Hard Knocks

This one-reel comedy is one of Charley Chase's early starring efforts at the Hal Roach Studio, made when his screen character was known as "Jimmy Jump." A few of the Jimmy Jump shorts have a crazy cartoon-ish quality, while others (such as Hard Knocks) feel like dress rehearsals for the more realistic but no less imaginative two-reel situation comedies Chase would appear in under his own name, in which he usually played a dapper young middle-class gent who somehow gets himself into unlikely, complicated, and deeply embarrassing situations.

In this outing, Charley -- or Jimmy, rather -- is a lowly office clerk afraid to speak up to his boss. The boss also happens to be the father of Helen, the girl he loves. When Jimmy's rival, a burly co-worker, becomes indignant about his measly paycheck, he barges into the boss' office, demands a raise, and receives it on the spot. But when Jimmy, whose salary is considerably lower than that of his rival, attempts to do the same thing he can't even follow through. Both men are invited to Helen's party. When Jimmy is puzzled about what "R.S.V.P." means the rival wickedly misinforms him: Riding Suits Very Proper. So Jimmy shows up in a rented riding outfit, and although he looks quite natty to our eyes this is clearly a social faux pas at a party where everyone else wears evening dress. Jimmy contrives to switch clothes with the butler (played by Noah Young, a Roach Studio regular best known as Harold Lloyd's frequent nemesis), but this only compounds an already embarrassing situation. As it happens, the butler is a very large man, and when Jimmy is called upon to recite before the assembled guests his trousers begin to slip. This is a classic Charley Chase embarrassment routine, very much the sort of thing he'd develop further and perfect in later years.

In the finale, we learn that the rival is a scoundrel when he sets out to rob the company safe. Jimmy catches him in the act and a fight ensues. This climax is played straight, and although we're never really in doubt about the outcome the scene is surprisingly intense and suspenseful. (Impressive filmed, too, in dramatic darkness). Eventually everything is squared away, and we're left with a couple of cute wrap-up gags. The film is over in a brisk ten minutes. It's a nice little short, and serves as something of a Coming Attractions trailer for the great two-reel comedies Charley Chase would soon produce.

Hard Knocks (1924)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Jimmy Jump (Charley Chase) is working for pennies and is too afraid to ask his boss for a raise. His co-worker isn't afraid and gets the raise and soon he and Jimmy are after the boss's daughter. She likes Jimmy but only wishes he would stand up for himself and he's going to get the chance when someone breaks into the office to rob it. This is a decent entry in the series that once again features some mild writing but Chase does what he can to make it work. The character Chase is playing is really starting to hit its stride as it appears the actor has found how he wants to play it and what type of humor he wants the character to have. The early part of the film has some nice stuff dealing with him being too much of a coward to speak up and then at the end we have him finally fighting. There really weren't any major laughs to be had here but the 10-minute running time goes by very quickly and Chase keeps it moving well enough for fans.

"Hard Knocks" was one of the earlier shorts in Charley Chase's first series of his own comedies, made under the name of Jiimmy Jump. After the Western-parody aberration of "Powder and Smoke" the series really seems to be hitting its stride and settling into the characteristic style that comes grows out of Chase's comedy sensibility. This entry is very funny, and really draws on the "comedy of embarrassment" material that would long be his stock and trade.

The film beginnings with some funny and well-developed sequences around Charley as a meek office worker who can't quite bring himself to ask for a raise as his better-paid colleague does. The meat of the comedy revolves around a confusion where the coworker convinces Charley that RSVP on an invitation is for Riding Suit Very Proper, and extended (or as extended as possible within a ten-minute reel) humiliations result. With the comedy there's a great little view of a twenties party, with all in evening dress and expected to recite or sing something. I have to confess I wish that tradition had continued.

Charley Chase's brother James Parrott directs, and there's the intangible feel of a high-quality production here, with some high quality shots (look as Charley gets the invitation after being disappointed) enhancing the proceedings, and a cute ending in silhouette that puts a hairline crack in the fourth wall.

Hard Knocks finds Charley Chase as a Bob Cratchit like clerk in an office afraid to speak up for himself even to ask for a long overdue raise. Not a good thing especially when you're looking to marry the boss's daughter. Beth Darlington as the daughter likes Charley well enough, but wishes he'd be more assertive.

This Hal Roach comedy shows a different Charley Chase. I had not seen any of his silent films before, but in the sound films I had seen Chase is a far more aggressive character, almost a Sammy Glick forty years before Budd Schulberg created the character. He's as shy as Harold Lloyd here.

He's also got a rival played by Eddie Baker who embarrasses Chase at every turn. But Baker is a far worse character than Chase or any of the others suspect. For that you have to see this classic silent screen comedy short to find out.

Not the reel or the real Charley Chase, but still pretty funny.

This is an early Jimmy Jump short starring Charley Chase. The film is directed by his brother, James Parrott. The different last name is because Chase was a stage name--his family name was Parrott. In fact, Charley directed a lot of films himself--but using his real name.

Charley is a mousy young man who is in love with the boss' daughter. However, the boss has ambitions of the daughter marrying some rich society guy, so Charley's chances are pretty poor. He has a co-worker who is a bit of a jerk--and how big a jerks is something you'll see by the end of the picture. I could tell more about the film, but it would spoil the plot. Just know that although there are not tons of laughs in this one, the film is more plot and character driven than the usual comedy of the day. And, like quite a few of the Jimmy Jump films is a bit of a romantic comedy. Well worth seeing.

By the way, look for a scene late in the film that is back at the office. While it's black outside the window--it's somehow broad daylight on the sidewalk just below window! Oops.