This 2-DVD collection of 18 hilarious comedy shorts are as timelessly funny today as when they were originally released and feature a great, but somewhat neglected comedian in some of his prime work. Charley Chase was one of the most popular comedy stars in both the silent and sound eras. His talkie shorts for Hal Roach have never been collected into a comprehensive collection before, and this first of a planned multi-volume collection is designed to reacquaint comedy fans to his wonderful short films. Comedian Charley Chase was a consistent box office money and fun-maker for Producer Hal Roach during the Silent and Sound Eras. Volume One is the beginning of the first comprehensive collection of Chase’s Hal Roach talkie comedies, culled from 1930-31, years in which many of his films featured Charley’s frequent leading lady, the lovely and vivacious Thelma Todd, later a Hal Roach star too.
Disc 1 – 1930
The Real McCoy
Whispering Whoopee
All Teed Up
Fifty Million Husbands
Fast Work
Girl Shock
Dollar Dizzy
Looser Than Loose
High C’s
Disc 2 – 1931
Thundering Tenors
The Pip from Pittsburg
Rough Seas
One of the Smiths
The Panic Is On
Skip the Maloo!
What a Bozo!
The Hasty Marriage
1930-31 | 413 min | B&W | Optional English Subtitles | 1.37:1 | Dolby Digital | All Region | NR
Special Features:
• Commentaries on each short by noted film historian and Hal Roach authority, Richard M. Roberts
• Bonus comedy: “La Señorita de Chicago” (Spanish version of “The Pip from Pittsburg”)
• Poster & Stills Gallery
Bernard Sheehan –
These shorts look great and are still falling down funny. A great set. I’d love to see more like it.
sprocket_admin –
If enough people feel as you, we’ll definitely offer more sets!
Guy –
How’re the sales numbers looking? Can we expect a volume 2 before year’s end?
sprocket_admin –
Looks like we’ll be doing it, but not until spring at earliest. In the meantime, be on the lookout for our Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts collection on Oct. 9.
craig j. –
great product featuring great comedy from a great comedian.
Tom Hodgins –
Without doubt my DVD purchase of the year! Charley Chase was an underappreciated comedy genius and this collection of 1930-31 shorts is a marvelous confirmation of that. Thanks for the wonderful job, Sprocket Vault. Please let there be more Chase releases in the future.
Paul C Tumey –
I just got the set and love these! Great-looking prints and nice, clean sound. Love that the shorts are presented in the order of release. I didn’t know much about Chase, but am a big fan of Laurel and Hardy’s work at the same studio — this is like discovering a new gold mine of comedy! He was great, and these films are as well-made and celver as the L&H shorts, with many of the same supporting actors (Thelma Todd is wonderful). Thank you! Please create the next volume so we can smile when the raindrops fall!
Tom Hodgins –
Sprocket Vault, as I indicated in my review last August, I love your Charley Chase 1930-31 collection. Lovely prints. But I have yet to see any official announcement from you of a second Chase-Roach collection from his subsequent years at the studio, aside from an admin response here “Looks like we’ll be doing it.” Do you still intend to produce Volume Two and, if so, could you provide us with an idea of when that DVD release might be?
Thanks very much.
Graham –
Finally there is a company who takes care of these classic Hal Roach movies with Charley Chase and Thelma Todd & Zasu Pitts. . I just bought both volumes and the Thelma Todd release. Hope you will continue those releases. Charley Chase made more movies for Roach in 1934 – 1936. Thumbs up !