Megapack | Charley Chase

In an era of "elevated horror" and "prestige drama," the Charley Chase MegaPack is a reminder that pure, physical, plot-driven comedy is an art form. Chase is the comedian your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian. Groucho Marx admired him. Jerry Lewis copied his rhythm. Mel Brooks quotes his gags.

Chase transitioned to talkies better than most. His voice—a smooth, slightly panicked tenor—became his weapon. In this short, he invents a fake, exotic backstory to impress a girl, only to have her father actually be from that exotic place. The rapid-fire linguistic gymnastics are a joy to hear. Charley Chase MegaPack

Chase’s genius was narrative structure. His shorts (mostly for the Hal Roach studio, home of Laurel & Hardy and Our Gang) are miniature masterpieces of cause-and-effect chaos. A simple lie about knowing how to dance leads to a shattered car radiator, a stolen police horse, and a wedding cake falling off a cliff. While specific box sets vary, a true "Charley Chase MegaPack" typically bundles his finest surviving works, often spanning the late 1920s through the mid-1930s. Here are the crown jewels you’ll likely find: In an era of "elevated horror" and "prestige