Unusually, Charley Chase gets on-screen screenplay credit for this entry in the series of shorts that he made for Columbia Pictures after his longtime home, Hal Roach Studios, stopped producing two-reel comedies. I don't know whether that means he actually contributed more than his usual rather large amount to the writing of this particular film, or if Columbia simply decided to credit his work this time, but either way he has nothing to be ashamed of -- "The Sap Takes a Wrap" is very funny and certainly bears his hallmarks.
The idea, in short, is that Charley is a lawyer whose friend has playfully written in the gossip column that he's been cheating on his fiancée, and all sorts of awkward coincidences keep happening to make this appear to be the truth -- mainly coming to revolve around a suspicious-looking fur coat that three music hall dancers have entrusted to his care for the time being. There are certain strains that are very strong in Chase's comedy, and this is a good example of his mining the laughs out of impossibly and increasingly awkward situations for Charley, and of his taking a solid but unremarkable gag (ie it looks like Charley is cheating) and taking it to such an unlikely extreme that it becomes brilliant.
There's also an excellent running gag that pays off at the end revolving around a fellow called Maloney. Charley has the benefit of experienced comedy director Del Lord, and he's a good collaborator with his style. The timing is good all through and until the big fight scene near the end, which is fine, it doesn't descend into pure "Columbia style" physical slapstick. The singers are played by "the Astor Trio" in their only film appearance. Presumably it's an attempt to launch them and there is every indication that a musical number is forthcoming, but there never is one. It's a little disappointing, as the songs in Chase's shorts are always a lot of fun. Perhaps there was a last-minute decision to cut their act for some reason.
The idea, in short, is that Charley is a lawyer whose friend has playfully written in the gossip column that he's been cheating on his fiancée, and all sorts of awkward coincidences keep happening to make this appear to be the truth -- mainly coming to revolve around a suspicious-looking fur coat that three music hall dancers have entrusted to his care for the time being. There are certain strains that are very strong in Chase's comedy, and this is a good example of his mining the laughs out of impossibly and increasingly awkward situations for Charley, and of his taking a solid but unremarkable gag (ie it looks like Charley is cheating) and taking it to such an unlikely extreme that it becomes brilliant.
There's also an excellent running gag that pays off at the end revolving around a fellow called Maloney. Charley has the benefit of experienced comedy director Del Lord, and he's a good collaborator with his style. The timing is good all through and until the big fight scene near the end, which is fine, it doesn't descend into pure "Columbia style" physical slapstick. The singers are played by "the Astor Trio" in their only film appearance. Presumably it's an attempt to launch them and there is every indication that a musical number is forthcoming, but there never is one. It's a little disappointing, as the songs in Chase's shorts are always a lot of fun. Perhaps there was a last-minute decision to cut their act for some reason.
