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Post by buckwheatisawesome on Feb 2, 2015 18:31:25 GMT -5
If you can look at my whole first post/thread disaster, you can see I have been looking at the thread The Great Film Discussion. I thought it would be fun to do a different take on it, and instead of talking about films, why don't we talk about cast members? We can share links of our favorite moments with that specific cast member, and focus on that character for a whole week. Now, the only hard thing about this is that, well, we're going to need a alphabetical list of ALL Our Gang cast members.. Would anybody want to help me out with this?
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Post by RJH on Feb 2, 2015 21:15:09 GMT -5
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Post by buckwheatisawesome on Feb 3, 2015 6:49:10 GMT -5
We can do the adults, too, although I'm afraid some of them may be too minor. So, I guess our first adult is from the 1994 movie, A.J Ferguson. Sadly. I'm not a huge fan of the 1994 movie, so you won't be getting too nice things about A.J. Ferguson from my mouth. Anybody else a fan of The Little Rascals ( 1994)? |
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Post by mtw12055 on Feb 7, 2015 15:36:13 GMT -5
This topic is a great idea, but I think we should be a little more specific with it. Should it cover the Our Gang actors or the Our Gang characters? I suppose it could cover both. Also, I don't see much point in covering one time players that barely had dialogue. Harry Harvey, for instance, never really did anything in his two Our Gang shorts other than show up.
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Post by buckwheatisawesome on Feb 7, 2015 18:50:46 GMT -5
This topic is a great idea, but I think we should be a little more specific with it. Should it cover the Our Gang actors or the Our Gang characters? I suppose it could cover both. Also, I don't see much point in covering one time players that barely had dialogue. Harry Harvey, for instance, never really did anything in his two Our Gang shorts other than show up. Hmm.. I guess that's very true. What we could do is talk about the main characters first, and then go onto the supporting players and see if they are worthy enough to have a week. Yes, we can talk about the actor or the character. |
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Post by ymymeatemup on Feb 7, 2015 19:59:04 GMT -5
One thing you can do is to count out how many films each person was involved with, and then start with the highest numbers. For instance, among the kids, Farina would be first, then Spanky, then Buckwheat, etc. It might be interesting to include adults and crew members along the way, as they often made quite an impact on the series. Once you get down to people who were involved only once or twice, maybe they can be discussed one film season at a time. For instance, for the ninth season, the kid that played Baloney in "Bargain Day" can be discussed in the same week with whichever other one-timers popped up that year.
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Post by mtw12055 on Feb 7, 2015 20:18:35 GMT -5
One thing you can do is to count out how many films each person was involved with, and then start with the highest numbers. For instance, among the kids, Farina would be first, then Spanky, then Buckwheat, etc. RJH did something along those lines. ourgang.wikia.com/wiki/Combined_AppearancesI like the idea of discussing a year/season of one-time players at once. Also the idea of discussing crew members. The list you started would be a good one to work off of. theluckycorner.com/filmographies.htmlOf course, it would make sense to add Gus Meins, Gordon Douglas, and the regular MGM crew members (Hal Law & Anthony Mack, George Sidney, Edward Cahn, Herbert Glazer). Possibly Harry Lucenay, Leroy Shield, and Marvin Hatley as well. |
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Post by buckwheatisawesome on Feb 7, 2015 21:22:05 GMT -5
Okay, let's start off with... Allen " Farina " Hoskins!! He was in the most Our Gang movies, getting topped off with a whopping 105 appearances. That's almost half of the Our Gang movies! I think he deserves some congratulations!
