Series: Charley Chase Director: Warren Doane Producer: Hal Roach Story editor: H.M. Walker Photography: Art Lloyd Editor: Richard Currier Stars: Charley Chase, Edgar Kennedy, Linda Loredo, Mildred Costello, William Grula Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 28 December 1929 Length: 2 reels Production No.: C-26 Filming dates: September 16-21, 1929; retakes September 25 & October 7, 1929 Rating: 6/10

Great Gobs!

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Charley is a sailor whose boat has just docked in port. Ship-mate EDGAR KENNEDY is quick to warn Charley not to follow him around because he has a girl he wants to pursue. Ed tries to pick a fight with another sailor in order to impress a girl but he ends up taking a smack in the mouth for his troubles. Ed wanders by to see a Mexican serenading a senorita on her balcony and takes exception to it so calls him out. The two argue and Ed forcibly removes the guy before picking up the abandoned guitar and starts to serenade the young lady himself. He isn't too pleased when Charley appears at the window, telling him to keep the noise down because he is trying to sleep. Ed removes Charley too by kicking him out of the house. Shortly afterwards, the lady's husband walks in on his wife with Ed and Ed takes the short-cut route to the ground via the husband's boot and through the balcony window. Not to be defeated Ed picks up the guitar and encourages Charley to follow him over to a ground floor window so that he can show him how to serenade a dame properly. Ed starts singing and an absolute abomination of a woman (ALICE BELCHER) comes to the window to show her gratitude. Ed quickly stops singing! Charley laughs and tells Ed how it's really done by leading him to another window. Charley pulls out his harmonica (sounds rude) and begins to play. Another young lady (CARMEN GUERRERO) comes to the window and embraces Charley before she invites him inside and dismisses Ed completely. Ed wanders into a bar where he meets another woman (LINDA LOREDO) but Charley is quick to interfere and get between the two of them. Ed asks Charley to help him out in trying to woo her so Charley consults with his Spanish-English translation book that he conveniently has on him and relays to Ed what to say to the woman. A Mexcian drinker (MAX DAVIDSON) also tells him that it is the woman's birthday today as well. Charley deliberately misleads Ed into telling the woman she has a dirty neck. The inevitable happens and the woman slaps Ed around the face. Charley comes over and calms the situation down.

Charley cons a street vendor when he buys a box of candy using fake money; then Ed buys a box of candy using real money and receives Charley's fake money as his change. Out of absolutely nowhere Charley shows up with a small dog under his arm. Ed asks what the mutt is all about and Charley tells him it's a rare Mexcian talking dog. Ed is not convinced and asks for a demonstration so Charley talks to the dog and mimes a response under his breath to show Ed it is real. Sold on the idea, Ed asks to exchange Charley's dog for Ed's gifts of flowers and candy. After the exchange takes places the dog (named Garibaldi!) claims that he will never speak another word after being sold! Ed is left standing there holding it in his hands. Charley visits his senorita and she introduces him to her mother, whilst Ed sits crying with the dog outside. Charley helps himself to what he thinks are grapes but they are in fact hot Mexican peppers. Ed arrives at the apartment to cause further embarrassment when he presents the lady with a birthday present: Charley's harmonica. Ed tries to show off by performing a tune for the young lady but she trumps him when she has a go and appears to be a natural with it. Both Charley and Ed run out of the room with their mouth's on fire after eating the hot peppers disguised as chocolates. As they drink from the water taps behind the bar, a drunken man tries to flirt with the senorita but she reports him to Charley and a fight breaks out. As the two Ed's go at it at the bar Charley conveniently excuses himself. When the two men knock each other out Charley stands triumphant over them and the senorita declares Charley to be her hero.

Favourite bit Not easy to pick a specific scene as my favourite, but I did like the on-screen chemistry between Charley Chase and Edgar Kennedy. For some reason it just works so well and the two of them clicked.

Trivia • The film made its debut on DVD, albeit missing its original soundtrack, in October 2022 thanks to Kit Parker. • To be fair, given their limited screen time, neither Mildred Costello nor William Grula deserve to be listed in the on-screen credits in my opinion. • The events of the film take place on a Friday. Saint Dolores' Day, according to a serenading Mexican. • At least once source (I bet you can't guess which one) lists Louise Emmons as being in the film. Obviously mixed up with Alice Belcher. • When Edgar Kennedy sits down with the dog there are no shortage of crawling insects all over the donuts beside him. • Eddie Dunn hits like a girl. My opinion • It's not a particularly great film but it does give Edgar Kennedy his moment to shine, especially with Charley Chase being generous is allowing him to have a lot of screen time.

	Charley Chase Charley
	Edgar Kennedy Mr. Kennedy
	Linda Loredo Señorita
	Carmen Guerrero Carmelita
	Mildred Costello Dancer
	William Grula [?]
	Max Davidson Saloon keeper
	Eddie Dunn Tough guy in bar
	Alice Belcher Old lady at window
	Charles Dorety Sailor
	Clara Guiol Mexican bar patron

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

STILLS (click any image to enlarge)

EXTERIOR SHOTS (click any image to enlarge)

RISQUE (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book) Jesse Brisson (identification of Clara Guiol, Charles Dorety, Carmen Guerrero, Mildred Costello) This page was last updated on: 18 October 2022