Series: Charley Chase Director: Fred L. Guiol Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Len Powers Editor: Richard C. Currier Stars: Charley Chase, Edna Marion, Edgar Kennedy, Gertrude Astor Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 18 February 1928 Length: 2 reels Production No.: C-8 Filming dates: December 12-23, 1927 Rating: -/10

The Family Group

Plot summary taken from approximately 3 minutes of the film available for review: Charley's young baby has won first prize in a talent show and so the family are at a studio to have their photograph taken. The photographer (EDGAR KENNEDY) is ready to snap the picture when a young boy shoots his pea-shooter from the window, popping the balloon that Charley is posing with. This reduces Charley to tears, and the photographer to distraction. Charley goes outside to buy another balloon but this is also popped by the pea-shooting boy. A lady standing on the sidewalk with a large pin and addressing her hair is the suspect, but Charley resists his urge to kick her and instead goes to buy another balloon. In a clever twist, Charley anticipates this balloon will also get popped - and it does, but has thought of an ingenious back-up plan. He has secretly placed another balloon up the back of his suit and walks into the studio with it. Just as the photographer is about to take the picture, the balloon is popped by the pea-shooting boy. Unpreterbed, Charley ventures out once more and this time decides to buy a whole bunch of balloons from a seller on the street. A strong wind picks up and sends Charley flying across the street. At the studio, another couple (EDNA MARION and TINY SANDFORD) become aggitated with the delay as they await their session with the photographer. Charley floats momentarily past the window still clutching the bunch of balloons before flying off down the road. He shoots past a couple of patrol cops by their car. One of the cops takes out a shotgun and chases Charley down the street, shooting at the balloons in order to release him from their grip.

Favourite bit Charley flying through the streets of Culver City clutching a bunch of balloons really throws up some beautiful scenery.

Trivia • Copyrighted February 18, 1928. • 3 minutes and 18 seconds of the film is included in the Robert Youngson compilation, "4 Clowns". • When the young boy shoots his pea-shooter and pops the balloon, look carefully and you can see that the missile used to pop the balloon actually comes from the left. The boy was standing on the right of the frame. • The lady with the pin doing her hair is standing next to the Chapin building.

	Charley Chase Charley
	Edna Marion Tiny Sandford's wife
	Edgar Kennedy Photographer
	Gertrude Astor Charley's wife
	Tiny Sandford Edna Marion's husband
	Jackie Combs Young boy
	Douglas Haig Boy
	UNIDENTIFIED Pea-shooter
	UNIDENTIFIED Baby
	UNIDENTIFIED Balloon vendor
	UNIDENTIFIED Traffic cop
	UNIDENTIFIED Cop in car
	UNIDENTIFIED Cop with shotgun

GLASS SLIDE (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Smile When The Raindrops Fall by Brian Anthony & Andy Edmonds (book, page 213) Peter Mikkelsen (glass slide) This page was last updated on: 18 February 2023