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Post by RJH on Feb 7, 2015 22:24:50 GMT -5
For convenience I'm putting the list from the wiki here. Ties are broken by chronlogical order of first appearance. I'll edit it as I figure out where more go, including adults. [Updated 2/8/15 to include those with 20+ appearances including two adults.] | 1. | Farina | 106 | | 2. | Spanky | 95 | | 3. | Buckwheat | 92 | | 4. | Joe Cobb | 88 | | 5. | Jackie Condon | 78 | | 6. | Alfalfa | 61 | | 7. | Wheezer | 58 | | 8. | Mickey Daniels | 52 | | 9. | Darla | 50 | | 10. | Mary Kornman | 44 | | 11. | Porky | 43 | | 12. | Mickey Gubitosi | 40 | | 13. | Stymie | 37 | | 14. | Jay R. Smith | 36 | | 15. | Lyle Tayo (adult) | 33 | | 16. | Jean Darling | 33 | | 17. | Mary Ann Jackson | 32 | | 18. | Harry Spear | 31 | | 19. | Froggy | 29 | | 20. | Ernie | 28 | | 21. | Tommy "Butch" Bond | 27 | | 22. | Harold Switzer | 27 | | 23. | Charley Young (adult) | 26 | | 24. | The Woim | 26 | | 25. | Uh-Huh | 25 | | 26. | Dorothy | 24 | | 27. | Mango | 23 | | 28. | Johnny Downs | 23 | | 29. | Mildred Kornman | 21 | | 30. | Waldo | 21 | | 31. | Leonard Landy | 21 | | 32. | Jack Davis | 19 |
The wiki list didn't include cameos. Should I add 3 for Joe, 2 for Mickey D and Mary, and 1 each for Farina and Stymie? Unconfirmed appearances are not counted. I added the cameos because that's more consistent with including adult roles and appearances as extras. [Updated 2/20/15] |
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Post by RJH on Feb 7, 2015 22:38:47 GMT -5
The start of the thread asked about favoriate moments, so my favorite Farina moment is his performance in the race in "Derby Day." I am glad that I wasn't spoiled as to the outcome before I saw that for the first time.
He deserves a lot of credit for keeping the series going as other original cast members outgrew their roles. There is so much to say about him I can't do justice at the moment. Hopefully more later.
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Post by mtw12055 on Feb 8, 2015 19:04:42 GMT -5
You know, it's really a shame Farina doesn't get the same attention Alfalfa does these days. He was just as talented and funny, if not more so.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins literally grew up with Our Gang, starting out when he could barely walk and leaving just a few years before reaching adolescence. Even at the age of one, he could deal with being in front of a camera pretty decently. As he grew, so did his acting chops. His ability to do convincing crying scenes at such a young age is outstanding. And his character grew as well, changing from a somewhat naive tag-a-long into a clever leader of sorts. The latter role is perhaps best displayed in "Little Daddy," where he plays big brother to future replacement Stymie. "Fly My Kite," his last OG short, is also a great example of this.
Farina reportedly got his film contract with Roach by chance. One day, Ernie Morrison was walking to the studio. Little Allen Hoskins (then affectionately called "Sonny Boy") followed him. (For those wondering, the Morrisons and the Hoskins already knew each other pretty well at this point). Roach had wanted to cast one of Ernie's sisters (either Florence or Dorothy) alongside their big brother, but their mother nixed the idea. "Sonny Boy" wound up being a good fit as Ernie's younger sibling. The nickname of "Farina" came from a breakfast cereal, and was apparently title card writer H.M. Walker's idea.
One could almost consider Farina the series' first break-out star. Judging by his earliest appearances, it would appear that his role was originally a minor one. He was pretty much "Sunshine Sammy's little brother/sister." By the time "A Pleasant Journey" rolled around, Farina established himself as a strong asset to the series, gradually outshining (no pun intended) Sunshine Sammy. He soon became the series' most popular player, long before the likes of Spanky McFarland and Alfalfa Switzer took the title. Audiences knew that once Farina was on screen, it was really time to laugh. He was also one of the few silent-era Rascals to make the transition into talkies. The early talkies definitely needed the presence of a familiar Rascal, so Farina's inclusion was more than welcome.
For years (and to this day, in fact) audiences have been confused about Farina's gender. I don't know why H.M. Walker liked to call him a "her." Nor do I know why poor Al Hoskins had to have those silly pigtails. And don't even get me started on his school outfit from the Miss Crabtree-era. But it's easy to see why people are initially confused. In fact, I believe I also used to thing Farina was a girl. Anyone else guilty of this?
