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SilentComedians.com
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thescribe
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 249
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WaverBoy
Joined: 29 May 2007
Posts: 280
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 Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:02 am Post subject: |
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Good news, if true. I dearly hope that, within the next year or two, that Charley's extant silent comedies get their due treatment on DVD. If David Kalat's superb-sounding Becoming Charley Chase collection and Milestone's mouthwatering Cut To The Chase set ever make it out, I'll be one happy Chase fan.
And then, if only there was hope for the later Chase silents still under copyright... |
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Richard M Roberts
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 329
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:42 am Post subject: Re: Columbia Shorts - recent news |
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Well, I spoke with Mike Schlesinger over the weekend, and he wasn't that positive over the Chase Columbia set coming out any time in the near future. Suffice to say Columbia is indeed cutting back, and niche' market DVD's are the first to go. Think the Chase Columbias are going to sell 6,000 copies?
However, there may be good news regarding AllDay's BECOMING CHARLEY CHASE set soon. I say no more.....
RICHARD M ROBERTS |
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Rob Farr
Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Posts: 373
Location: Washington DC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:00 am Post subject: |
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William K. Everson had a higher opinion of Chase's Columbia talkies than he did of Chase's Roach output. From one of his 1967 program notes:
"Surprisingly, his Columbia talkies - as a group - are much superior to his earlier Roach talkies for MGM. Admittedly, there are many routine films among his Columbia comedies (just as there are many routine Pathe silents), but all of them benefit immeasurably from the Chase personality, so that even the weakest of them succeed far better than the weaker Langdon and Keaton films, which were sometimes such misfires as to be downright embarrassing. Tonight's two comedies (The Heckler and His Bridal Fright) are certainly representative of the best Columbia Chases, and indeed of the best two-reel comedies of their period, since Laurel & Hardy had by this time abandoned shorts." |
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thescribe
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 249
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Interesting observation from Everson, but can't say I agree. Most of the Chase Columbias I've seen have been pretty tatty prints (a new DVD might help me appreciate them better!), but overall they lack the charm of the Roach films. Charley's character seems particularly shrill in this series, especially in films such as CALLING ALL DOCTORS. The Columbia slapstick means way too many screaming reactions from Charley. His age is showing a bit too, and it might have worked better for him if he stuck to the direction he was taking of letting his hair go naturally grey in ON THE WRONG TREK and NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE versus blacking it with shoe polish. The jet black hair and thinness of face ages him unnecessarily.
But Charley seems to have had more control over -- or at the very least put more effort into -- his Columbia films than Keaton or Langdon did. And any series that includes THE HECKLER (one of the great talkie two reelers) and THE WRONG MISS WRIGHT can't be all bad!
Put me first in line to buy this set when -- or if -- it ever comes out!
Chris |
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booklover
Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 560
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Since Chase directed Three Stooges comedies, maybe Sony could put a few on the upcoming Stooges sets as bonus features, and see what the reaction is. Test the waters for a Chase boxed set... |
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JLNeib
Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 592
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| booklover wrote: | | Since Chase directed Three Stooges comedies, maybe Sony could put a few on the upcoming Stooges sets as bonus features, and see what the reaction is. Test the waters for a Chase boxed set... |
That is a good idea, but the Stooge shorts that Chase directed are already out on DVD. We are up to the Shemps in that series.
Mike Schlesinger told me that the Chase set is still on the boards, so to speak, but we do have to realize that niche things are being cut across the board. In a perfect world, all of this stuff would be out, but I am thankful for the many treasures we do have immediately available on DVD. And Richard's cryptic comments about the allday Chase set gives me more hope about some future releases.
JN |
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Hillbilly Franey
Joined: 01 Dec 2006
Posts: 642
Location: Cooterburg, West Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: |
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When I watch most of the early Chase/Roach talkies I always have to ask myself: is this the same comedian that made BAD BOY just a few years earlier? It seems Chase eschewed the slapstick in most of the early Roach talkies and used a song to eat up about three minutes of the running time. Kind of like Spanky in an MGM Our Gang short: "what this old outhouse needs is a floor show, c'mon gang!"
The Chase/Columbias seem more solid to me and seem pretty good for Columbia short reel product. As mentioned by an earlier poster, there is the suspension of disbelief when middle-aged-and-looking-every-bit-of-it-Charley is engaged to the rich hot young babe. |
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thescribe
Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 249
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Without having seen alot of the Chase Columbias in a while, what works against them (for me anyway) is the Columbia style. Sure, they're absolutely head and shoulders above the Keaton and Langdon efforts, and maybe I've been too conditioned by Stooges, but there's something about the charm of anything from the Roach studio -- I can't resist it.
The first "talkie" Chase I ever saw was SOUTHERN EXPOSURE on super-8. The tune "The Sun Sun Sunny South" got reel 1 played over and over again! |
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snorrem
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 562
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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I've seen very few of Chase's Columbia shorts, but agree with you "The Scribe" that several of his Roach-shorts are irresistably charming; rarely (to me) laugh-out-loud funny, but usually very enjoyable.
