Category: Humor

“A Night in the Show” (1915) written, directed & starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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A Night in the Show (1915)

Director: Charlie Chaplin

Screenplay:  Charlie Chaplin

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Charlotte Mineau, Dee Lampton, Edna Purviance, Leo White and

Tagline: Uproariously Funny Charley Chaplin As a Dude and a Bum A Double Portion of Comedy

The Plot…

A Night in the Show follows two theater-goers: Mr. Pest and Mr. Rowdy (both played by Charlie Chaplin).  Mr. Pest is well-dressed man who has a great seat right up front.  Pest is rudely oblivious to all around him.  Mr. Rowdy watches from a cheap balcony seat.  Rowdy has had too much too drink and disrupts in his own way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chaplin adapted A Night in the Show from one of his stage plays.

Bud Jamison who appeared in nearly 40 Three Stooges shorts appears uncredited in the balcony.

A Night in the Show (1915) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Captain Kidd’s Kids” (1919) starring Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels / Z-View

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Captain Kidd’s Kids (1919)

Director: Hal Roach

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, “Snub” Pollard

Tagline: THERE ARE BARRELS OF LAUGHTER TO BACK UP THE SPECIAL $100,000 HAROLD LLOYD TWO REEL COMEDY “CAPTAIN KIDD’S KIDS

The Plot…

A wealthy young man discovers that his fiancé ‘s mother is taking her on a cruise so that she cannot marry.  The young man boards a ship and heads off to catch up with his bride-to-be.  As the ship sails, the young man dreams… he’s on an all woman pirate ship…

… and they want to hang him!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels made nearly 100 short films together.  This was their last together.

Captain Kidd’s Kids (1919) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Assistant Wives” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Assistant Wives (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Edna Marion, Anita Garvin.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and his bride are just getting by.  Charley needs a raise and figures if he can buddy-up to his boss, it will come.  He invites his boss to dinner.  Because of a misunderstanding, the boss thinks a waitress at the diner across the street is Charley’s wife.

Charley figures this could work to his advantage.  Since the boss likes the waitress, Charley offers her a payday if she acts as his wife over dinner.  Things go sideways when Charley’s wife and the waitress’ boyfriend see Charley and the waitress getting chummy.

Dinner is served!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Assistant Wives was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Assistant Wives (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) starring Eddie Murphy / Z-View

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Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Director: Martin Brest

Screenplay:  Daniel Petrie Jr.; story by Danilo Bach, Daniel Petrie Jr.

Stars:  Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff, James Russo, Jonathan Banks, Stephen Elliott, Gilbert R. Hill, Paul Reiser, Frank Pesce, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot.

Tagline: He’s been chased, thrown through a window, and arrested. Eddie Murphy is a Detroit cop on vacation in Beverly Hills.

The Plot…

Axel Foley is a quick-witted Detroit street cop who doesn’t play by the rules.  Axel is surprised when Mikey, his ex-con childhood friend,  suddenly shows up.  Mikey says he’s doing well and living in Beverly Hills now.

That night Mikey is killed.  It turns out he was in possession of German bearer bonds.

Axel takes vacation time and heads to Beverly Hills to find Mikey’s killers.

The heat is on!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

At one point, Sylvester Stallone was attached to star in Beverly Hills Cop.  Although it was intended to be a comedy, Stallone’s rewrite took out the humor and made it more of a straight action film.  That wasn’t want the producers wanted.  Sly bowed out with the understanding he could keep his script ideas.  Stallone turned those ideas into his film Cobra.

Eddie Murphy, John Ashton and Judge Reinhold improvised many of their lines.

Bronson Pinchot’s Serge was supposed to interact with another store salesman and Axel Foley. Pinchot’s improvs and accent were so funny, the other salesman’s part was substantially reduced and Pinchot’s role increased.

The movie proved so popular in test screenings, Paramount approved sequels before the film’s official release.

Beverly Hills Cop features the feature film debut of Damon Wayans.  He is listed in the credits as Banana Man.