After leaving the Gang in '31, Allen Hoskins appeared in a handful of films, though mostly in small uncredited roles. Perhaps his most notable post-Rascals film is "You Said a Mouthful," in which he plays Joe E. Brown's sidekick. The only Our Gang revival to feature Farina so far was a series of comics produced by Dell Comics in the late '50s - early '60s. Sadly, the writers of these comics failed to give Farina any personality, and gave his name to Buckwheat in at least one story! Supposedly, Roach wanted use Farina (alongside the likes of Spanky and Alfalfa) in a Rascals feature revival that would have been co-produced by Allied Artists. The Dell Comics were apparently released in response to the film announcement, which would explain Farina's presence.
Favorite Farina moment:
- "Big Business:" His decisions as the shoeshine boy
- "The Buccaneers:" At one point, he claims the dog is the captain of the Gang
- "The Sun Down Limited" and "Railroadin:'" He narrowly avoids getting run over by a train
- "Dog Days:" Post Office ("Mah dogs is ruined!")
- "The Love Bug:" His attempts at impressing Dorothy Morrison
- "Ask Grandma:" His attempts at staying clear of the excited fight spectators
- "Mary, Queen of Tots:" His reaction to an overjoyed Mary Kornman
- "Dogs of War!," "Boys Will Be Joys," and "Ten Years Old:" In all three films, Farina finds a "kitty"
- "Baby Clothes:" Towards the end of the film, he wants to get in on the Gang's baby scheme. It doesn't quite work out.
- "The Fourth Alarm!:" His wild ride on the water hose
- "Seeing the World:" He's one of the film's few bright spots
- "Dog Heaven" and "Bear Shooters:" His clever use of a mousetrap to catch fish
- "Barnum & Ringling, Inc:" Farina Vs. Jean
- "Fast Freight:" He's quite clever during the first half of the film. Not so much during the second half.
Least favorite Farina moments:
- Any toddler-era 'crying scenes'
- Any time he is unfairly treated ("Monkey Business," "Shivering Spooks," "Chicken Feed," "The Glorious Fourth," and "Election Day" are among the worst examples)
- "Look at me, everyone! I'm a stereotype!" - "Lazy Days"
- Powder-Puff Lane - "Official Officers"
Some of his best films:
- "A Pleasant Journey"
- "Back Stage"
- "Dogs of War!"
- "Derby Day"
- "Seein' Things"
- "Shootin' Injuns"
- "Your Own Back Yard"
- "One Wild Ride"
- "Thundering Fleas"
- "Shivering Spooks"
- "War Feathers"
- "Telling Whoppers"
- "Love My Dog"
- "The Smile Wins"
- "Spook-Spoofing"
- "Noisy Noises"
- "When the Wind Blows"
- "Little Daddy"
Favorite Farina lines:
- "Y' didn't break my watch - It's still cluckin'!" ("Official Officers")
- "How us angels do fly!" ("Shivering Spooks")
- "Why is ghosts allus white? Ain't they no colored ghosts?" ("Shivering Spooks")
- "Ah wanna save mah head. Ah need it" ("Telling Whoppers")
- "Hot dawg! Ah sho craves to paper houses!" ("Rainy Days")
- "Some reward!" ("Railroadin'")
- "Yeah, I guess I'll take (the money). Lay it down on that box over yonder." ("Lazy Days")
- "Fifty bucks?! Oh, I thought you said 'fifteen!'" ("Lazy Days")
- "Oh, how that woman talks!" ("Shivering Shakespeare")
- "Ahhh! Oooh! Eeee!" ("When the Wind Blows")
- "Believe me, I'm never gonna get married. And I'm gonna bring all my children up the same way!" ("School's Out")
- "Boy, that man sure am mad! Guess he didn't want no bananas" ("Helping Grandma")
Boy, that was tougher to write than a film review (not that those are necessarily easy). Hopefully I'll grow more comfortable with these as time goes on.
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Post by RJH on Feb 8, 2015 22:06:32 GMT -5
Okay, I've figured out how to write these character reviews. Let mtw12055 go first and say I agree with just about everything he says. That was very well written, and I wish I could write that well and knew I couldn't do the character justice. I imagine future bios will be easier because of the smaller number of films for other characters. I can just add a few more quotes I like:
"Whassa matter - Yo' horse get a punkture?" (One Wild Ride) -- the whole second half is a top Farina moment
"Ah did own him - But Ah decided to go out o' the monkey"business." (Monkey Business)
"How I know they was yo'r pants - They was loose." (Thundering Fleas)
"I think he's a Airdale - He's been livin' on air." (Love My Dog) -- Some title cards that said "I" instead of "Ah"!