I DO hope so VERY much that Chase's Columbias will do their way to dvd...and the promised box set as well, of course. |
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booklover
Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 560
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Hillbilly Franey wrote: | | When I watch most of the early Chase/Roach talkies I always have to ask myself: is this the same comedian that made BAD BOY just a few years earlier? It seems Chase eschewed the slapstick in most of the early Roach talkies and used a song to eat up about three minutes of the running time. Kind of like Spanky in an MGM Our Gang short: "what this old outhouse needs is a floor show, c'mon gang!" |
I'm glad somebody has said it. Recently I've seen at least a dozen of the Chase-Roach shorts, the early and later ones, and I can't say I was very impressed. But I thought, maybe it's me, maybe I'm missing something. Some are terrific - "4 Parts", "Fate's Fathead", "Whispering Whoopee", but often, it seems like Chase starts with a solid premise and then abandons it for a series of unrelated gags, without any real conclusion. That wouldn't be a problem if the gags were inventive and funny, but to me, they're mildly amusing at best. |
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JLNeib
Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 592
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| booklover wrote: | | Hillbilly Franey wrote: | | When I watch most of the early Chase/Roach talkies I always have to ask myself: is this the same comedian that made BAD BOY just a few years earlier? It seems Chase eschewed the slapstick in most of the early Roach talkies and used a song to eat up about three minutes of the running time. Kind of like Spanky in an MGM Our Gang short: "what this old outhouse needs is a floor show, c'mon gang!" |
I'm glad somebody has said it. Recently I've seen at least a dozen of the Chase-Roach shorts, the early and later ones, and I can't say I was very impressed. But I thought, maybe it's me, maybe I'm missing something. Some are terrific - "4 Parts", "Fate's Fathead", "Whispering Whoopee", but often, it seems like Chase starts with a solid premise and then abandons it for a series of unrelated gags, without any real conclusion. That wouldn't be a problem if the gags were inventive and funny, but to me, they're mildly amusing at best. |
I think some of the Chase/Roach talkie shorts are incredibly funny (Girl Grief, Pip From Pittsburgh, etc) and some are not. I have seen only about a half dozen of the Columbias, and honestly believe they are every bit as good, and some may be even better. This is relative, though, as I like Chase any time.
I welcome any Chase film on DVD from any part of his career.
JN |
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booklover
Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 560
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| JLNeib wrote: | | booklover wrote: | | Hillbilly Franey wrote: | | When I watch most of the early Chase/Roach talkies I always have to ask myself: is this the same comedian that made BAD BOY just a few years earlier? It seems Chase eschewed the slapstick in most of the early Roach talkies and used a song to eat up about three minutes of the running time. Kind of like Spanky in an MGM Our Gang short: "what this old outhouse needs is a floor show, c'mon gang!" |
I'm glad somebody has said it. Recently I've seen at least a dozen of the Chase-Roach shorts, the early and later ones, and I can't say I was very impressed. But I thought, maybe it's me, maybe I'm missing something. Some are terrific - "4 Parts", "Fate's Fathead", "Whispering Whoopee", but often, it seems like Chase starts with a solid premise and then abandons it for a series of unrelated gags, without any real conclusion. That wouldn't be a problem if the gags were inventive and funny, but to me, they're mildly amusing at best. |
I think some of the Chase/Roach talkie shorts are incredibly funny (Girl Grief, Pip From Pittsburgh, etc) and some are not. I have seen only about a half dozen of the Columbias, and honestly believe they are every bit as good, and some may be even better. This is relative, though, as I like Chase any time.
I welcome any Chase film on DVD from any part of his career. JN |
I would welcome any as well. If they put out a boxed set of all the Chase- Roach sound shorts, I'd buy them pre-order. But I do have to question if the films themselves have been somewhat overpraised. I don't find myself watching them repeatedly the way I do with The Rascals, L&H, and even the Stooges, to look for those little touches, little bits of business that you missed the first time. |
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WaverBoy
Joined: 29 May 2007
Posts: 280
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: Columbia Shorts - recent news |
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| Richard M Roberts wrote: |
However, there may be good news regarding AllDay's BECOMING CHARLEY CHASE set soon. I say no more.....
RICHARD M ROBERTS |
Wow...very cool. Thanks for that encouraging, tantalizing tidbit! |
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snorrem
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 562
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| booklover wrote: | | JLNeib wrote: | | booklover wrote: | | Hillbilly Franey wrote: | | When I watch most of the early Chase/Roach talkies I always have to ask myself: is this the same comedian that made BAD BOY just a few years earlier? It seems Chase eschewed the slapstick in most of the early Roach talkies and used a song to eat up about three minutes of the running time. Kind of like Spanky in an MGM Our Gang short: "what this old outhouse needs is a floor show, c'mon gang!" |
I'm glad somebody has said it. Recently I've seen at least a dozen of the Chase-Roach shorts, the early and later ones, and I can't say I was very impressed. But I thought, maybe it's me, maybe I'm missing something. Some are terrific - "4 Parts", "Fate's Fathead", "Whispering Whoopee", but often, it seems like Chase starts with a solid premise and then abandons it for a series of unrelated gags, without any real conclusion. That wouldn't be a problem if the gags were inventive and funny, but to me, they're mildly amusing at best. |
I think some of the Chase/Roach talkie shorts are incredibly funny (Girl Grief, Pip From Pittsburgh, etc) and some are not. I have seen only about a half dozen of the Columbias, and honestly believe they are every bit as good, and some may be even better. This is relative, though, as I like Chase any time.
I welcome any Chase film on DVD from any part of his career. JN |
I would welcome any as well. If they put out a boxed set of all the Chase- Roach sound shorts, I'd buy them pre-order. But I do have to question if the films themselves have been somewhat overpraised. I don't find myself watching them repeatedly the way I do with The Rascals, L&H, and even the Stooges, to look for those little touches, little bits of business that you missed the first time. |
I don't either. In fact, once I've watched a Roach-short from the 30's without Laurel & Hardy chances are little that I'll look at it again for quite a while, even years. But I still enjoy them a lot. |
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