Filmography of Extant Charley Chase Films

By Joe Moore, Bruce Calvert, and Yair Solan


This filmography lists Charley Chase's surviving films from his most creatively fertile period, the dozen years he spent as a starring comedian at the Hal Roach Studios (1924-1936). This listing includes films that survive complete as well as those that are only partially extant. Also listed are a number of films from his late silent period that, significantly, are currently completely unavailable and considered to be lost. These are by no means the only lost films in the Chase canon, but are Holy Grail films that form a gaping hole in his filmography.

Also noted in this filmography are the formats and releases that the films are available in, when applicable, both on DVD and 8mm/16mm/Super8mm film (in the filmography, reel film versions are listed in brown, while DVD releases are in blue). An appendix following the filmography provides more detail on the film/DVD companies that have made these films available to the public.

This is a work in progress. As more of Chase's films are released on DVD, more footage previously thought lost is discovered, and past availability of his comedies on 8mm and 16mm come to light, this filmography will be updated.

This project is heavily indebted to Joe Moore, whose efforts to list the surviving Charley Chase films formed the backbone of this considerable undertaking, and to Bruce Calvert, who assisted in documenting past and present availability of these comedies on DVD and reel film.


1924-25 Extant One Reelers.

Pathe releases, all public domain. Not all are classics (but all are fun) as Chase finds his footing during this year of experimentation. A very prolific year and a half for Chase, with close to a suspected 80% survival rate for this period.

AT FIRST SIGHT (1924) [only a fragment survives] Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
ONE OF THE FAMILY (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
JUST A MINUTE (1924) All Day Becoming Charley Chase
POWDER AND SMOKE (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
HARD KNOCKS (1924) Reel Images: Super8mm, 16mm; EmGee: Super8mm, 16mm; Still available in 16mm from EmGee All Day Becoming Charley Chase
DON'T FORGET (1924) [fragment] All Day Becoming Charley Chase
THE FRAIDY CAT (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; Golden Era Films: 16mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase, Milestone Cut to the Chase
PUBLICITY PAYS (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
APRIL FOOL (1924) Golden Era Films:16mm Kino Charley Chase Collection, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey
POSITION WANTED (1924) [suspected extant but unconfirmed]
YOUNG OLDFIELD (1924) Cinema Eight: 8mm, Super8mm; Golden Era Films: 16mm; Reel Images: 16mm; Select: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
STOLEN GOODS (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
JEFFRIES, JR. (1924) Reel Images: Super8mm, 16mm; Emgee: Super8mm; 16mm; still available from EmGee in 16mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
WHY HUSBANDS GO MAD (1924) [suspected extant but unconfirmed]
A TEN MINUTE EGG (1924) Cinema Eight: 8mm, Super8mm; Select: 8mm, Super8mm; Golden Era Films: 16mm 16mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
SEEING NELLIE HOME (1924) [fragment] All Day Becoming Charley Chase
OUTDOOR PAJAMAS (1924) Golden Era Films: 16mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
SITTIN' PRETTY (1924) Golden Era Films: 16mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
TOO MANY MAMMAS (1924) All Day Becoming Charley Chase
ACCIDENTAL ACCIDENTS (1924) [fragment] All Day Becoming Charley Chase
ALL WET (1924) Cinema Eight:8mm, Super8mm; Reel Images: Super8mm 16mm; Select: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm; EmGee: Super8mm, 16mm; still available in 16mm from EmGee Kino Charley Chase Collection
THE POOR FISH (1924) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; Golden Era Films: 16mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
THE RAT'S KNUCKLES (1925) Select: 8mm, Super8mm; Reel Images: Super8mm; 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; Emgee: Super8mm, 16mm; still available in 16mm from EmGee, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
HELLO BABY! (1925) Emgee: Super8mm, 16mm, still available from Emgee in 16mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
FIGHTING FLUID (1925)Select: 8mm, 16mm, Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
PLAIN AND FANCY GIRLS (1925) [lost?]
SHOULD HUSBANDS BE WATCHED (1925) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm, All Day Becoming Charley Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
IS MARRIAGE THE BUNK? (1925) All Day Becoming Charley Chase
BIG RED RIDING HOOD (1925) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; still available from FilmClassic.com in 16mm with tints All Day Becoming Charley Chase

1925-26 Two Reelers.