The mansion that appears in the final shootout was once owned by silent film star Harold Lloyd.  The estate was also used in the final shootout in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film Commando.  Ironically, in both films a character named Jenny was being rescued.

Director Martin Brest appears as the desk clerk who checks Axel out of the hotel at the end of the film.

Beverly Hills Cop is a great comedy/action film.  It leans more into comedy than action, but there is a heaping helping of both.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Bigger and Better Blondes” (1927) starring Charley Chase and Jean Arthur / Z-View

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Bigger and Better Blondes (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Jean Arthur, May Wallace.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley is given the assignment to carry $60,000.00 of a client’s expensive jewelry back to the shop.  Along the way he decides to stop for lunch.  Across the diner Charley sees a woman he’s attracted to.  In an effort to impress her, Charley puts on one of the rings he’s supposed to deliver.  Problem is, the ring belongs to the woman.   She sees Charley wearing it, and thinks he stole it.

Worse still, a group of thieves sees Charley wearing the expensive ring and that he’s carrying a load of jewelry.  They decide to steal it all.

Let the antics begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Bigger and Better Blondes was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

The $60,000.00 in jewels would be worth over a million dollars in today’s money.

Jean Arthur appeared in only one Hal Roach production and this is it.  Arthur would go on to major stardom in the 1930s and 40s.  Her last feature film appearance was in Shane.

Bigger and Better Blondes (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“They Will Kill You” (2026) directed by Kirill Sokolov; starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette / Z-View

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They Will Kill You (2026)

Director: Kirill Sokolov

Screenplay:  Kirill Sokolov, Alex Litvak

Stars:  Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, James Remar and Patricia Arquette.

Tagline: Let them try

The Plot…

Asia Reaves, an innocent young woman, accepts a job as a live-in housekeeper at a high-class high rise called The Virgil.

It turns out the residents of The Virgil are Satanists.  From time to time they “hire” young women who won’t be missed by society.  These women think they’re being hired as maids or kitchen help.  The truth is they are brought in to be human sacrifices.

It also turns out that Asia Reeves isn’t so innocent.  Asia came to The Virgil for a reason.  She’s a skilled fighter who snuck in weapons.

One woman against a building full of killers.

Welcome to The Virgil.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

They Will Kill You is a blast.  It features outrageous nonstop action, mystery and humor.

Zazie Beetz is believable as an action star.  The camera loves her.  She’s one to watch.

Kirill Sokolov knows how to shoot action.  I love his inventive camera angles and set-ups.  I can’t wait to see his future films.

The Virgil, with it’s hidden passages and secret panels, would fit in with so many horror films of the 1930s and 40s.

James Remar provides the voice for “The Pig Head” character.

They Will Kill You is like Rosemary’s Baby on steroids reimagined as an action/horror/comedy.

They Will Kill You (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Bride!” (2026) written & directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale / Z-View

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The Bride! (2026)

Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Screenplay:  Maggie Gyllenhaal; based on FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley

Stars:  Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz.

Tagline: Here comes the mother f*%#ing BRIDE!

The Plot…

Mary Shelley, the author of FRANKENSTEIN, had another story she wanted to tell.  Sadly she died before she could write it.  But she’s not letting that stop her…

1930s.  Chicago.  Ida, a dame who hangs around mobsters, suddenly becomes possessed. During a rant, Ida falls down a flight of stairs and dies.

Frankenstein’s monster has traveled the world and settled in Chicago.  He’s assumed the identity of a gangster named Frank.  Frank has learned that Dr. Cornelia Euphronius is working to bring the dead back to life.  Frank gets Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him.  She uses Ida’s corpse.

Ida has no memory of her past life.  Frank tells her she was his bride.  Together they go on a crime spree of, uh, monstrous proportions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Bride is not for everyone.  It’s an outrageous mash-up of genres that include horror, romance, gangster, musical and comedy.

I appreciate what was attempted, but for me it was a swing and a miss.  Your mileage, as always, may differ.

