Film #147 - Bromo and Juliet (1926)
Viewed May 27, 2006
In a bit of a change, I decided to watch a film from a star of the silent era that I am not terribly familiar with. I decided to watch Bromo and Juliet, a vehicle for Hal Roach Studio stalwart Charlie Chase. Chase was a relatively big star at the time, but has been mostly forgotten in the years since. Bromo and Juliet gives a hint why.
It’s standard comedic stuff, with Charlie roped into performing in a production of Romeo and Juliet by his girlfriend and finding himself on the run from the police and an irate cab driver to whom he owes money for a fare (played by soon-to-be much bigger star Oliver Hardy).
Chase shows a good deal of althetic ability, but he lacks the flair that someone like Buster Keaton could bring to the table. His acting ability is decent enough, but he fails to connect with the other characters the way Roscoe Arbuckle could. Still, he carries the film well enough and it proves to ultimately be pretty entertaining.
Not surprisingly, Oliver Hardy, in a relatively small role, shines through with the kind of dynamic screen presence that Chase, frankly, lacks. The rest of the supporting cast does a fine job, but also fails to truly impress.
Bromo and Juliet is a cute little silent short, but it’s not really something that’s worth seeking out, even for a glimpse of Hardy only a couple of years before he would take off in partnership with Stan Laurel. But if you happen to get it on a complation disc (like I did) or see it coming up on television, it’s worth a look.