I just saw The Caretaker's Daughter at The Silent Movie Theater in L.A. before a screening of Harold Lloyd's Hot Water. As with so many of director Leo McCarey's two-reelers (including a number of Laurel and Hardy gems), this Charley Chase short is comic perfection. It starts out as a rather simple comedy of misunderstanding, then escalates to full-blown farce. McCarey's light touch is a perfect fit with Chase's everyman persona. Though laugh-out-loud hilarious, the story also makes room for moments of subtle humor. Chase isn't a daredevil physical comedian like his more famous contemporaries, but his priceless reactions and deft timing have definitely stood the test of time. If you can track down any of his work on video, by all means do so. If you're a fan of classic comedy, you won't be disappointed.
