Our Gang silent shorts (1927-29)

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Our Gang silent shorts (1927-29)
Topic Started: Oct 25 2009, 09:52 PM (70 Views)
Laughing Gravy	Oct 25 2009, 09:52 PM Post #1
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,073 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Kinowelt in Germany, those folks who gave us the restored, remastered Laurel & Hardy films, have just released several boxed sets of Our Gang comedies of the Hal Roach years. From what I've seen, they look great, but because I have the U.S. DVDs, I only bought the first volume, because it's a pip: bringing together all of the existing Hal Roach-produced silent Our Gang comedies that were originally distributed by MGM. I plan to write this up for the Balcony main page, but for now, here's what is in it - and what isn't. After five seasons and 66 short subjects starring Our Gang, Roach severed his ties with Pathe and with the 1927-1928 season, the shorts were distributed by MGM. Most of the kids in this group of Our Gangsters, although 2 years younger, will be familiar with you from the early sound era, including Wheezer, Joe Cobb, Farina, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, and of course Petey. Some, like Mildred Kornman and Jackie Condon, won't be so familiar. Here's the run down of what is and isn't in the set from the 22 MGM shorts of the silent era. 1927-28 Season: The first three MGM Our Gang shorts are either lost or not in viewable condition; they're Yale vs. Harvard, The Old Wallop, and Heebee Jeebies, all released in the fall of 1927. Dog Heaven (Dec. '27) - Petey tries to hang himself because he thinks Joe doesn't love him any more. Spook Spoofing (Jan. '28) - The Gang plays a bunch of tricks on Farina 'cause he's such a scaredy-cat. Rainy Days (Feb. '28) - Jay R. Smith is supposed to be babysitting Wheezer and Jean Darling, but a bad storm keeps all three kids trapped in the house, and chaos follows. Edison, Marconi & Co. - Lost. Barnum & Ringling, Inc. (Apr. '28) - Bellhop Farina invites the Gang to bring their pets to the big hotel for an animal show. Fair & Muddy - Lost. Crazy House (June, '28) - Jean is a rich girl who lives in a big mansion that has been wired with tricks for April Fool's Day; the Gang invades the house and sets off the pranks. 1928-29 Season: Growing Pains - Lost. Old Gray Hoss (Oct. '28) - When the Fire Chief is forced to retire because of his age, the Gang helps him with a scheme to keep his beloved horse. School Begins - Lost. The Spanking Age (Dec. '28) - Wheezer and Mary Ann suffer from their mean stepmother and insufferable stepsister. Remade as a talkie called Dogs is Dogs. Election Day (Jan. '29) - Farina and his little sister Pleurisy get involved with crooked politicians. Noisy Noises (Feb. '29) - Joe Cobb has to babysit a baby that won't fall asleep, darn it. The Holy Terror - Lost. Wiggle Your Ears (Apr. '29) - Harry Spear is mean, but Mary Ann doesn't care - she adores him because he can wiggle his ears. Fast Freight (May, '29) - Farina and Petey run away from home by ridin' the rails. Little Mother (June '29) - Wheezer and his little brother Beezer have no mama, and since Daddy is a Night Watchman, big sister Mary Ann is in charge. 1929-1930 Two final silent shorts were released in the new Our Gang season. Cat, Dog & Co. (Sept. '29) - Our Gang learns to be kind to animals, and so set about freeing all pets in town. Saturday's Lesson (Nov. '29) - An advertising man dressed as the Devil decides to teach the kids a lesson. All shorts that I saw ranged from very good to excellent, with appropriate soundtrack music and sound effects. There are German subtitles you can't turn off, but these are silent films - you'll be reading 'em anyway (the intertitles are in English).



CliffClaven	Oct 26 2009, 10:41 AM Post #2
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 232 Group: Members Member #712 Joined: March 30, 2009	Remember seeing Saturday's Lesson eons ago in 8mm. The kids are slacking off their chores, and they're overheard by a joker in a devil costume who's been tossing firecrackers at people's feet while handing out flyers. When one of the kids says the devil might get them for not minding their folks, the joker makes a dramatic appearance and sends them all scrambling back to work like crazy, to the shock of their parents. The rest of the film is the joker making timely appearances to inspire them to more frantic, undercranked efforts (Farina beats carpets to shreds, etc.). Best bit: Joe Cobb -- the fat one -- is so energetically cutting firewood his mother thinks he's sink and puts him to bed. Every time she turns her back, he's back at the woodpile, working furiously. She calls the doctor. At one moment, while she's crying on the doctor's shoulder, the joker calmly walks into the bedroom unnoticed, taps Joe on the shoulder, and calmly walks out again as Joe scrambles out the window. At one point she announces she's getting the castor oil. As Joe grimaces, the joker leans in the window and says he's to take his medicine and LIKE IT. Mother returns, and a wild-eyed Joe grabs the bottle and chugs it! The closing shot is the dog chasing and snapping at the joker -- they couldn't bring themselves to end the film on the kids duped into good behavior. I recall some friends laughing out loud but mumbling about the joker being a real jerk.


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