Modern Love (1929)

Two-reel comedy producer Hal Roach was too busy switching over to sound in 1929 to bother with making feature films, which is one of the reasons that popular Roach star Charley Chase made his first and only starring feature, Modern Love, at Universal. The spindly Mr. Chase plays John Jones, the husband of dress designer Patricia Brown (Kathryn Crawford). For business purposes, Patricia is forced to pretend that she isn't married, leading to all manner of ticklish complications for her hapless husband. John poses as Patricia's butler, waiting until after midnight to try to sneak into his own wife's boudoir -- if the nosy neighbors will let him, that is. Featured in the cast is statuesque comedienne Anita Garvin, one of Charley Chase's favorite co-stars on the Hal Roach lot. That Modern Love apparently no longer exists is a genuine tragedy for comedy lovers in general and Charley Chase fans in particular; although he would later play choice supporting roles in such Roach features as Sons of the Desert and Kelly the Second, this brilliant, underrated funster would never again be afforded the opportunity to carry a picture any longer than two or three reels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi