other movies. The main menu only goes to one movie.

Silent Screwball Comedy.......2005-04-09

In the 1930s, most of the great US directors (Hawks, Hitchcock, Sturgess, Capra, Wilder) experimented with the "screwball comedy" genre. Although hard to define, a screwball comedy usually consisted of a witty middle class couple falling in and out of love and/or marriage, a series of madcap adventures, and witty dialog, often with sexual innuendo. Leo McCarey, who wrote and directed for Hal Roach, also made sound films in this genre (The Awful Truth).

This collection represents Leo McCarey's work with Charlie Chase for Hal Roach between 1924 and 1926. Charlie Chase invites more comparisons with the male leads in Screwball comedies (especially Robert Montgomery and Joel McCray) than with the great "clowns" like Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton. Chase lacked the physical grace and the ability to create memorable visual humor of the big 3. Instead his humor tended to emerge from being thrown into and out of outrageous, awkward or embarassing situations, typically but not always involving a romantic partner. In "Mighty Like a Moose", both he and his wife try to surprise one another with changes in their facial appearance, then become attracted to each other in their "new look", without knowing their true identity. In "Long Fliv the King", Chase, a condemned criminal, marries a princess of a foreign country out of convenience, only to be pardoned, and thus faced with being King of his inherited land. Sometimes the situations work, but more often they are too outrageous to draw the viewer into the mayhem. Also, the witty dialog of the sound screwball comedies sometimes made up for the silly premises of the plot (think of "Bringing Up Baby"), but in the silent version, of course, such dialog was not possible. So these films, although interesting and mildly amusing at times, may be disappointing to many viewers. One gets the overall sense here that Roach and McCarey were part of an experimental lab for developing more sophisticated alternatives to the "slapstick" genre (so the title of the series "Slapstick symposium" is a little misleading). Like all lab experiments, sometimes they work, sometimes not.

Another interesting aspect of these, and other silent movies, is how often their gags were reused later on. In "Mum's the Word", Charlie and his step-dad perform a sight gag with a window shade that resembles the famous pantomime between Chico and Groucho in "Duck Soup" (also directed by McCarey). Also, there is the "woman making like a chair" scene that was repeated in Laurel and Hardy's sound feature "Blockheads".

In general, it would help to be both a fan of the screwball genre, as well as of the Hal Roach factory, to enjoy this collection.

Charley's Back!.......2004-10-04

It's really kind of sad to think that the name Charley Chase barely registers with anyone nowadays. Sad because in an era of great comics, he was one of the greatest. One of the reasons, probably, is the fact that Charley didn't have the clown persona of a Chaplin or a Keaton. He was much more of a regular guy type, comperable to Harold Loyd although I always thought that Chase's character was much more believable than Loyd's. The release of this DVD is a cause for celebration among all lovers of great comedy. I hope it's the first of many more.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

SlapHappy: Vol 2 (Hal Roach Studios / The Comedy Chase / Help Wanted) Featuring Charley Chase, Our Gang, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Paul Parrott, Will Rogers, Sunshine Sammy Morrison, Snub Pollard, Harold Lloyd, The Keystone Cops, Buster Keaton, Larry Semon, Billy Bevan, Chester Conklin, Little Moritz, A Ton of Fun, Harry Langdon, Ben Turpin, Charlie Chaplin, Sydney Chaplin, Harry Gribbon and Lloyd Hamilton

Average customer rating:

SlapHappy: Vol 2 (Hal Roach Studios / The Comedy Chase / Help Wanted) Featuring Charley Chase, Our Gang, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Paul Parrott, Will Rogers, Sunshine Sammy Morrison, Snub Pollard, Harold Lloyd, The Keystone Cops, Buster Keaton, Larry Semon, Billy Bevan, Chester Conklin, Little Moritz, A Ton of Fun, Harry Langdon, Ben Turpin, Charlie Chaplin, Sydney Chaplin, Harry Gribbon and Lloyd Hamilton
Starring: Keystone Cops , Will Rogers , Clyde Cook , Harold Lloyd , and Our Gang
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

The SlapHappy TV Series Showcases 75 Famous and Forgotten Funnymen in over 400 Clips from their Most Outrageous Comedies!
Each SlapHappy Volume includes 3 complete half-hour episodes as seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
Every episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000V9R3PA

Product Description

Save 40% and purchase the entire 11 DVD SlapHappy Collection. 30 Half-hour shows on 10 DVDs + SlapHappy: The Movie. Best Value. Search SlapHappy Collection on Amazon! VOLUME 2 of the acclaimed PBS series. HAL ROACH STUDIOS (EPISODE 1): The man who developed a sophisticated comic method alongside the madness. Featuring Charley Chase, Our Gang, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Paul Parrott, Will Rogers, Sunshine Sammy Morrison, Snub Pollard and Harold Lloyd. Clips include Ask Father, It's a Gift, Number Please, Every Man for Himself, Don't Park There, Collars and Cuffs, Paste and Paper, Be Your Age and Bad Boy. THE COMEDY CHASE (EPISODE 2): Madcap chases that will leave you breathless! Featuring The Keystone Cops, Buster Keaton, Larry Semon, Harold Lloyd, Billy Bevan, Chester Conklin and Little Moritz. Clips include The Bath-Chair Man, Wandering Willies, The Cannonball, Number Please, Circus Today, The Goat and The Show. HELP WANTED (EPISODE 3): Good help is impossible with these clowns! Featuring A Ton of Fun, Stan Laurel, Harry Langdon, Billy Bevan, Ben Turpin, Charlie Chaplin, Sydney Chaplin, Harry Gribbon and Lloyd Hamilton. Clips include Old Tin Sides, Kill ar Cure, Smile Please, Circus Today, Ice Cold Cocos, Asleep aAt the Switch, The Floorwalker, A Submarine Pirate, The Halfback of Notre Dame and Somebody's Fault.

The Charley Chase Collection, Vol. 2 (Slapstick Symposium)

Average customer rating:

Pure vintage Chase
Charley Chase
The library won't be complete without it ... and even now it's incomplete!
Great entertainment from a neglected comedian

The Charley Chase Collection, Vol. 2 (Slapstick Symposium)
Starring: Charley Chase , Katherine Grant , Gale Henry , Fred DeSilva , and John Cossar
Director: Leo McCarey
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AM4PJK
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Customer Reviews:

Pure vintage Chase.......2007-06-07

This volume brings together 5 wonderful Charley Chase shorts that showcase his comedic genius, as well as a rare short from his brother James Parrott (who went by Paul onscreen) and a very brief biography narrated by Serge Bromberg, the founder of Lobster Films (the company that puts together this great Slapstick Symposium series). Charley might not have been one of the top-ranking clowns of the silent and early sound era, but he was every bit as talented as the Big Three, and as more of his surviving work continues to be released, it seems as though more people are rediscovering him and realising just how talented and funny he was. Those who falsely associate silent comedy with nothing but pie fights and police chases will be pleasantly surprised at how sophisticated, polished, and inventive Charley's scenarios and gags were.

'His Wooden Wedding' (1925) features Charley as a man who is led by a bootlegger into believing the woman he's about to marry has a wooden leg. Little does he know this man's true intentions in telling him this lie, to gain for himself the heirloom diamond ring he gave his intended. The two end up on a cruise ship, where hilarity ensues, particularly as they fight to get the diamond back and the truth is slowly discovered.

'Isn't Life Terrible?' (1925) has Charley as a rather henpecked husband desperate to go on a summer vacation with his wife and daughter, with his leech of a brother-in-law Remington who lives with them (Oliver Hardy minus his moustache) tagging along for the ride. He had his heart set on going camping, but his wife and Remington changed their minds upon seeing an advertisement for a contest sponsored by a pen company, with the winner to get a free cruise. Though he wins the contest, everything that could possibly go wrong on this cruise does, and the troubles start even before the ship sets sail.

'Innocent Husbands' (1925) features Charley as Melvin (one of the few times he went by a name not his own after becoming a star), a husband with an even more difficult wife. His wife is convinced he's up to no good, even without any real evidence, and is prevailed upon by her catty friends to hold a séance so they can discover all of his alleged misdeeds. Things get complicated when the séance relocates to his own apartment, while he's trying to get an unwanted female admirer, his buddy who lives across the way, and his buddy's date out of there undetected.

'Dog Shy' (1926) has Charley as a man who's been deathly afraid of dogs since boyhood. He's chased into a phonebooth by a dog and ends up on the phone to a lovely young lady who's being forced to marry some repugnant nobleman, the man who just stormed out of the booth. He ends up being mistaken for the butler who has been sent to work at his new sweetheart's mansion, and in the course of his first day there has to conquer his old fear of dogs when called upon to take care of The Duke, the family's pet dog. The hilarity reaches a high point when six different people hatch three different plots that all take place at midnight, unbeknownest to the others.

'Bromo and Juliet' (1926) was previously released on Vol. 3 of 'The Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy,' and was my introduction to Charley. Here he's a young man roped into playing Romeo in his girlfriend's charity production so that she'll agree to marry him. Unfortunately, her drunken father is also appearing in the show, and Charley has to find a way to get him to the show on time. This task turns out to be anything but routine, as an irate cab driver whom the old man owes $40 to (Oliver Hardy) and a cop whose suspicions are aroused by the behavior of Charley, who has gotten drunk himself, are hot on their heels and tag them all of the way to the playhouse, all while the show is trying to go on.

'Shine 'Em Up!' (1922) stars Charley's brother James (Paul) as a shoeshine man who gets mixed up with a bunch of escaped convicts who eventually end up trying to rob the safe at the train station where he has just gotten a job. He also finds time to have a romance with the station master's daughter Okra (Jobyna Ralston, who became Harold Lloyd's leading lady a year later). It's enjoyable and entertaining enough (and James looks practically like Charley's identical twin), but his character just doesn't seem as real or endearing as his brother's. He seems more like just another comedian of the era, not a distinct personality whom the viewer connects with and grows to care about.

The disc is topped off by a 5-minute bio of Charley's career, starting with his days at Keystone in the Teens, moving forward to his glory years, and eventual decline, at Hal Roach Studios, and ending with his final years at Columbia (unfortunately we're not shown any clips of the shorts he made while there, and, oddly, while it's mentioned that he directed a number of Three Stooges shorts, the one we see a clip from, 'Disorder in the Court,' was not one of the ones he directed).

Overall, it's a great introduction to this long-forgotten and neglected comedian for those who might not already be aware of his wonderful body of work; the only downside is that there are only 5 of his shorts, whereas most of the other volumes in this Slapstick Symposium series contain more.

Charley Chase.......2007-05-19

Some good examples of this neglected comedian, who has a pleasing personality and a command of visual gags. An excellent biography is an extra, as well as an ingenious film by Paul Parrott.
But my disc was defective, which meant one film was hard to view, and the damage was clear on the disc. UK buyers should beware that they will be subjected to customs and post-office charges for handling over and above what are listed in the Amazon bill that can amount to almost as much as the product.

The library won't be complete without it ... and even now it's incomplete!.......2007-04-07

I'm writing this review more or less to simply confirm my fellow-reviewer's conclusion. This second volume of Charley Chase-comedies is overall as satisfying as the first. As with any other comedian, some of Chase's movies work better than others (to be funny can be very unfunny at times!), but the best are downright hilarious and besides very well structured, and even the weaker include amusing moments.

I too would like to add DOG SHY and HIS WOODEN WEDDING as my favorites included here. In contrast to what most of his colleagues are concerned (even the most gifted ones, that is), Chase's gags are always well placed in context to the story and never waste any time. Fans of Chase will also find it interesting to see one of the few surviving films starring his brother James, SHINE 'EM UP -- it offers nothing extraordinary but is good fun nonetheless.

My complaint concerning this sampling of shorts is that his last silent effort MOVIE NIGHT, which marked my introduction to Chase and was one of his highlights, is left out in both volumes. I also think the featurette covering Chase's life could have lasted far longer -- thankfully, a very insightful and well researched biography entitled SMILE WHEN THE RAINDROPS FALL is available here on Amazon, which gives a unique portrayal of Charley the comedian as well as Chase the man.

However, THE CHARLEY CHASE COLLECTION VOL. 2 is recommended from me throughout to buffs of silent comedy and to you who somehow have got the strange impression that the mentioned genre is just "pies and knock-about." It's delightful to witness a comic genius finally being recognized!

