The Nickel Nurser (1932)

Charley is an efficiency expert trying to teach a millionaire's daughter the value of money.

Director:

Warren Doane

Writers:

Charley Chase (story), H.M. Walker (dialogue)

Stars:

Charley Chase, Thelma Todd, Billy Gilbert

Cast

Cast overview:
Charley Chase	...	Charley Chase
Thelma Todd	...	Thelma Todd
Billy Gilbert	...	Todd's Butler

Storyline

A wealthy man wants his three free-spending daughters, who are in their twenties, to learn fiscal discipline. An attorney suggests that Charley, an efficiency expert, move in and provide guidance. The young women play a trick on the stiff-necked Charley by having Thelma, one of the sisters, switch places with Greta, their garboesque maid. Greta plays her part well, vamping and flirting with Charley, to the chagrin of her husband, the butler. Eventually, Charley smells a rat and, in his nightshirt, confronts Thelma in her bedroom. Lessons in frugality give way to farce as a shotgun and suit of armor provide the props of a dénouement.

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Plot Keywords:

shotgun | bedroom | butler | armor | attorney | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1932 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

21 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

A decent film, but I STILL prefer Chase's silent films!

I've seen quite a few Charley Chase films over the last few years and I am firmly convinced that his silent films were almost masterpieces but his sound films were significantly less funny. This isn't to say they are bad--just not "prime" Chase.

Charley, by the way, was actually Charles Parrot--brother of the famed Hal Roach director (who actually directed many of his brother's films). Charley himself also did duty as director and writer in many Roach vehicles, though he is billed as "Charles Parrot".

In this film, Charley is an efficiency expert sent by a rich guy to keep an eye on his daughters and make sure they don't spend him into the poor house while he's out of town. In a not particularly funny twist, they pretend that one of the sisters (Thelma Todd) is the maid and the maid is the sister. This never really materialized into any good laughs and seemed more of a distraction than anything else. Also, there were a few other flat moments, such as when Charley first met them he was very tongue-tied--not one of the brighter comedic moments in cinema history. However, there were also a few good laughs--particularly when you get to see Charley's underwear! Not a bad film, but certainly NOT one to rival the comedy shorts of Laurel and Hardy.