The Bride! (2026) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Way of All Pants” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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The Way of All Pants (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Edna Marion, Frank Leigh.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley, who is nervous, especially around women, works in the office for a rich man.  Charley is given the task to hire a new “girl” for the office.  Several apply.  Charley takes a liking to one and it appears she’s interested in him.

It just so happens that Charlie and his boss at first (or even second) glance look alike.  Charley is sitting at his boss’ desk when the boss’ wife comes in from a door behind Charley.  The woman thinks it is her husband sitting at his desk.  She begins rubbing his shoulders.  Charley thinks it is the new hire and he reaches up to stroke her.

Then the boss enters the room!

It takes a bit of explaining, but the boss finally believes his wife and Charley.  It was simply a case of mistaken identity.

Before she leaves the boss’ wife asks Charley to pick up and deliver a custom made pair of pants she is going to surprise her husband with.  When Charley arrives with the pants, the wife asks him to try them on since Charley and her husband are about the same size.  Charley reluctantly agrees.

Of course when Charley is out of his pants and not in the new pants, guess who shows up.

Let the hijinks begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

The Way of All Pants was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

The Way of All Pants is a play on an Oscar-winning film, The Way of All Flesh, released the same year.

The Way of All Pants (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Sting of Stings” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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The Sting of Stings (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Enda Marion, Bull Montana.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and Edna decide to share their good fortune by taking a group of young underprivileged boys to the carnival.  The youngsters chosen all come from the local juvenile hall.

After several mishaps, Charley and crew arrive at the carnival.  There the fair’s monkey-man sees his son with Charley, a stranger.  Thinking his son has been kidnapped, the carnival worker becomes one angry monkey.

What else could go wrong?  A lot.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The carnival gags are fun… especially when Charley’s new car gets a spin on the Ferris Wheel.

The Sting of Stings (1927) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Devil’s Cabaret” (1930) starring Eddie Buzzell / Z-View

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The Devil’s Cabaret (1930)

Director:  Nick Grinde

Screenplay: Edward Buzzell

Stars: Edward Buzzell, Charles Middleton.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

Mr. Satan is upset.  His company, Satan & Company, located in Hades is losing too many human souls to heaven.  Satan then tasks his assistant, Howie Burns (get it? How he burns. <wink, wink>), to find a way to get more souls coming to Hades.  Burns promises his best to do his worst.

Burns creates a nightclub called The Devil’s Cabaret.  Burns then stands outside promising all who pass by, “a night of wild entertainment and hot jazz.”  Crowds flock to the show… now will they follow him afterwards?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Devil’s Cabaret is a Technicolor pre-code short.  It’s humorous, clever, entertaining and not a bad way at all to spend 16 minutes.

Edward Buzzell, who plays Howie Burns, also wrote the screenplay.

The Devil’s Cabaret (1930) rates 4 of 5 stars

“Satan Met a Lady” (1936) starring Bette Davis, William Warren and Marie Wilson / Z-View

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Satan Met a Lady (1936)

Director: William Dieterle

Screenplay:  Brown Holmes; based on THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett.

Stars:  Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Porter Hall, Olin Howland and Marie Wilson.

Tagline: She recalled how three men met their death…searching for a treasure that had left a trail of blood through twelve centuries!

The Plot…

Detective Ted Shane has just returned to town. Milton Ames, Shane’s former partner reluctantly agrees to work with Shane again.  They parted ways since Shane, a lady’s man, once was romantically involved with Ames’ wife.  Shane has a paying client and money overrides hurt feelings.

A woman named Valerie Purvis wants to hire Shane and Ames to find a man named Farrow.  When both Ames and Farrow are found murdered, Shane realizes there is much more to this case than a missing man.

Shane is soon approached by Madam Barrabas and Kenneth, her slow-witted, trigger happy son.  They want  to hire Shane to find an 8th century jewel-filled ivory horn.  An English gentleman, Anthony Travers, wants to hire Shane to find it as well.  And don’t you know, that’s what Valerie is after too.