Great entertainment from a neglected comedian.......2005-09-17

It's wonderful to see that Kino Video is providing us with more great comedy from the silent era, especially of stars most of us might not be too familiar with. I was pleasantly surprised by this DVD right from the start: each of the six comedy shorts (averaging around 20 minutes in length) has very high production and picture quality, and I especially enjoyed the clever gags and ideas. Although this Kino Video series is called "Slapstick Symposium", I would rate Charley Chase's comedy as somewhat more 'high brow' than the everyday slapstick most of us are familiar with such as Keystone, early Chaplin and Arbuckle, for instance. So if you are no great fan of these silent comedians, then perhaps Charley Chase would be more to your taste. Personally, I got a lot more genuine good chuckles and plenty of smiles out of all 6 Chase shorts on this DVD than most Chaplin or Arbuckle. Not only are the gags quite original and clever, the overall editing and acting by Chase also add quality to these comedies. Unlike Chaplin, Arbuckle and others who played a clown-like character, Charley Chase is just a normal guy - much like Harold Lloyd - who finds himself in hilarious situations. His acting style is not excessive in any way, nor does he stand out, but the end product is always a satisfying and entertaining little comedy. Chase was more than just a comedian, however; he was also involved in writing, directing and of course, thinking up his own funny gags, and this DVD has a nice selection of good quality ones. My favourites are "Dog Shy" and "His Wooden Wedding" (in the latter he is misled into thinking his fiancee has a wooden leg) but Chase's appearance as Romeo in "Bromo and Juliet" as he pads his tights because his legs appeared too thin is also worth a couple of laughs. All up, this is about 2 hours of really good entertainment - perhaps nothing extraordinarily hilarious or unusual, but overall enjoyable. I was just a bit disappointed that the special feature biography on Charley Chase is only 8 minutes long, as I'm sure he deserves a much longer and thorough bio. Good fun for silent comedy fans, especially those who prefer the likes of Harold Lloyd.

Chaplin - The Collection, Vol. 4 - Knock Out / Between Showers / A Day's Pleasure

Average customer rating:

Chaplin, acquiring and refining his screen genius

Chaplin - The Collection, Vol. 4 - Knock Out / Between Showers / A Day's Pleasure
Starring: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle , Joe Bordeaux , Glen Cavender , Charles Chaplin , and Charley Chase
Manufacturer: Madacy
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305293074
Release Date: 1999-02-02

Customer Reviews:

Chaplin, acquiring and refining his screen genius.......2005-02-12

This odd collection of three films features Chaplin first as a supporting player for Keystone early in 1914, and as the lead for First National in 1919, after a highly creative period at Essanay and Mutual. The contrast between the films is striking, and it is interesting, but unusual, to have them together in the same volume.

Of the two Keystones, The Knock Out is better, with Chaplin, in a supporting role for Fatty Arbuckle, stealing the scene as a referee in a boxing match. Most of the non-sense before Chaplin enters the picture is pure Keystonesque tedious physical comedy, although Arbuckle offers a few moments of charming absurdity as a pudgy amateur boxer facing "Cyclone Flynn". Suddenly, Chaplin emerges for the first time, does a quick ballet fall as he enters the ring -- and steals the rest of the fight scene. His gags are much funnier than what has transpired before -- he knocks Arbuckle down with a kick in the butt, then resumes his role as a referee by counting him out! Eventually, he is all arms and legs as the third fighter, even earning himself a towel by a trainer between rounds. Although the film eventually degrades into Keystone Cop chase mayhem, not appealing to most modern viewers, there is enough of Chaplin to be interesting.

Between Showers is an odd, and not very inspiring, vehicle for Ford Sterling, with Chaplin again offering a supporting foil. Sterling's character and antics are particularly dated for the modern viewer, but Charlie again has a few good moments, as a clumsy would-be knight assisting a damsel in distress as she attempts to fight the post-shower street puddles. Charlie has some early encounters with police as well as with Sterling, his nemesis for the attention of the damsel. Although neither get the girl, Chaplin definitely outshines Sterling here. It's all pretty lame stuff, but it lasts only one reel, and Chaplin is clearly starting to experiment with creative gags and gestures, which is fun to watch.

