Series: Charley Chase Director: Leo McCarey Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Len Powers Editor: Stars: Charley Chase, Beth Darlington, Earl Mohan Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 28 September 1924 Length: 1 reel Production No.: D-70 Filming dates: July 8-12, 1924 Rating: 5/10

Sittin' Pretty

Available on DVD:

Jimmy goes to visit his girlfriend (BETH DARLINGTON), but when he parks his car an opportunist thief (LEO WILLIS) then jumps into the car and attempts to steal it. Jimmy complains to his girlfriend's policeman father (whilst he is in the bath!) but Beth tells Jimmy to dress into her father's uniform and go after the criminal. He catches the thief and hands him into the local station. Before Jimmy can leave, the desk sergeant rounds up all the available policemen and tells them they have to go and apprehend a dangerous maniac named 'Loco Larry' who has barricaded himself in his house. The cops - including Jimmy run out of the station and end up at the maniac's house. Two cops enter the front door and end up flying out of the upstairs window. A new strategy is needed and Jimmy is the unwilling volunteer that has to go into the house and reason with the maniac. The bearded Loco Larry (JAMES PARROTT) is standing in front of a mirror waving a knife around, so Jimmy gives a trim to a bear rug and applies the fur to his face so that he resembles the lunatic. In the most visually clever gag of the film, the two men stand opposite one another and mimic each other's movements as though they were looking through a mirror. Fake cop Jimmy does eventually apprehend his brother, I mean, the lunatic, and drags him outside. Jimmy returns to his girlfriend's house and hands back the cop's uniform to her father. Just then, a senior officer walks in and hands the father a reward check for $1000, and all Jimmy gets for his troubles is a reward cigar!

Favourite bit The 'mirror' gag.

Trivia • Copyrighted October 2, 1924. • There are sources that list Helen Gilmore in the film. This is wrong. My opinion • Basic film with a basic plot and a basic performance from Charley Chase. With the exception of one clever gag.... it was just, what's the word... basic.

	Charley Chase Jimmy Jump
	Beth Darlington Jimmy's girlfriend
	Earl Mohan Father
	James Parrott "Loco" Larry, the bearded lunatic
	Leo Willis Car thief
	Harry Bowen Grocer
	Chester Bachman Desk sergeant
	Robert Page Cop
	UNIDENTIFIED Cop #1
	UNIDENTIFIED Cop #2
	UNIDENTIFIED Cop #3
	UNIDENTIFIED Senior cop

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

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book) Lord Heath (Identification of Chester Bachman, Harry Bowen) This page was last updated on: 28 September 2025