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Post by ymymeatemup on Nov 17, 2016 1:59:26 GMT -5
TINY TROUBLES (1939)
Things I like: The Basic Premise. Borrowed (very loosely) from the far superior "Free Eats," the plot of this short ought to have yielded at least some laughs in the finished product, especially considering the fact that the series hadn't gone downhill in any serious way just yet. But somehow, George Sidney in 1939 briefly became indistinguishable from Edward Cahn in 1941, and a good idea was wasted on the wrong series.
Things I don't like: Those Dumb, Dumb Kids. At one point, Spanky gets ready to nab Light-Fingered Lester with a butterfly net, and stupidly calls out for Alfalfa before making his move, giving Lester about a day and a half to dart out of the way. What's particularly discouraging about this is that it's only the 4th or 5th stupidest thing the kids do in this film. Topping the list would have to be abandoning Alfalfa's baby brother in the hollow of a tree because that's where babies come from. Buckwheat and Porky can be excused for this level of naivete, but not Spanky, Alfalfa or Darla. Those Almost-As-Dumb Cops. Now I realize by the time the arresting cop whispers to the chief, that HE realizes the kids are only kids - but he didn't know it when he was making the arrest, and the chief has to have it pointed out to him. And these are the adults in the film. That Crying Baby. Does this need any explanation? It's a baby that won't stop crying - the very reason God made hollowed-out trees, apparently.
Grade: D
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Post by RJH on Nov 20, 2016 18:20:26 GMT -5
Uncle Tom's Uncle (1926) - The gang puts on a performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin in Mickey's barn, but it is beset by several problems. Joe, starring as Uncle Tom, has to clean his yard, delaying the start and interrupting the performance when the wind blows apart the neat pile he stacked the first time. Fortunately the gang and audience help the second time. Bonedust repeatedly closes the curtain at the wrong time when he hears whistles blowing anywhere in the neighborhood. However, some neighborhood kids are determined to mess up the show by throwing rotten fruit, eggs, and firecrackers on the stage. Mickey gets the worst of it, and devises increasingly clever way to defend himself, like a catcher's mask and then a mskeshift suit of armor. Mango also drops eggs from the loft, usually hitting Mickey or Farina. The gang perseveres through all this, but when Joe is supposed to be lifted to Heaven but the mule pulling the rope is stung by a bee and runs around wildly before the rope breaks. The proceedings come to an abrupt end when a goat is found to have eaten gunpowder. Everyone runs away and the goat blows up a mountainside, but somehow survives, emerging from a tunnel to push the gang off a low ledge on the hill.
This is reasonably entertaining, though all the rotten fruit and egg throwing can get rather repetitive. Mickey does a good job handling that with his attempts at protecting himself. The gang has gong to a lot of trouble with the setup, labeling ice floes and clouds, among the latter Mary makes a nice angel. One has to wonder why Mango was in the loft with all those eggs in the first place and why the gang didn't stop her. There is a fair amount of emphasis on Joe's blackface, with him having to put it on a few times and his mother keeping washing it off when she gets the chance, and once Joe forgets to "black up," earning the audience's laughter. Many of the title cards are good, including "Uncle Tom needs help to clean up his back yard," "Uncle Tom will now go to Heaven - if the rope doesn't break," and "I can't die now - my mother is calling me." This film benefit from the high level of energy maintained throughout.
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Post by ymymeatemup on Nov 24, 2016 0:43:24 GMT -5
A TOUGH WINTER (1930)
Things I like: Wheezer's Instructions. In a twist on this series' usual throw-everything-into-the-pot style of cooking, Wheezer relays ingredients from a radio program, not realizing that they come from different recipes. Stepin Fetchit (sort of). As glad as I am that this stereotypical style of comedy has gone the way of the telegraph, I can't deny that Fetchit had a fine-tuned (albeit very slow) sense of comic timing. Highlights include the way he removes his gloves by using the taffy stuck to the walls, and the way he says "I thought I smelled a draft." But the bit of dialogue that best sums up this character is "Well, if I was you, I'd bring it to me myself. I'd do that much for you." A Few Other Things. One of the best bits of visual humor involves Mary Ann leaning way back when the bubble on top of the boiling taffy bursts. Another good gag, and one that might not be noticed on the first viewing, is the human shoes worn by the mule. Also of note is Fetchit's impromptu dance, which adds a moment of fun to an otherwise slow-moving episode.