A Day's Pleasure, the First National entry, is overall the best in the bunch. Chaplin's creativity here point much more to the features that are to follow than to the creative output that preceded it. The pace is slower, the number of humorous moments fewer, but one senses that there is an attempt on his part to develop and exploit the potential of individual situations more completely, as he does with perfection by the time of his later silent features. This film does not work in general, and is one of the more forgettable of the Chaplin shorts, but it's worth a serious look for mining comic moments like the encounter on a ship between Chaplin and the bully while both are trying to fight sea-sickness, or the run-in with the traffic cop and disgruntled pedestrians at a busy intersection. This kind of humor is light-years away in sophistication from Keystone, although Chaplin is still experimenting here and will get much better by the time of films like The Circus.

The visual quality of the Keystone films, especially The Knock Out, is very bad, and distracting to the viewer, and the background music is mostly pure noise. In general, the collection was hastily put together without any desire to produce something that would increase our appreciation of Chaplin. Fortunately, Chaplin still does that on his own. I would recommend purchasing a cheap used copy of this collection, as I did. There might be enough for serious Chaplin lovers to entertain.

The SlapHappy Collection: Silent Comedy's Funniest Compilation of Silent Comedians with Chaplin, Keaton, Keystone Cops, Laurel, Hardy, Lloyd, Arbuckle, Normand, Langdon, Our Gang, Ben Turpin, Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, WC Fields, Will Rogers, etc.

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The SlapHappy Collection: Silent Comedy's Funniest Compilation of Silent Comedians with Chaplin, Keaton, Keystone Cops, Laurel, Hardy, Lloyd, Arbuckle, Normand, Langdon, Our Gang, Ben Turpin, Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, WC Fields, Will Rogers, etc.
Starring: Stan Laurel , Keystone Cops , Buster Keaton , Charlie Chaplin , and Our Gang
Manufacturer: Fishigan Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

Showcasing 75 Famous and Forgotten Silent Comedians in Over 400 Clips From Their Funniest and Most Outrageous Comedies!
30 Complete Half-Hour Shows on 10 DVDs. Seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
Every episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000V23M1G

Product Description

The most exhaustive and exhilarating compilation of silent film's funniest moments, the SlapHappy TV series showcases 75 famous and forgotten screen clowns in over 400 clips from their wildest comedies. This fast-paced excursion through the prime years of slapstick cinema profiles the studios, directors and performers who shaped the art of silent comedy. Produced for PBS and syndicated around the world, each SlapHappy episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records. VOLUME 1 3 Funnymen, The Fun Factory, Great Gags VOLUME 2 Hal Roach Studios, The Comedy Chase, Help Wanted VOLUME 3 Al Christie Studios, Larry Semon, Supporting Comics VOLUME 4 Educational Pictures, Charley Chase, Vaudeville Greats VOLUME 5 Funshops, Buster Keaton, Dynamite Teams VOLUME 6 More Funshops, Great Gags 3, Thrill Comedians VOLUME 7 Keystone Studios, Great Gags 2, Family Fun VOLUME 8 Surreal Comedy, Charlie Chaplin, Getting The Girl VOLUME 9 Our Gang, Comedy Directors, Hollywood Spoofs VOLUME 10 Stan And Ollie: Before 'The Boys', Battling Clowns, Comediennes. THE SLAPHAPPY COLLECTION features over 75 famous and forgotten screen clowns including Lloyd Hamilton, Lupino Lane, Charley Chase, Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle, Charlie Chaplin, Louise Fazenda, Dorothy DeVore, Colleen Moore, Snub Pollard, Paul Parrott, A Ton of Fun, Oliver Hardy, Bobby Ray, Billy Bevan, Andy Clyde, Harry Langdon, Clyde Cook, Larry Semon, Stan Laurel, Our Gang, The Smith Family, Bobby Vernon, Jimmy Adams, Billy Dooley, Jack Duffy, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Bert Williams, Buster Keaton, Cliff Bowes, Al St. John, The Keystone Cops, Ford Sterling, Ben Turpin, Monty Banks, Syd Chaplin, Billy Bletcher, Little Moritz, Chester Conklin, Max Linder, Poodes Hanneford, Carter deHaven, Billy West, Billy Franey, Slim Summerville, Raymond Griffith and many more!