Pathe releases, all public domain. The good news here is that every single film Chase did during this run is extant. These films effectively signal the beginning of Charley Chase's classic period.

HARD BOILED (1925) [fragment]
BAD BOY (1925) Golden Era Films: 16mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Platinum Famous Comedy Legends Vol. 1
LOOKING FOR SALLY (1925) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm; Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day Becoming Charley Chase
WHAT PRICE GOOFY? (1925) Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey
ISN'T LIFE TERRIBLE? (1925) Kino Charley Chase Collection 2 Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey, MK2 Oliver Hardy 10 courts-metranges, MK2 Coffret Laurel & Hardy 58 courts-metranges, Koch Laurel Or Hardy
INNOCENT HUSBANDS (1925)Golden Era Films: 16mm; EmGee: Super8mm, 16mm; still available from EmGee in 16mm, Kino Charley Chase Collection 2 Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey, Platinum Famous Comedy Legends Vol. 2
NO FATHER TO GUIDE HIM (1925) All Day Becoming Charley Chase
THE CARETAKER'S DAUGHTER (1925) Emgee: Super8mm, 16mm; still available from David Shepard and EmGee in 16mm Milestone Cut to the Chase
THE UNEASY THREE (1925) Milestone Cut to the Chase
HIS WOODEN WEDDING (1925) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm; Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; still available from David Shepard in 16mm with music track Kino Charley Chase Collection 2, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey
CHARLEY MY BOY (1926) Milestone Cut to the Chase
MAMA BEHAVE (1926) Milestone Cut to the Chase, LTL Parrott/Chase
DOG SHY (1926) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; still available from David Shepard in 16mm Kino Charley Chase Collection 2, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey
MUM'S THE WORD (1926) Kino Charley Chase Collection, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume #9, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey
LONG FLIV THE KING (1926)Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm (music track); still available from EmGee in 16mm with music track Kino Charley Chase Collection, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey, Koch Laurel Or Hardy
MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE (1926) EmGee: Super 8mm, 16mm; still available from David Shepard and EmGee in 16mm Kino Charley Chase Collection, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Kino Slapstick Encyclopedia, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey, Lobster Retour de Flamme 1, LTL Parrott/Chase
CRAZY LIKE A FOX (1926) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm; EmGee: Super8mm, 16mm; Select: 8mm, 16mm; still available from David Shepard and EmGee in 16mm, Kino Charley Chase Collection, Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume #6, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey , KVP Laurel & Hardy Vol. 4, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 15, Koch Laurel Or Hardy
BROMO AND JULIET (1926) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm; EmGee: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm; still available from EmGee in 16mm Kino Charley Chase Collection 2, Milestone Cut to the Chase, Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume #3, Lobster Charley Chase par Leo McCarey, Stonevision Laurel & Hardy Super Box Set, Stonevision Laurel & Hardy Classic Comedies Vol. 3, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 19
TELL 'EM NOTHING 1926) Platinum Famous Comedy Legends Vol. 2
BE YOUR AGE (1926) Reel Images: Super8mm, 16mm; EmGee: Super8mm, 16mm; still available from EmGee in 16mm Milestone Cut to the Chase, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 18

1926-27 Two Reelers.

Pathe releases, not public domain. Luckily these two-reelers are all still extant (with the exception of reel one of NOW I'LL TELL ONE), though they are more rare than the earlier Pathe comedies. So although some of these more obscure films only survive in archives or are in private hands, this means that all of Chase's Pathe two-reelers survive in one form or another, and amazingly enough, nearly all of them survive complete.

