Thin Twins (1924) - Charley Chase is still the funniest guy you've never heard of

You should watch this today if you have fifteen minutes and want to see a tall, lanky man look absolutely terrified of a woman. It is perfect for anyone who likes silent comedy that feels a bit more grounded and "human" than the big stunts of Buster Keaton.

If you hate reading title cards or can't stand old film grain, you will probably find this annoying. But for the rest of us, it’s a total gem. 🎞️

Charley Chase is the star here, and he has this very specific energy. He isn't playing a clown or a magical character; he just feels like a guy who accidentally walked onto a movie set and is trying to act natural.

The writing is by Leo McCarey, who basically invented the modern sitcom rhythm. You can see the DNA of his later work in the way the jokes build up slowly before exploding into chaos.

There is a moment early on where Charley is trying to fix his tie in a mirror, and he just keeps making it worse. It’s so relatable it hurts.

I noticed the set design is incredibly sparse, almost like they ran out of money halfway through building the room. There’s a door that seems to lead nowhere, but they use it for three different gags anyway.

Betty Francisco is great here too, mostly because she looks genuinely exhausted by Charley’s presence. Her reactions are way more subtle than what you see in something like Wife Number Two.

The plot is about twins, or maybe just lookalikes, but it honestly doesn't matter. The movie is really just an excuse to see Charley run around in a suit that is slightly too small for him.

One scene involves a very crowded hallway that feels claustrophobic in a funny way. It reminded me of the frantic energy in Movie Madness, but a bit more controlled.

The film print I saw had these weird vertical scratches during the climax. Honestly, it made the whole thing feel more authentic, like I was watching something salvaged from a basement.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Thin Twins (1929) through its definitive frames.

I love how Charley uses his whole body to express doubt. He doesn't just frown; his shoulders drop, his knees buckle, and his hat somehow looks sad too.

There is a bit with a dog that seems totally unscripted. The dog just wanders into the frame and Charley has to improvise around it for a second.

It’s much lighter than the heavy drama you get in Ramona. It’s the kind of thing they used to play before the main feature just to get the audience in a good mood.

Leo White shows up as well, and his mustache is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in his performance. He has this one reaction shot that lingers for about four seconds too long, and it becomes the funniest part of the scene.

The pacing is a bit uneven toward the middle. It feels like they had a great opening and a great ending, but weren't quite sure how to connect them.

I caught a glimpse of a cameraman's shadow in one of the outdoor shots. It’s those little mistakes that make these old shorts feel so alive to me.

It’s definitely a better time than Cut the Cards if you're looking for actual laughs. McCarey just knew where to put the camera to make a simple walk across a room look ridiculous.

Small things I liked:

• The way Charley hides behind a very thin pole.
• The weirdly aggressive way the villain eats a sandwich.
• That one title card that has a typo in it.
• The fact that everyone is wearing a hat indoors for no reason.

The ending is very abrupt. Charley just sort of wins and the screen goes black.

It doesn't try to be a "profound exploration" of anything. It’s just a funny guy in a bad situation, and sometimes that is all you really need from a movie. 🤡

If you're diving into the Roach archives, put this one near the top of your list. It’s actually funny, which is more than you can say for a lot of stuff from 1924.