Pie a la Maid

I looked forward to seeing this Charley Chase comedy. Like most of his Columbia Picture efforts, it was long unavailable. After looking at it, I can only echo the closing exchange between Ann Doran, who asks Charley "What happened?" and Charley, who replies "I Don't know." At first it appears that we are to be treated to one of Charley's comedies in which he has a single overwhelming character flaw: in this case, absent-mindedness. However, when Ann meets Charley and thinks he is a roughneck who has been making unwanted passes at her, she responds by having her brother dress as her sister... and when the gangsterish masher shows up, it all ends in a donnybrook.

In searching for an explanation to this ineptly motivated series of events, the only rational conclusion I can come to is that either Charley and director Del Lord were intent on doing a burlesque of the sort of sense-free series of mediocre gags that their producer, Jules White, was fond of; or perhaps Charley was off on a drunk and let his usual high sense of professionalism slip. In any case, this is one Charley Chase comedy you can and should skip.

When the film begins, through a case of mistaken identity a waitress thinks Charley is making improper advances on her. So, she does what any sane person would do--shoves a cream pie in this customer's face. And what does he do? Exactly what any sane person would do--he falls instantly in love with her!!! Later, after he does a lot of pursuing, she arranges to have her brother dress up like a lady and beat up Charley. Does any of this make sense to you? No?! Then I guess that pretty much sums this one up! It's full of bizarre plot elements that are confusing and make no sense, is very badly written and ends with a giant free-for-all that makes even less sense. All in all, one of Charley's worst films for Columbia Pictures although the film that still has a few funny moments. It's just a shame that few of these moments make any sense at all.