Things I don't like: The Pacing. Even though the series was starting to pull out of the doldrums of the early talkie era, this particular episode returns to the stagnant feel of those earlier episodes - this in spite of the presence of incidental music. The Taffy. Similar to the situation whenever flypaper is involved, the taffy in this short sticks to everything, which I find to be notably unfunny. If this wasn't enough, somebody in the writing department thought that some big laughs could be gotten out of Chubby barfing. The Ending. As amusing as the pipes look after Fetchit does his handiwork, the haywire results around the house are largely old-hat, and the sequence (indeed, the entire film) just winds up coming to an arbitrary halt at the end of the second reel.
Grade: C-
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Post by RJH on Nov 27, 2016 22:20:28 GMT -5
Two Too Young (1936) - Porky and Buckwheat have managed to get hold of some firecrackers, but Alfalfa is determined to shoot them off himself, and enlists Spanky's help in acquiring them at recess. An initial offer of trading a magnifying glass and water pistol is rejected, but then Spanky gets on Alfalfa's shoulders to pose as a G-man, and Buckwheat hands the firecrackers over. When the older duo trips and their disguise falls apart, the younger pair realizes the deception. Spanky tries to ignite the firecrackers with a magnifying glass, but Buckwheat rings the bell early, and Porky retrieves the magnifying glass. When Alfalfa recites "The Charge of the Light Brigade," Porky aims the magnifying glass at Alfalfa's back pocket and succeeds in detonating the firecrackers despite Spanky's attempt at interrupting. With the firecrackers exploding, Alfalfa runs around the classroom frantically and then eventually sits in a water tub outside. The class then laughs at him.
This is an excellent early example of Buckwheat and Porky teaming up and getting the better of Spanky and Alfalfa. I like their whispered discussion of the trade, culminating in a clear "No!" by Buckwheat. It's a little disappointing they are fooled by the G-man disguise, but then there wouldn't be much to the film. Then the younger pair conspires to thwart their adversaries' attempt to set off the firecrackers, and deliver justice, at least to Alfalfa. The one thing I find off is that Spanky ends up laughing at Alfalfa with everyone else at the end; something embarrassing should have happened to him as well for his part in the scheme. Spanky might have had some of the firecrackers in his pocket, or been squirting with the fire extinguisher Miss Jones tried to use, or something. Also Darla isn't in the film. Some nice touches include the students' use of quills and inkwells for writing, and the seesaw, with Buckwheat repeatedly going up to the level of G-man Spanky's face. Then the reminder of why we don't see seesaws anymore, with Buckwheat getting off rather carelessly and Porky suffering the hard landing. At least that part wasn't shown, just Porky sitting on the ground hopefully just pretending to have the hard landing. Also I would have had Alfalfa trying to set off the firecrackers instead of Spanky so it would be more just that Alfalfa suffers the indignity of them going off in his pocket. Still, these minor things don't detract from the enjoyment of this film, and as a final note, I'm glad that Buckwheat and Porky got to be the title characters for once.
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Post by RJH on Dec 4, 2016 23:22:01 GMT -5
Unexpected Riches (1942) - The gang gets the idea to weigh themselves together since they only have one penny and get a fortune. Ken, a neighborhood kid who is looking at a camera that costs $1.50 in a display window, puts the penny in the slot since the gang can't reach it. The fortune says "unexpected riches." When Ken gets back home, he makes a deal with his father to dig a hole for a tree in their yard. Being lazy but conniving, Ken writes a message describing how there is buried treasure at the dig site, and throws the message through the gang's clubhouse window. They follow the directions, see Ken digging, and make a deal to pay him ten cents to let them dig the hole. While they are digging, they (except Spanky) dream of what they will do with their riches. Buckwheat delivers watermelon and chicken from his chauffeur-driven limousine to everyone in a black neighborhood and has a date with a girl named Lulu, Mickey buys his parents a mansion with lots of great stuff inside, and Froggy buys Uncle Sam a battleship. Then Ken's father returns, sees the gang boys digging the hole, and pays them the $1.50 for doing the work.
