Young Oldfield (1924)
*** (out of 4)
Fun short has Jimmy Jump (Charley Chase) being a big racing fan and he gets his shot when he has to get the mortgage delivered by noon and many obstacles are in his way. This Hal Roach comedy has quite a bit going for it including the funny performance by Chase, a cameo by Our Gang member Joe Cobb and some nice race footage as well. All three elements make for a pretty entertaining short. What works best here are the performances as Chase really delivers once again as that rather loser of a human who must fight to odds to get something done. Chase perfectly fits the role and manages to have some very funny sequences including the highlight of the film where he has to make people think they're sick so that they'll buy some medicine, which in return he will use to pay the mortgage. Cobb doesn't get to do too much here but it's always nice see him. Emma Tansey gets a few good scenes as Jimmy's mother.