Nature in the Wrong: Charley Chase goes full jungle-mode

If you've got twenty minutes and a craving for pure, unadulterated slapstick, Nature in the Wrong is exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s for the people who think Charlie Hall is the ultimate onscreen antagonist and for anyone who just wants to see someone commit to a bit until it hurts. If you prefer your comedies to have a coherent plot or, I don't know, a sense of logic, you might want to skip this one.

Charley Chase plays the kind of guy who would try to rewrite his own family tree just to get a nod of approval from his girlfriend’s snooty parents. It’s a classic setup that goes off the rails the second he believes he’s Tarzan. The transition from 'nervous suitor' to 'swinging from the curtains' happens with almost zero hesitation, which is exactly why it works.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Nature in the Wrong (1933) through its definitive frames.

The moment he takes that hit to the head, the movie just gives up on reality. It’s glorious. Seeing him walk around trying to act like a wild man in a suit is the kind of physical comedy gold that doesn't really exist anymore. There's a particular shot of him staring down a house pet that had me laughing out loud, mostly because of how dead-serious he looks.

It’s not as dark or weird as His Musical Sneeze, but it’s got a similar frantic energy that keeps you glued. The supporting cast—especially James Finlayson—is clearly having a blast being the straight man to Charley’s absolute descent into madness. Sometimes you can see Finlayson almost break character, holding back a smirk while Charley is doing something absurd nearby.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Nature in the Wrong (1933) through its definitive frames.

The pacing is fast enough that you don't have time to ask questions like, 'Why would anyone actually believe they are Tarzan because of a bump on the noggin?' It just moves. You just roll with it.

Notes from the couch:

• The sound design during the jungle impression scenes is surprisingly aggressive.
• I swear the hat Charley wears changes position between cuts during the chase scene.
• The way people just accept his behavior for as long as they do is the real joke here.
• It's not trying to be Midnight Madness, and it's better for it.

It’s not high art. It’s not trying to be a meditation on anything. It’s just twenty minutes of a guy losing his mind because he wanted to impress a girl. Sometimes, that’s all you really need on a Tuesday afternoon. 🐒