The Sting of Stings

Charley and Edna are thrilled to show off their new car, and they decide to share the joy by taking six underprivileged children to a carnival. Their plan seems simple, but the kids come from Juvenile Hall and quickly prove to be a handful. What starts as a well meaning day on the town becomes a flurry of pratfalls, scuffles, and comic improvisations as Charley and Edna try to keep the outing on track. The screen fills with fast gags, mistaken identities, and a chorus of runaway moments that test everyone’s patience. It is a light hearted snapshot of late 1920s humor driven by generosity meeting chaos.

Directed by James Parrott and written by H M Walker, The Sting of Stings is a 1927 silent comedy pairing Charley Chase with Edna Marion in a brisk, playful outing. The premise centers on sharing a new car with willful youngsters, yielding quick gags and rapid exchanges. Parrott keeps the pace brisk as the cast blunders through pratfalls and chaos, while Walker supplies punchlines. The result is a tight example of late silent era craft balancing generosity with mischief.

Box office data for this short is not readily available and it does not appear among tallies of the era. It likely circulated as part of a program with other shorts and features. The financial footprint of this title remains murky.

There are no major awards or nominations listed for The Sting of Stings. As a late silent era short, it was part of a steady stream of rapid gags that fed theater programs rather than award ceremonies, keeping its fame modest.

Reception is not well documented, but the film survives in catalogs as a breezy comedy that contrasts charity with mischief. Its themes include generosity and class differences, anchored by the leads' buoyant rapport. For modern viewers it offers a snapshot of a silent era where vaudeville style met film editing to deliver quick, tidy sequences that still feel light and entertaining.