Centenary of a Silent Classic: Why Charley Chase’s Long Fliv the King Still Reigns
Silents are often remembered for the death-defying stunts of Buster Keaton or the poetic pathos of Charlie Chaplin. But if you want to know what made everyday 1920s audiences howl with laughter, you look to Charley Chase.
One hundred years ago—on June 13, 1926—Hal Roach Studios released Long Fliv the King. Directed by the legendary Leo McCarey (who would later direct classics like The Awful Truth and Duck Soup), this two-reel, 25-minute comedy short remains a masterclass in the "comedy of embarrassment."
Here is why this century-old gem still holds up today.
The Plot: A Recipe for Royal Chaos
The premise is beautifully absurd. Princess Helga of the fictional kingdom of Thermosa (played by the delightful Martha Sleeper) is shopping in America when she gets urgent news: she must marry within 24 hours or forfeit her throne to her slimy rival, Hamir of Uvocado.
Her solution? Marry a death-row convict scheduled to be executed the next morning. That way, she secures her inheritance and becomes a quick widow. She picks Charley. They tie the knot in jail, she leaves for home, and everything goes perfectly—until the governor delivers a last-minute pardon.
Suddenly, Charley is a free man, very much alive, and entirely determined to claim his place as the rightful King of Thermosa.
A Comedy Super-Team in the Making
What makes Long Fliv the King an incredible piece of film history isn't just Charley Chase's impeccable timing. It's the absolute powerhouse of silent comedy talent surrounding him before they hit their respective peaks.
Leo McCarey (Director): McCarey was the secret weapon of the Hal Roach lot. He understood that comedy didn't always need to be about giant explosions or fast chases; it could live in the awkward pauses, the social anxiety, and the tiny facial expressions.
Oliver Hardy (The Henchman): A full year before he was officially paired with Stan Laurel to create the iconic Laurel & Hardy duo, Hardy appears here as the Prime Minister’s Assistant. Sporting a delightfully wicked villain mustache, he spends the movie scheming against Charley.
Max Davidson (The Valet): Playing Charley’s valet, Warfield, Davidson brings his legendary expressive face to the mix. His comedic chemistry with Chase—especially during a high-stakes food-tasting sequence—is pure gold.
The Highlight: The Duel to the End (Almost)
The undisputed peak of the short is the climactic duel. Plotted by Hamir and Hardy's character to dispatch the new king, Charley is forced into a sword fight.
Instead of playing it like a traditional hero, Chase prances around with a giant scabbard that we eventually find out holds a hilariously tiny dagger. To make matters funnier, Charley enters the duel with a pair of stretcher-bearers trailing right behind him, ready to cart his body away the second he gets poked.
The Secret of Charley Chase: Unlike other silent stars who played plucky underdogs or detached geniuses, Chase played the ultimate "Good Time Charley"—the average, well-dressed guy who is utterly out of his depth but desperately trying to keep up appearances.
A hundred years later, Long Fliv the King stands as a perfect time capsule of 1920s irreverence. It’s fast, incredibly clever, and features a group of artists at the absolute top of their game inventing the rules of modern situational comedy.
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