Series: Charley Chase Director: Charles Parrott Producer: Hal Roach Dialogue: Photography: Francis Corby Editor: William H. Terhune Sound: James Greene Stars: Charley Chase, Dorothy Appleby, Dorothy Granger Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 17 November 1934 Length: 2 reels Production No.: C-27 Filming dates: 1934 Rating: -/10

Fate's Fathead

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Charley wakes up in a good mood, breaking out into song and joined by his wife (DOROTHY APPLEBY) as a singing duet. They have breakfast (whilst singing) and Charley leaves. Their housekeeper Many (HATTIE MCDANIEL) confesses the only thing she has against Charley is that he is a man. An arguing couple, Fanny (DOROTHY GRANGER) and Man Mountain McGinnis (RICHARD ALEXANDER) are strolling through the park, complaining about his jealousy of her. Charley happens to wander by and stops on a bridge in the near vicinity to say hello to a baby in a pram. Due to his elevated position, his waving and calls of "hello baby" are misinterpreted by the lady who is seated on the bench who thinks Charley is addressing her and waving. She storms off in a huff as Charley continues with his journey, eventually walking directly behind her. She believes he is stalking her when he stops off at a florists to buy his wife some flowers. Through a series of misunderstandings (and just really rotten timing), Fanny let's Charley know she is not happy with him and threatens blackmail. Charley arrives back home with his flowers and rings the doorbell, then disappears around the back and climbs into his house through a window as his wife opens the front door and finds her surprise. Charley confronts her over the flowers, making her believe they are from another man, but she is wise to him.

The lady whom Charley had inadventently offended earlier arrives at his house. When Charley realises he runs off to leave his wife to answer the door. It turns out the two women know each other from long ago and quickly engage in gossip. Fanny tells Dorothy about the man who accosted her earlier that day and then sees Charley's photograph in the house and points him out. Sure that Fanny has mistaken him for someone else, Mrs. Chase summons Charley to prove his innocence. An embarrassed Charley has to endure more from the strange woman, who pushes her blackmail a little further with him. During dinner, things escalate between Charley and his unwanted guest. Even the housekeeper sees the flirting going on under the table as Charley drops the salt. Still unconvinced, Mrs. Chase accepts her friend's ploy to flush out Charley by scheming to get him to kiss her upon her request whilst his wife rushes in to catch them.

Trivia • Copyrighted December 14, 1934. • The song that Charley sings with his wife in the opening scenes is "What About Another Cup Of Coffee?" • This film is a partial remake of Ruby Lips (a Charley Chase short from 1929). • Charley and his wife sleep in separate beds. • Charley spends $2 on the bouquet of flowers for his wife. • When Charley arrives home with the flowers, he enters the house by opening a window downstairs as his wife goes to answer the front door. Surely she must have noticed the window was wide open? Also, it doesn't say much for their security that anyone could just come along and easily get access to the house that way!

	Charley Chase Charley Chase
	Dorothy Appleby Dorothy Chase
	Dorothy Granger Fanny McGinnis
	Richard Alexander Man Mountain McGinnis
	Hattie McDaniel Many, the maid
	Margaret Nearing Flower girl
	Tonia Brady Baby
	UNIDENTIFIED Woman with baby

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

POSTER (click any image to enlarge)

LOBBY CARDS (click any image to enlarge)

PRESS SHEET (click any image to enlarge)

FILM CLASSICS TITLE CARD (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION: HOLLENBECK PARK (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION: MACARTHUR (WESTLAKE) PARK (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book) The Charley Chase Talkies 1929-1940 by James L. Neibaur (book) Rick Greene (press sheet) Jim Dallape (title card and credits) Stan Taffel (poster) This page was last updated on: 20 November 2023