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Cast
Charley Chase
as Charley Chase
Virginia Whiting
as Miss Morgan
Harry Bernard
as Cop with Tootchache (uncredited)
Baldwin Cooke
as Mr. Cooke (uncredited)
Billy Gilbert
as Smith - Investment Broker aka The Spot (uncredited)
Charlie Hall
as Man on the Street (uncredited)
Jerry Mandy
as Charley's Neighbor (uncredited)
Margaret Mann
as Mrs. Mann, Landlady (uncredited)
Howard Truesdale
as James Morgan (uncredited)
Leo Willis
as Hold-Up Man (uncredited)
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1931
Runtime0h 20m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresComedy
Votes3
DirectorJames Parrott
WritersJames Parrott
TypeFeature Film
Rating3.7 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Panic Is On
About The Panic Is On
Charley's in love with the daughter of a financier who wants her to insist that Chas have a pile of cash before she marries him. But, the Depression is everywhere: Charley's behind on his rent and nearly everyone he meets is down on their luck. After reading a "how to" book on the power of a forceful will, Charley applies the lessons with mixed results, but he does land a job that includes delivering a shake-down letter to his girlfriend's father. Is the naïve Charley going to end up in jail?
Directed by James Parrott, The Panic Is On leans on a strong ensemble — Charley Chase, Virginia Whiting, Harry Bernard — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1931.
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