This is rather dull and not very funny. The Tom Sawyer reference is obvious, and that book did a much better job with the idea. The gang claims to have only one penny at the start, but has ten cents to pay Ken a few minutes later. The hole is supposed to be three feet deep, but it doesn't look even one foot deep when Ken's father pays the boys for their work. During the treasure hunt the gang comes back to where they started, but that wouldn't happen if they followed the directions accurately. And why did it have to be watermelons and chicken from Buckwheat? I think the funniest moment is when Mickey's mother declares her happiness is complete when she sees the new washing machine. The ending is a bit of downer with Froggy realizing his share of the riches isn't enough to buy a rowboat, much less a battleship. Not much of a farewell for Spanky, who was left out of the dreaming of what he would do with his new-found wealth.
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Post by ymymeatemup on Dec 4, 2016 23:26:40 GMT -5
UNCLE TOM'S UNCLE (1926)
Things I like: Bonedust. He was routinely given little moments of comic indignity during his stint as a quasi-regular during the mid-silent era. In this short, however, he's as dumb as a post, giving Mickey the kind of vacant stare that can only mean trouble later in the film. As much as I like Bonedust in general, I wish he had remained the idiot that we see in this episode. Joe's Mom. I can understand that she needs the yard cleaned up, but her timing couldn't be worse. And for some incongruous reason, she seems to think that Joe can only handle this chore with a clean face. Most Everything Else. In spite of the rather questionable content of this episode, it rolls along in a spirit of good fun, which makes it a breezy viewing experience. It's relatively gag-heavy, with highlights involving Johnny's seemingly magnetic hat, Nancy's difficulty in passing through a door, Mickey's ongoing defense against produce, and the rather impressive ice-flow setup.
Things I don't like: Surprisingly, Not That Much. The use of blackface in this short is obviously something that hasn't stood the test of time, but it's mitigated somewhat by Joe's misadventures with his mom, having to repeatedly wash his face and then find some way to blacken it again. Aside from this, the activities surrounding the Gang's stage show are pleasantly amusing.
Grade: B+
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Post by mtw12055 on Dec 4, 2016 23:37:52 GMT -5
Quick update, at RJH's suggestion, "The Old Wallop" has been added to the end of the list of silent shorts.
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Post by tboneator64 on Dec 5, 2016 2:17:16 GMT -5
THE OLD WALLOP (1927)
First off, this is technically, a beautifully done restoration of this long since found, but almost completely unavailable short. I could hardly believe that this was sourced from 9.5 millimetre footage! The amazing Michelle Schacht's meticulous rendering of the recreated title cards displays an impeccable respect to the existing footage, from which thankfully, only the opening scene is missing, which has been recreated with the use of surviving stills and cutting continuity description. A huge thanks to everyone involved with this project! I also want to mention by name Tim Reese, who supplied the original footage to begin with, and of course, "Farina," who has graciously provided us with the privilege of viewing this gem!
Now, on to the film review itself!
THE OLD WALLOP (1927), is the second of the 'Our Gang' comedies to be released by the Hal Roach Studios new distributor, MGM, after the still non extant YALE VS. HARVARD (1927).
In the recreated sequence, it is explained that the opening scene features Wheezer and his Dad, who having proudly described his son as "The Old Wallop," then becomes the beneficiary of one of these 'Wallops' on the beezer, although not quite in those words!
The rest of first reel basically consists of various gang members taking turns "watching" Wheezer, who in a bizarre turn, is supposed to be permitted to punch his caretaker in the nose, or else he'll go into convulsions (?). Jackie Condon, in passing Wheezer off to Joe Cobb, incorrectly describes this as crying himself into "congestion."
Just about when Wheezer's repeated punching in the nose (Actually, most of these land closer to people's left cheeks!) of various passers by begins to get a bit tiresome, we see Farina unwittingly get lifted to the top of an under construction skyscraper, in what looked to my eyes like a rather flimsy lengthy apparatus, which would precariously tilt in each direction! For me, this is when the film becomes really engaging on a number of levels. At first glance, the construction setup appears quite similar to what was later used for the subsequent January 1929 release of LIBERTY!, which of course, starred Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. In both of these films, the appearance of mortal danger is most successfully conveyed. Certainly for THE OLD WALLOP, one has to wonder whether any parents groups of the day complained about the "danger" involved? In any case, it isn't difficult for me to imagine audiences of the day being genuinely scared for the Rascals, who of course, come to Farina's rescue!
