Series: Charley Chase Director: James Parrott Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Editor: Stars: Charley Chase, Beth Darlington, Earl Mohan Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 30 March 1924 Length: 1 reel Production No.: D-45 Filming dates: December 4-9, 1923 Rating: 6/10

The 'Fraidy Cat

Available on DVD:

Dorothy (Beth Darlington) is the village slut (she "has more lovers than her [doctor] father has pills"). She initially gets all excited when the village sheik Lem Tucker (Earl Mohan) shows up in his horse and carriage but quickly dismisses the idea of taking a ride with him and goes back inside. Introducing Jimmy Jump, who is described as a coward ~ who, after greeting his elderly mother indoors, steps outside of his house and is accosted by six boys (the "Our Gang" kids) armed with a slingshot. The boys playfully fire a shot at him, spray water from a prank rose in his face, push him over and begin hitting him. The prolonged assault is broken up when Lem confronts Jimmy for picking on the boys. Jimmy retreats into his house and takes out his frustrations on a dummy he has in his bedroom in order to muster up enough courage to confront Lem outside. Jimmy's attempts to be brave quickly backfire however when the bully Lem begins ripping the clothes from his back. Jimmy returns to his dummy to throw some more punches but Lem watches him through a window and when Jimmy isn't looking he takes the place of the dummy; smacking Jimmy in the face when he gets a chance. A chase begins outside which ends when Jimmy hides behind his broom-wielding mother, who shoos away the man and all of the kids. Jimmy wanders on over to his sweetheart's place where they sit outside on a bench on the lawn. Lem rides back and forth in his cart ridiculing Jimmy every chance he gets. Just then another couple take refuge on the lawn, with the man wooing his girlfriend before eventually proposing to her. This gives Jimmy the idea to do likewise with Dorothy. She accepts, but when Lem Tucker sees this he chases after Jimmy, who hides in Dorothy's house. Her father tells him he only has one week to live, and so Jimmy decides to "die like a man" (Jimmy has misheard the doctor, who actually told him to DIET in a week). Now filled with confidence and with nothing to lose, Jimmy exacts his revenge on his tormentors; beginning with the boys and then taking on the bully Lem Tucker, whom he tears a new one for! Despite having the crap kicked out of him, Lem still grabs Dorothy and takes her away on his cart. Jimmy pursues them on a cow. Yes, a cow. He apprehends the bully and chases him - and his mother (Helen Gilmore, see very briefly) back into his house. It is at this point Dorothy tells Jimmy that he mis-heard her father's words and that he isn't going to die at all!

Favourite bit The moment when Charley Chase suddenly grows a pair.

Trivia • During the final chase scene it is quite humorous to see all the bystanders along the street observing Charley Chase racing after the horse and cart whilst riding a cow! • On April 29th, 2015, I opened up a debate/discussion to determine among fans and observers over the possible existence of an apostrophe in the title card, just before the F in FRAIDY. More than 75% of those who offered their opinion said they could see the apostrophe, with the others saying it was simply a light or arch on the building in the drawing. I myself am convinced the apostrophe is evident. My opinion • An interesting outing for Charley Chase, still early in his Roach stint as Jimmy Jump.

	Charley Chase Jimmy Jump
	Beth Darlington Dorothy Jones
	Earl Mohan Lem Tucker, the village Sheik
	Joe Cobb Member of the gang
	Mickey Daniels Member of the gang
	Ernest Morrison Member of the gang
	Andy Samuel Member of the gang
	Helen Gilmore Lem Tucker's mother
	Emma Tansey Jimmy's mother
	Chris Lynton Dr. M.J. Jones (Dorothy's father)

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)	INTERTITLES (click image to enlarge)

DVD COMPARISONS

DVD Notes: The Becoming Charley Chase DVD features a musical score by Ben Model and has optional commentary by Robert Arkus, Ken Gordon and Bruce Lawton. The print has freeze-frame titles at the beginning of the film and is missing the final Pathé Comedy card at the end, but overall its a decent picture throughout. The Cut To The Chase DVD features a musical score by Dave Knudtson, has a slightly better picture and is a minute longer. However, there is some very minimal cropping to the left of the picture in comparison to the Becoming Charley Chase DVD.

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book) Matthew Lydick (identification of Andy Samuel) This page was last updated on: 26 June 2018