Series: Charley Chase Director: Charley Chase Producer: Hal Roach Dialogue: Photography: Art Lloyd Editor: William H. Terhune Sound: [no credit listed] Stars: Charley Chase, Nita Pike, Luis Albertni, Jimmy Adams, Marvin Hatley, Frank Gage Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 02 September 1933 Length: 2 reels Production No.: C-17 Filming dates: July 1933 Rating: 2/10

Sherman Said It

Available on DVD:

It's Armistice! A superior officer informs captain HARRY BERNARD and his infantry but the noise of war continues nearby with Private CHARLEY CHASE still commanding his small unit, who are held up in the ruins of a house, to continue firing at the enemy. Soldier EDDIE BAKER is sent to tell Charley to stop firing but the noise continues. Eddie tries to raise Charley on a radio but Charley is too distracted to listen. After trying several times to inform Charley that the war is over Eddie gives up and instead tells his outfit that they should give Charley their own war. Eddie's group launch an attack on Charley's boys when one of Charley's men discovers a ticking grenade. In a quick panic Charley throws the grenade out of the door that is just about being glued on to their hideout, only for the grenade to return to them after rolling down a hill. The bomb is once again picked up and this time thrown outside, exploding right next to Eddie's group who then attempt to storm Charley's HQ before retreating quickly after Charley's men open fire against them. And then a cow shows up! Realising they are in a tight spot Charley pledges to his three comrades that they will forever remain a unit with their "one for all and all for one" motto. Not wanting to show any compassion for them, Eddie launches an apple from afar that splats on Charley's face.

Some official French dignitary stalls Charley as he attempts to board his ship bound for New York with a woman named Nita (PIKE). With his poor English language, the man gives a speech, followed by a bouqet and a medal. After the awkward moment, a French police officer confronts Charley with a long list which turns out to be his laundry bill. Charley has to stay behind and we return to a field where Charley and some soldiers begin singing and playing music. Charley breaks out into song until the policeman shows up and then retreats to a hand-cranked washing machine. Charley washes some clothing and then pegs it up on a line before singing the last line of his song to the officer. In some of the worst editing I have ever seen, Charley then returns to the docks to find Nita waiting for him once more. We then go through a repeat routine with the French dignitaries, the flowers and the medal and then the policeman showing up and Charley being led away once more to clean up some mess he has supposedly left. We now go to a farm where Charley sings yet another song with his merry band of followers. Something about a "Sidewalk Sam", with a row of horse's arses on the screen for good measure. Finally Charley returns to the docks for the last time where Nita still waits for him with her knitting. He says goodbye to the French dignitaries who are still there waiting as four young kids run on and board the ship. Just as Charley is about to board the ship..... it departs abruptly and leaves Charley stranded on the dock.

Favourite bit Charley panics and throws the grenade out of the door, only for it to roll down a hill and right back into their shelter. The camera stays fixed on it and it's an incredibly well-timed gag.

Trivia • Copyrighted October 3, 1933. • Surprisingly the film on the DVD only runs for 16 minutes. I don't know why that is? Seems like 4 minutes could be completely missing? • The camera operator during the zoom in shots on Charley during the final song is pissed! The camera is all over the place. • When Charley returns to the docks at the end of the film, you can clearly see the ship in the background is a rear-projection because it is moving around. My opinion • Oh my god, I struggled with this one. It was absolutely terrible. One of the most utterly boring pieces of rubbish I have ever had to sit through. THIS is the sort of material that really winds me up and why I often despise doing all this work. Going to stop myself just short of calling this one a complete pile of shit. It's more annoying than it is funny. Awful film; a complete waste of a great comedian's talents.

	Charley Chase Sergeant Charley Chase
	Nita Pike Nita
	Luis Alberni French man
	Jimmy Adams Soldier
	Frank Gage Soldier
	Marvin Hatley Soldier with accordian
	Harry Bernard Captain
	Eddie Baker Soldier
	Charlie Phillips Soldier
	Ernie Alexander Soldier
	Eddie Dunn Soldier
	Jack Hill Soldier
	Ham Kinsey Soldier
	Al Thompson Soldier
	Teddy Mangean Soldier
	Alphonse Martell French police officer
	Wallace Howe French dignitary
	Gus Leonard French dignitary
	Alex Novinsky French dignitary
	Charles Millsfield French dignitary
	Hope Harper Woman on dock
	Bobby Dunn [?]
	UNIDENTIFIED Commanding officer
	UNIDENTIFIED Soldier #2 (Eddie's men)
	UNIDENTIFIED Soldier
	UNIDENTIFIED Woman on dock #1
	UNIDENTIFIED Woman on dock #3

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

SHOT ON THE BACK LOT (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book) Robert Demoss (identification of Gus Leonard) Jesse Brisson (identification of Charlie Phillips, Ernie Alexander, Alphonse Martell, Alex Novinsky, Al Thompson, Teddy Mangean, Charles Millsfield) This page was last updated on: 04 September 2024