I won't give away the ending for those who have yet to view this gem, except to say it lives up to the title!
Highly Recommended!
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Post by myhomeo on Dec 7, 2016 17:22:23 GMT -5
Watched this recently and actually found myself tearing up a bit at Mickey's fantasy. Of course, Mickey's mom solemnly commenting "And now my joy is complete," upon getting a new washing machine brought a smile, whether intentionally or not.
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Post by tboneator64 on Dec 7, 2016 21:25:31 GMT -5
Watched this recently and actually found myself tearing up a bit at Mickey's fantasy. Of course, Mickey's mom solemnly commenting "And now my joy is complete," upon getting a new washing machine brought a smile, whether intentionally or not. "Modern" Washing Machines of the early 1940s were largely considered luxury items, and meant a major time saver for Housewives. Thus, Mickey's mom's reaction really wasn't much of an exaggeration. In reference to Joe's post, I hadn't picked up on Spanky's missing dialogue/lip movement. I suppose that I chalked it up to being one of those unfinished insults. Regarding his outfit, I don't think it would have held up for one more short subject! Interesting 'Our Gang' Trivia Facts: Three prominent Hal Roach holdovers departed the MGM series with each of their last appearances being in the last 'Our Gang' short released of the year. 1940 Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer: KIDDIE CURE (November 25, 1940) 1941 Darla Hood: WEDDING WORRIES (December 13, 1941) 1942 George "Spanky" McFarland: UNEXPECTED RICHES (November 28, 1942) Of course, the very last Hal Roach holdover, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, remained in the MGM series until the bitter end! Being the only one to appear in all 52 shorts, he was the MGM 'Our Gang' series Iron Man, so to speak, and in my opinion, should have received some kind of award for that! CHEERS!
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Post by ymymeatemup on Dec 10, 2016 2:00:13 GMT -5
TWO TOO YOUNG (1936)
Things I like: Buckwheat & Porky. This is the first episode in which these two little kids outsmart the two big kids (Buckwheat and Spanky's comparative height notwithstanding). Buckwheat's onscreen personality is fully developed here, as indicated by the sheepish way he reacts to the "G-man," and his similar reaction when the teacher catches him ringing the bell (as well as the dazzling smile that immediately follows). Porky's personality is also well-established, particularly in the climactic scene where he takes a devilish delight in bringing about the explosions in Alfalfa's back pocket. Spanky & Alfalfa. The G-man routine is a somewhat less humorous variation of the gag in "Teacher's Beau," but Buckwheat's presence (and that of the teeter-totter) helps to make up for this. The dynamics between the two older boys are already evident by this point in the series, as Spanky insists on doing all the talking, and foolhardy Alfalfa inadvertantly convinces his pal to just sit back and let him suffer the brunt of the light brigade on his posterior. Most Everything Else. I'll just mention the polite way the children leave the classroom for recess, the nifty way Alfalfa passes his note to Spanky, and his reaction to losing his cowlick.
Things I don't like: Pretty Much Nothing. This episode is definitely not a big favorite, but it has very few flaws. The biggest head-scratcher in the whole short is that moment when Spanky, riding on Alfalfa's shoulders, grabs the overhead bar for no apparent reason (well, okay, maybe he realized it would drive the plot forward). Overall, the film seems like a superior sequel to "Bored Of Education," with a similarly relaxed pacing and nostalgic vibe.
Grade: A-
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Post by myhomeo on Dec 10, 2016 14:03:28 GMT -5
Probably everybody else already knows about this but according to the Wikia board, Spanky in 'Unexpected Riches' was originally going to dream of owning his own circus. It was presumably cut for time and possibly expense.
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Post by mtw12055 on Dec 10, 2016 15:30:03 GMT -5
Probably everybody else already knows about this but according to the Wikia board, Spanky in 'Unexpected Riches' was originally going to dream of owning his own circus. It was presumably cut for time and possibly expense. That was one of ymymeatemup's discoveries. If memory serves, Darla and a few new characters were in early drafts as well. Earlier versions had a different story involving the kids playing hooky to dig for treasure. There was also a draft in which Spanky fantasizes about having a butler, as well as some studious kids to do his homework for him.