Shane, never one to turn down money, decides to play each against the other and accepts payment from all.  Shane’s charm and quick wit have always served him well, but this time he may be in over his head.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Satan Met a Lady is based on Dashiell Hammett’s novel THE MALTESE FALCON.  Screenwriter, Brown Holmes not only changed the title, he changed the names of the characters (including the lead), the sex of the main antagonist and the object everyone wanted.

Bette Davis hated the script and complained to studio head Jack Warner.  She said she would not do the film.  Warner promised Davis better scripts in the future and then suspended her without pay.  Reluctantly Davis agreed to the movie.  Unfortunately she hated the end result and often said it was her worst film.

I recently revisited Satan Met a Lady.  I enjoyed it much more than previous viewings.  I always liked the movie, but this time out liked it even more.  I think in the past I compared this adaption of THE MALTESE FALCON to Huston and Bogart’s take.  Obviously Satan Met a Lady suffered by comparison.  I was also influenced by Bette Davis’ feelings about the film.  This time out, I put past feelings aside and enjoyed a lighthearted 1930s comedy/mystery.

Much of my enjoyment of Satan Met a Lady came from Marie Wilson’s performance as the ditzy, sexy blonde assistant.

Satan Met a Lady (1936) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Young Mr. Jazz” (1919) starring Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard / Z-View

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Young Mr. Jazz (1919)

Director: Hal Roach

Screenplay: Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, H. M. Walker

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, ‘Snub’ Pollard.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harold is in love.  Unfortunately the girl’s father is way overprotective.  Harold and  his girl make a plan to sneak off for a date.  When Harold picks her up, her father sees and gives chase.  Harold and his girl end up in a dive bar full of thieves and thugs.

Soon enough Harold’s pocket is picked.  When the bill comes due, the hard case bartender will collect one way or another.  Then the girl’s dad enters and in no time at all, his cash is stolen.  Now without a way to pay what is owed, Harold will be in a fight for his life against the bartender and his crook friends.

Last call!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Young Mr. Jazz is a short (10 minute) short.  Still, Harold Lloyd has ample time to demonstrate his athletic/acrobatic abilities.

Young Mr. Jazz (1919) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Forgotten Sweeties” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Forgotten Sweeties (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Anita Garvin, Shirley Palmer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and his new wife, Lillian, are surprised to learn that Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Shirley has moved into the apartment across from them.  Worse still, Shirley’s new husband Ira is the jealous type.  When Ira learns about Charley, things take a turn for the worst.

Let the antics begin!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Forgotten Sweeties was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Forgotten Sweeties (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Many Scrappy Returns” (1927) starring Charley Chase / Z-View

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Many Scrappy Returns (1927)

Director: James Parrott

Screenplay:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Charley Chase, Eugenia Gilbert, Anita Garvin and Bull Montana.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Charley and his wife have Charlie’s brother, Wellington and Wellington’s wife over for dinner.  Things go sideways when Wellington tries to put a move on Charley’s maid.  Worse still she thinks that it was Charley getting fresh.  When the maid’s husband gets wind of the advance, all bets are off!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charley Chase was an writer, director and actor.  Although he died at a relatively young age (46), his resume includes 282 acting roles, 174 films as a director and 37 as writer.

Many Scrappy Returns was directed by Charley Chase’s brother.

Many Scrappy Returns (1927) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Rink” (1916) written, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin / Z-View

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The Rink (1916)

Director: Charlie Chaplin, Edward Brewer (technical director)

Screenplay:  Charlie Chaplin, Vincent Bryan, Maverick Terrell

Stars:  Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Henry Bergman, Albert Austin.

Tagline: Can you imagine the excruciatingly comedy capers of Charley on a pair of roller skates?

The Plot…

Charlie is a terribly clumsy waiter.  On his lunch hour Charlie likes to go to the skating rink where he is graceful beyond belief.  Still, Charlie being Charlie…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chaplin was a man of many talents.  He wrote screenplays, acted, directed, produced, composed music and wrote songs.  Who knew he could also skate so well?

In addition to his physical comedy, Chaplin made me smile when as a waiter he figured a fat man’s dinner bill by the stains on his clothes.

The Rink (1916) rates 4 of 5 stars.