SlapHappy: Vol 4 (Educational Studios / Charley Chase / Vaudeville Greats) Featuring Cliff Bowes, Louise Fazenda, Clyde Cook, Al St. John, Lupino Lane, Wallace Lupino, Jimmy Adams, Lloyd Hamilton, Charlie Chaplin, Chester Conklin, Billy West, Snub Pollard, Our Gang, Paul Parrott, Stan Laurel, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Bert Williams, Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton

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SlapHappy: Vol 4 (Educational Studios / Charley Chase / Vaudeville Greats) Featuring Cliff Bowes, Louise Fazenda, Clyde Cook, Al St. John, Lupino Lane, Wallace Lupino, Jimmy Adams, Lloyd Hamilton, Charlie Chaplin, Chester Conklin, Billy West, Snub Pollard, Our Gang, Paul Parrott, Stan Laurel, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Bert Williams, Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton
Starring: Keystone Cops , Charlie Chaplin , Will Rogers , Harold Lloyd , and Our Gang
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

The SlapHappy TV Series Showcases 75 Famous and Forgotten Funnymen in over 400 Clips from their Most Outrageous Comedies!
Each SlapHappy Volume includes 3 complete half-hour episodes as seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
Every episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000VK9D1Q

Product Description

Save 40% and purchase the entire 11 DVD SlapHappy Collection. 30 Half-hour shows on 10 DVDs + SlapHappy: The Movie. Best Value. Search SlapHappy Collection on Amazon! VOLUME 4 of the acclaimed PBS series. EDUCATIONAL PICTURES (EPISODE 1) This oddly named company was a major producer and distributor of silent comedies. Featuring Cliff Bowes, Louise Fazenda, Clyde Cook, Al St. John, Lupino Lane, Wallace Lupino, Jimmy Adams and Lloyd Hamilton. Clips include Served Hot, Dizzy Daisy, Misfit, Fatty and Mable Adrift, Stupid but Brave, Fandango, Sea Scamps, Meet the Folks and Careful Please. CHARLEY CHASE (EPISODE 2) One of the most talented and versatile clowns of the era. Also featuring Charlie Chaplin, Chester Conklin, Billy West, Snub Pollard, Our Gang and Paul Parrott. Clips include Big Red Riding Hood, The Caretaker's Daughter, Dough and Dynamite, Love Loot and Crash, The Cannon Ball, Playmates, Blow 'Em Up, Dogs of War, The Fraidy Cat and Post No Bills. VAUDEVILLE GREATS (EPISODE 3) Many of the comedy greats had their beginnings on the stage. Featuring Lupino Lane, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Bert Williams, Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton. Clips include Be My King, The Rink, Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride, Sally of the Sawdust, The Ropin' Fool, Natural Born Gambler, Saturday Afternoon and Cops.

SlapHappy: Vol 1 (3 Funnymen / The Fun Factory / Great Gags) Featuring Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, Billy Bevan, The Keystone Cops, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Harry Gribbon, Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon, Alice Day, Bobby Vernon, Billy Bevan, Harold Lloyd, Gaylord Lloyd, Billy Dooley, Buster Keaton, Cliff Bowes, Monty Banks, and Snub Pollard

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SlapHappy: Vol 1 (3 Funnymen / The Fun Factory / Great Gags) Featuring Charley Chase, Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, Billy Bevan, The Keystone Cops, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Harry Gribbon, Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon, Alice Day, Bobby Vernon, Billy Bevan, Harold Lloyd, Gaylord Lloyd, Billy Dooley, Buster Keaton, Cliff Bowes, Monty Banks, and Snub Pollard
Starring: Keystone Cops , Stan Laurel , Lloyd Hamilton , Will Rogers , and Our Gang
Manufacturer: Fishigan Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

The SlapHappy TV Series Showcases 75 Famous and Forgotten Funnymen in over 400 Clips from their Most Outrageous Comedies!
Each SlapHappy Volume includes 3 complete half-hour episodes as seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
Each SlapHappy episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000V9GCES