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Post by RJH on Dec 11, 2016 22:45:45 GMT -5
War Feathers (1926) - The gang is on a long train ride out west, playing Cowboys and Indians in a train car, when they get off at a town called Red Dog. They won't let Farina play with him in his preacher's son outfit, with Joe telling him he has to dress like an Indian. Farina promptly finds a little Indian boy and trades clothes with him. Meanwhile, the sheriff has caught the outlaw Bicarbonated Billy, but he quickly escapes when his buddies hand him a gun and a file through the jail call bars. There is a shootout, and the gang takes refuge in the bandits' wagon, which is driven to the bandits' hideout. Mistaken for the real Indian, Farina is inserted into a papoose carrier and hit with a flyswatter when he tries to object, and is taken to the Indian village and hung on a post. Upon his discovery, the Indians threaten to cook him, but are scared off by a bear who knocks Farina off the post, allowing him to escape. He plays Indian for a while until he sees the bear and runs off, only to be picked up by the bandits when trying to hide in a hole at the side of the road. They take him to their ranch, where he eats dried apples and then drinks water, getting a swollen stomach. Meanwhile, the bandits discover the rest of the gang when Scooter sneezes. They let them play in the corral for a little while, but then decide to lock them up to keep them from telling the sheriff where the bandits are. However, a mule kicks them into a well, and the gang, with Farina having joined them, run away and run into the sheriff and his posse, and get a half dollar reward, which Mango swallows.
This is frustrating, as I feel this had several promising elements but could have been a lot better. A lot of the parts aren't very cohesive and some of it doesn't make sense. The setting is terrific, putting the gang outdoors in the Old West. It would have been nice if some of the Cowboys and Indians game took place outside. The jail escape is ridiculously quick, and then in the gunfight the gang irrationally stays out in the open for an extended time. The Indians' reaction upon discovering Farina should have been to immediately look for the real Indian child, but that never happens. Farina looks good in the Indian outfit, and it feels like more could have been made of that, but the scene ends quickly with a ridiculous shot of his eyes bulging out upon seeing the bear between his legs. The bandits are supposed to be killers, but seem overly concerned about Farina, trying to cure his swollen stomach with a book on horse medicine. Real bandits would probably just leave him on the road. They are also very lenient with the rest of the gang at first, letting them have free reign in the corral. Again, more could have been made with that; we get to see some bronco riding but that is it. Mango is an enigma in this: first she is allowed to play with the rest of the gang when Farina isn't despite she not being dressed like a cowgirl or Indian. She is not on the wagon, but then appears at the ranch. One good bit is the effort to stop Scooter from sneezing, though it's a bit gross when Joe licks a decal and then sticks it on Scooter's mouth. The last two bandits are pretty clumsy to let themselves be knocked into the well, and the first really should have thought of reaching for the bucket immediately. The Glucose Indians could have been less stereotypical and more upstanding, but I guess their portrayal was typical for that era. I still feel that with a few changes this could have been significantly more coherent and humorous.
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Post by antifrodis on Dec 15, 2016 9:27:45 GMT -5
War Feathers (1926) - The kids find themselves on a ranch with a gang out outlaws. Anyone know where I can find a decent print of this one? There's one online - originally put out by Reel Classic DVD, I believe - that has nice picture quality, but is missing several inter-titles. The version I just viewed, put out by Bill Sprague through his Video Classics label, has most of the inter-titles, but the picture is virtually unwatchable. Anyone that takes on the task of compiling this short back together, my hats off to you. Footage for "War Feathers" seems to have been scattered just about everywhere. There's even a home movie fragment that includes a tiny bit of footage in the wagon missing from most other prints. I may need to take another look at the Reel Classics print when I get a chance. I will repost my edit of the film sometime soon. I figured it was making the rounds on Youtube, but after checking, my version doesn't seem to be available. You had mentioned a while back that mine was still missing some brief footage. Can you be specific about what is missing? If I have it, I will add it. Thanks.
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