Charley and his family are looking forward to "Bank Night" at the local theater. It seems they pick a lucky person from the audience to receive $500--a HUGE sum of money back in 1936. While most kids today don't realize it, prize drawings and giveaways were common during that era as incentives to get people into the theaters.
Unfortunately, through some ridiculous coincidences, the audience think that Charley has somehow rigged the drawing and the theater patrons behave like a bunch of animals. This aspect of the film is pretty funny and a good commentary on human nature, though apart from this, the movie just doesn't have the number of jokes and laughs as a typical Laurel and Hardy short from the same studio. I've seen a lot of Charley Chase shorts and in general his silents are funnier. Because of this, I had relatively low expectations for NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE but was pretty happy to see that it was a cut above most of his sound films. While not great, it is very funny and well worth your time.
Unfortunately, through some ridiculous coincidences, the audience think that Charley has somehow rigged the drawing and the theater patrons behave like a bunch of animals. This aspect of the film is pretty funny and a good commentary on human nature, though apart from this, the movie just doesn't have the number of jokes and laughs as a typical Laurel and Hardy short from the same studio. I've seen a lot of Charley Chase shorts and in general his silents are funnier. Because of this, I had relatively low expectations for NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE but was pretty happy to see that it was a cut above most of his sound films. While not great, it is very funny and well worth your time.