THERE AIN'T NO SANTA CLAUS (1926)
MANY SCRAPPY RETURNS (1927)
A ONE MAMA MAN (1927) Golden Era Films: 16mm
FORGOTTEN SWEETIES (1927) Select: 8mm, 16mm; Cinema Eight: 8mm All Day American Slapstick Vol. 1
ARE BRUNETTES SAFE? (1927)
BIGGER AND BETTER BLONDES (1927)
FLUTTERING HEARTS (1927) Golden Era Films: 16mm Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume #5, Kino Slapstick Encyclopedia, KVP Laurel & Hardy Vol. 4, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 24
WHAT WOMEN DID FOR ME (1927)
NOW I'LL TELL ONE (1927) [only reel two survives]
ASSISTANT WIVES (1927)

1927-29 Two Reelers.

MGM releases, not public domain. Yet more classics during this golden period for Charley Chase. Sadly, the survival rate drops to just over 50%, and several of these comedies only seem to exist in fragmented form.

THE STING OF STINGS (1927) (aka A TREAT FOR THE BOYS) Golden Era Films: 16mm
THE LIGHTER THAT FAILED (1927)
THE WAY OF ALL PANTS (1927) [fragment] Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume 6
US (1927)
NEVER THE DAMES SHALL MEET (1927) [only surviving fragment appears in Robert Youngson's compilation film FOUR CLOWNS]
ACHING YOUTHS (1928)
THE FAMILY GROUP (1928) [only surviving fragment appears in Robert Youngson's compilation film FOUR CLOWNS]
LIMOUSINE LOVE (1928) still available in 16mm from David Shepard, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 22
ALL PARTS (1928) [may not survive complete]
MOVIE NIGHT Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, still available from David Shepard in 16mm
Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 20

Lost MGM Two-Reelers (1928-1929).

The biggest hole in the Charley Chase canon is comprised of his late '20s two-reelers released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. MGM was not nearly as involved as Pathe was in releasing the films they distributed to the home viewing market, and coupled with the growing interest in sound films during this transitional era for the film industry, this results in a very low survival rate for these films. Judging by the high quality work evident in the scant number of comedies Chase produced during this period that do survive ("Limousine Love", "Movie Night") the unavailability of these films is downright tragic - the discovery of a print of any of the following shorts would be a monumental find.

ALL FOR NOTHING (1928) [lost]
THE FIGHT PEST (1928) [lost]
IMAGINE MY EMBARRASSMENT (1928) [lost]
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? (1928) [lost]
CHASING HUSBANDS (1928) [lost]
THE BOOSTER (1928) [lost]
RUBY LIPS (1929) [lost]
OFF TO BUFFALO (1929) [lost]
LOUD SOUP (1929) [lost]
THIN TWINS (1929) [lost]

Silent-era Cameoes.

JUBILO, JR. (1924) [Our Gang]
THUNDERING FLEAS (1926) [Our Gang] Niles: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Reel Images: Super8mm, 16mm Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy Vol. 9, UK Laurel & Hardy Collection Vol. 21, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 21
THE MERRY WIDOWER (1926) [James Finlayson]
CALL OF THE CUCKOOS (1927) [Max Davidson] Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, still available on 16mm from David Shepard, Films of Laurel & Hardy Volume #1, UK Laurel & Hardy Collection Vol. 12, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 12
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH (1927) [Our Gang]

Hal Roach Talkie Shorts (1929).

The earliest Charley Chase talkie shorts (from 1929) survive, but not all of their soundtracks are extant. In the past decade or so, the sound discs from several of these earliest talkies were discovered and resynched to the accompanying film elements.

THE BIG SQUAWK (1929) [sound discs extant]
LEAPING LOVE (1929) [sound discs extant]
SNAPPY SNEEZER (1929) [sound discs extant]
CRAZY FEET (1929) [sound discs extant]
STEPPING OUT (1929) [sound discs lost]
GREAT GOBS! (1929) [sound discs lost]

Hal Roach Talkie Shorts (1930-36).