Product Description

Save 40% and purchase the entire 11 DVD SlapHappy Collection. 30 Half-hour shows on 10 DVDs + SlapHappy: The Movie. Best Value. Search SlapHappy Collection on Amazon! VOLUME 1 of the acclaimed PBS series. EPISODE 01: 3 FUNNYMEN: Showcasing breezy Charley Chase, acrobatic Lupino Lane, and sourpuss Lloyd Hamilton. Clips include Papas Boy, Fandango, Innocent Husbands, Hooked, The Star Boarder, Nothing Matters, Roaming Romeo, Mighty Like a Moose, Breezing Along and Be My King. EPISODE 02: THE FUN FACTORY: Legendary King of Comedy Mack Sennett and his ensemble of gifted comic jesters. Featuring Billy Bevan, The Keystone Cops, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Harry Gribbon, Ben Turpin, Harry Langdon, Billy Bevan, Andy Clyde and Alice Day. Clips include Dangerous Curves Behind, Wall Street Blues, His Torpedoed Love, The Water Nymph, A Muddy Romance, His Trysting Place, Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers, Fatty and Mabel Adrift, The Waiters Ball, The Halfback of Notre Dame, Yukon Jake, His Marriage Wow, Wandering Willies, Spanking Breezes and Ice Cold Cocos. EPISODE 03: GREAT GAGS: The wildest laughs and most eccentric gags from the craziest years of slapstick. Extreme merriment! Featuring Bobby Vernon, Mabel Normand, Billy Bevan, Harold Lloyd, Gaylord Lloyd, Billy Dooley, Buster Keaton, Cliff Bowes, Monty Banks, and Snub Pollard. Clips include Sappy Service, The Extra Girl, Iron Nag, Bumping Into Broadway, Trolley Trouble, Easy Curves, Daydreams, Outbound, Play Safe and The Movies.

SlapHappy: Vol 3 (Al Christie Studios / Larry Semon / Supporting Comics) Featuring Bobby Vernon, Neil Burns, Jimmy Adams, Billy Dooley, Jack Duffy, Larry Semon, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Eric Campbell, Bud Duncan, Wallace Lupino, George Rowe, Bud Jamison, Snub Pollard, Joe Roberts, Vernon Dent and Al St. John

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SlapHappy: Vol 3 (Al Christie Studios / Larry Semon / Supporting Comics) Featuring Bobby Vernon, Neil Burns, Jimmy Adams, Billy Dooley, Jack Duffy, Larry Semon, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Eric Campbell, Bud Duncan, Wallace Lupino, George Rowe, Bud Jamison, Snub Pollard, Joe Roberts, Vernon Dent and Al St. John
Starring: Keystone Cops , Charlie Chaplin , Will Rogers , Harold Lloyd , and Our Gang
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Collectibles | Categories |
Product Features:

The SlapHappy TV Series Showcases 75 Famous and Forgotten Funnymen in over 400 Clips from their Most Outrageous Comedies!
Each SlapHappy Volume includes 3 complete half-hour episodes as seen on PBS and Around the World. Not Sold in Stores!
Every episode includes up to 18 clips of superb print quality, lively narration, rare stills, sound effects, and a hot jazz soundtrack from the acclaimed Stomp Off Records.
"SlapHappy is a slick, entertaining package." Film and TV Critic Leonard Maltin.
"Anyone who has laughed at the work of Chaplin or Keaton now has a chance to dig a little deeper." Turner Classic Movies

ASIN: B000VK99BA

Product Description

Save 40% and purchase the entire 11 DVD SlapHappy Collection. 30 Half-hour shows on 10 DVDs + SlapHappy: The Movie. Best Value. Search SlapHappy Collection on Amazon! VOLUME 3 of the acclaimed PBS series. AL CHRISTIE STUDIOS (EPISODE 1): Another influential major comedy studio ranking behind Sennett and Roach, with greater emphasis on wacky, situational humor. Featuring Bobby Vernon, Neil Burns, Jimmy Adams, Billy Dooley, and Jack Duffy. Clips include Teddy at the Throttle, Air Tight, The Daffy Dill, Beauty ala Mud, Campus Cuties and Chicken Feathers. LARRY SEMON (EPISODE 2) At one time this wildly eccentric comic ranked only behind Charlie Chaplin in popularity. Also featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Clips include The Grocery Clerk, Frauds and Frenzies, Golf and The Cloudhopper. SUPPORTING COMICS (EPISODE 3) The top second bananas of the era! Featuring Eric Campbell, Bud Duncan, Wallace Lupino, George Rowe, Bud Jamison, Snub Pollard, Joe Roberts, Vernon Dent and Al St. John. Clips include The Cure, The Star Boarder, Hello Sailor, Post No Bills, Don't Shove, Thick and Thin, Neighbors, The Best Man and The Waiters Ball.

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