Embarrassingly bad--this has got to be among Chase's worst starring films with Columbia.

This is an embarrassingly bad and unfunny short from Charley Chase's last years. While he made a lot of wonderful shorts for Hal Roach Studios, his final few years before his untimely death were spent at Columbia making shorts that ranged for enjoyable to wretched. I count this among the wretched. 

When the film begins, a bunch of L'il Abner-like idiots from the hills learn that a new teacher is coming to their crappy village. However, they LOVE being ignorant and plan on driving away the new school master. Considering he's coming to live with them, this shouldn't be too hard.

The film is chock full of unfunny and nasty stereotypes about folks who might be referred to as 'Hillbillies'. If it was nasty yet funny, I could have stood all the moonshine, gunfire and ignorance jokes. But, it just wasn't funny and abounded with very broad humor--so broad even the Studio's stars, The Three Stooges, would have refused to make such a bad film!!!

The farce subgenre features exaggerated situations, slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and chaotic, rapid-fire events. Farces are known for their absurd and over-the-top comedic elements, often involving misunderstandings, physical comedy, and improbable scenarios.

Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lorna Patterson in Airplane! (1980)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

The Western genre features stories set primarily in the 19th-century American Old West and often depict the rugged frontier life, exploring themes of individualism, justice, morality, and the clash between civilization and the untamed wilderness. The genre has its roots in the historical context of westward expansion and the challenges faced by pioneers, settlers, outlaws, and lawmen.

John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)

Charley arrives in a backward mountain town to be the new schoolteacher and receives a hostile welcome.

Charley Chase, Chester Conklin, Richard Fiske, and Ruth Skinner in Teacher's Pest (1939)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Harry Langdon in The Fighting Parson (1930)

Harry Langdon and Thelma Todd in The Shrimp (1930)

Charley Chase, Iris Meredith, Lillian Randolph, and Poppy Wilde in His Bridal Fright (1940)

Charley Chase and Betty Mack in Something Simple (1934)

Constance Bergen and Charley Chase in Southern Exposure (1935)

Charley Chase and Joyce Compton in Manhattan Monkey Business (1935)

Charley Chase, Eugene Pallette, and Martha Sleeper in Fluttering Hearts (1927)

Charley Chase and Muriel Evans in Nature in the Wrong (1933)

Harry Langdon and Thelma Todd in The King (1930)

Charley Chase, Wilma Cox, Harold Law, Hal Roach, and Zeffie Tilbury in Vamp Till Ready (1936)

Charley Chase and Nita Pike in Sherman Said It (1933)

Patsy Kelly and Thelma Todd in Air Fright (1933)

Charley Chase and Richard Fiske in Teacher's Pest (1939)

Teacher's Pest

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