All of Chase's original English-language talkies for Hal Roach starting with THE REAL MCCOY (1930) survive complete, but very few are available on the home video market, though they were previously more widely available on 8mm and 16mm film. In the United States, RHI Entertainment/Hallmark owns the rights to all of these comedies, as well as to the other sound-era Hal Roach comedies. The survival rate of Chase's foreign-language versions of his early talkies (1930-1931) is considerably worse - only three of these survive: HUYE, FALDAS!; UNA CANA AL AIRE; and LA SENORITA DE CHICAGO (the Spanish-language versions of GIRL SHOCK, LOOSER THAN LOOSE, and THE PIP FROM PITTSBURGH, respectively.)

THE REAL MCCOY (1930)
WHISPERING WHOOPEE (1930) Still available from David Shepard in 16mm Laurel & Hardy and Friends
ALL TEED UP (1930) Still available in 16mm from David Shepard
FIFTY MILLION HUSBANDS (1930)
FAST WORK (1930)
GIRL SHOCK (1930)
HUYE, FALDAS! [Spanish Version of GIRL SHOCK] (1930)
DOLLAR DIZZY (1930)
LOOSER THAN LOOSE (1930)
UNA CANA AL AIRE [Spanish Version of LOOSER THAN LOOSE] (1930)
HIGH C'S (1930) Blackhawk: Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm

THUNDERING TENORS (1931)
THE PIP FROM PITTSBURGH (1931) Blackhawk: Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
LA SENORITA DE CHICAGO [Spanish Version of PIP FROM PITTSBURGH] (1931)
ROUGH SEAS (1931) Blackhawk: 16mm
ONE OF THE SMITHS (1931)
THE PANIC IS ON!
SKIP THE MALOO! (1931) Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
WHAT A BOZO! (1931)
HASTY MARRIAGE (1931) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm

THE TABASCO KID (1932)
THE NICKEL NURSER (1932) Blackhawk: 8mm (silent & sound), Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
IN WALKED CHARLEY (1932)
FIRST IN WAR (1932)
YOUNG IRONSIDES (1932) Blackhawk: Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
GIRL GRIEF (1932)
NOW WE'LL TELL ONE (1932) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm
MR. BRIDE (1932)

FALLEN ARCHES (1933)
NATURE IN THE WRONG (1933) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
HIS SILENT RACKET (1933)
ARABIAN TIGHTS (1933) Cinema Eight:16mm
SHERMAN SAID IT (1933)
MIDSUMMER MUSH (1933) Blackhawk: 8mm (silent & sound), Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm
THE BARGAIN OF THE CENTURY (1933) [directed by Charley Chase; starring Thelma Todd, Patsy Kelly] Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
LUNCHEON AT TWELVE (1933) Blackhawk: Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
SONS OF THE DESERT [Laurel & Hardy feature] (1933) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm, still available in 16mm from David Shepard, Hallmark/Lion's Gate Laurel & Hardy Vol. 1, UK Laurel & Hardy Collection Vol. 13

THE CRACKET ICEMAN (1934)
FOUR PARTS (1934)
I'LL TAKE VANILLA (1934)
ANOTHER WILD IDEA (1934)
IT HAPPENED ONE DAY (1934) Blackhawk: Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
SOMETHING SIMPLE (1934)
YOU SAID A HATFUL! (1934) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm
MUSIC IN YOUR HAIR (1934) [directed by Charley Chase; starring Billy Gilbert, Billy Bletcher]
FATE'S FATHEAD (1934)
THE CHASES OF PIMPLE STREET (1934) Blackhawk: Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm

OKAY TOOTS! (1935)
POKER AT EIGHT (1935) Blackhawk: Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE (1935) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
THE FOUR STAR BOARDER (1935)
NURSE TO YOU! (1935)
MANHATTAN MONKEY BUSINESS (1935)
PUBLIC GHOST NO. 1 (1935) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm (silent & sound), 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm

LIFE HESITATES AT 40 (1936)
THE COUNT TAKES THE COUNT (1936) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm
VAMP TILL READY (1936)
ON THE WRONG TREK (1936) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm, Still available from David Shepard in 16mm, Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy Vol. 4, UK Laurel & Hardy Collection Vol. 13, Kinowelt Laurel & Hardy Vol. 24
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE (1936) Blackhawk: 8mm, Super8mm, 16mm

Feature-Length Film Appearances.

KING OF THE WILD HORSES (1924) [Leading role in Hal Roach dramatic feature]
MODERN LOVE (1929) [Starring role in Universal silent/talkie hybrid feature] Was partially extant for many years; reels three and four (silent) were preserved by the Library of Congress and screened at Slapsticon in 2007. In late 2008, a nearly complete print of the film was reconstructed and restored, and screened at Cinecon, with its original musical score and talking sequences intact.
SONS OF THE DESERT (1933) [Supporting role in Laurel & Hardy's Hal Roach-produced feature film] Available in all European L&H DVD collections and in the first of the two American Laurel & Hardy DVDs produced by Lions Gate.
KELLY THE SECOND (1936) [Supporting role in Hal Roach feature]


Appendix: Film/DVD Companies

8mm/16mm/Super8mm Film:

Blackhawk was the biggest film producer for home use from the 1950s up until the early 1980s. They were famous for having a historical introduction on the front of most of their films. They sold the copyrighted Hal Roach films exclusively, plus many public domain films. David Shepard bought their film collection when they closed and still offers many of their titles.
Cinema Eight operated in the 1970s. They mostly resold films from other companies like EmGee and various 8mm distributors.
David Shepard (Film Preservation Associates) still offers many of the films in the Blackhawk Films library in new 16mm prints. He owns the non-theatrical rights to the copyrighted Hal Roach films. These can be ordered from FilmClassic.com or Festival Films.
EmGee (Glenn Photo Supply) has been selling and renting films since the 1970s. Proprietor Murray Glass produces all of their releases, which are still available in new 16mm prints only.
Golden Era Films produced their own releases in the 1990s and up to 2005.
Niles Film Products produced their own film releases in the 1970s, usually of only fair quality, but sometimes better.
Reel Images (Video Images) operated in the 1970s and 1980s. They produced their own releases and sold those produced by others.
Select Films operated in the 1970s. They printed their own originals and also resold films from other companies.

DVDs:

Milestone Films has released the two-disc set Cut to the Chase: The Charley Chase Comedy Collection.
Kino Lorber has released The Charley Chase Collection: Volume One and Volume Two. These are the same transfers as the French Lobster Films DVDs.
All Day Entertainment has released the Becoming Charley Chase collection. All Day also included Charley Chase's "Forgotten Sweeties" in their first American Slapstick disc.
Image Entertainment releases silent film DVDs, usually from the Blackhawk Films collection. Their most notably silent comedy set is Slapstick Encyclopedia.
Lobster Films releases DVDs in Region 2 (Europe), such as Retour De Flamme Vol. 1 and Charley Chase Par Leo McCarey.
Looser Than Loose Publishing (LTL) has released The Brothers Parrott: Paul Parrott and Charley Chase on DVD.
Milestone Films has prepared a number of Chase silent comedies for their still unreleased Cut to the Chase DVD collection; nearly all of their Chase restorations have been airing on the cable television network Turner Classic Movies since 2005.
MK2 (France) has released several silent comedy collections featuring Hal Roach comedians such as Charley Chase.
The Platinum "Famous Comedy Legends" Volume 1 & Volume 2 DVD sets are cheaply-produced public domain comedy collections.
Kinowelt is a German company that has released a huge collection of silent and sound Laurel and Hardy DVDs for Region 2, including many Charley Chase shorts.
Universal has released a 21 Volume Laurel & Hardy DVD set in the UK (Region 2) that includes a number of films in which Charley Chase appears.
Stonevision Entertainment has released some public domain Laurel & Hardy and Charley Chase shorts in the UK for region 2.
KVP has released some public domain Laurel & Hardy and Charley Chase shorts in France for Region 2.
Koch Entertainment Distribution released some public domain Laurel & Hardy solo films on a 5 DVD set, which includes a few Charley Chase silent shorts that had co-starred Oliver Hardy.


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