"Ah've known babies to go fo' years an' years without washin' " (Baby Brother)
"Ah'll rub this Mumbo-Jumbo charm on yo', an' yo'll wake up dead!" (Spook-Spoofing)
"Yo' keep on stickin' me with pins, an' Ah won't never grow up!" in response to Jean's "When you grow up, you can be my chauffeur." (Barnum & Ringling, Inc.)
"Boy, you sure don't smell like no violet!" (Bear Shooters)
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Post by ymymeatemup on Feb 12, 2015 1:36:51 GMT -5
I find it a bit problematic determining my feelings about Farina. On the one hand, he was the ultimate mainstay of the silent era, the most popular kid with audiences at the time, and must have seemed like an old friend to moviegoers by the time the talkie era started. On the other hand, almost everything he does in the films has a layer of stereotyping covering it. Even when there's no racial gag on screen, Farina's titled dialogue can only be read in a way that forces the viewer's inner voice to appropriate a stereotypical 'black' mode of speaking. There's also the bizarre male/female confusion over this character, the after-effects of which kept the white ribbons in his hair long after he was finally established as a boy. Nevertheless, under all of that stereotyping and gender confusion, his basic humanity shines through, especially in the more sentimental episodes. He seems to have been a genuinely nice kid, and I always have a feeling of affection for him when he's on the screen.
Here's my top 10 Farina episodes:
1. "Back Stage" - Included because the scene with the not-so-heavy weights is the first time he was ever given an extended bit of business like this. The fact that he was 2 years old boggles my mind.
2. "Seein' Things" - The first episode to revolve around Farina, and also one of the best ones to watch if you're into peyote.
3. "Your Own Back Yard" - A superb short with Farina in the lead.
4. "One Wild Ride" - A companion piece to the previous short, with a hair-raising finale. I don't know what it is, but I've always thought that Farina was never cuter than he is in these two shorts.
5. "Love My Dog" - An opportunity to see Farina rival Jackie Coogan in the tears department.
6. "The Smile Wins" - Cut from the same cloth as "Your Own Back Yard," but virtually as good.
7. "Spook-Spoofing" - I'm starting to see the trend here: the episodes in which Farina is persecuted by the other kids tend to be the ones that revolve around him. So if somebody were to watch his greatest hits, they'd REALLY get the impression that this was the norm.
8. "Election Day" - An offbeat outing, but it largely focuses on Farina and his little sister.
9. "Fast Freight" - Worth including if only to watch Farina as a one-man-band.
10. "Little Daddy" - Easily the best Farina episode of the talkie era. He was now playing straight man to Stymie, but still had some funny moments and was otherwise a very sympathetic character.
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Post by RJH on Feb 20, 2015 23:34:05 GMT -5
Guess it's time to discuss Spanky. Again I can't do the character justice as he meant so much to the series, giving it a big boost when he joined. I will say I prefer the Roach-era version quite a bit to the MGM version when his talent was wasted being stuck with too many preachy-type roles. He was very effective in combination with Scotty; it's a shame that didn't last longer. Spanky delivered what I consider the best line of the whole series: "I'll don't think I'll taste so good. Mom says I'm spoiled." Of course that was from "The Kid from Borneo," a great performance. Another one I like was his phone call with Mr. Brown (James Finlayson) in "Mush and Milk." There are too many highlights to mention. One thing I didn't care for was some episodes featured him so much it was like the rest of the gang didn't exist. Other than that, Spanky consistently acted naturally and believably with Stymie, Buckwheat, Alfalfa, Darla, Porky, and Butch. Spanky will always be among the first thought of in connection to "Our Gang."
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Post by mtw12055 on Feb 21, 2015 0:52:43 GMT -5
Yep, Spanky meant a lot to the series, and is probably one of the first players people think of when they hear "Our Gang" or "The Little Rascals." Spanky joined the Gang at the perfect time. Several key players had just left the series, most notably Jackie Cooper. The Roach staff was looking for that next great kid actor. George McFarland was a real find. A three-year-old who could act in a scene without being distracted by all of the technical equipment around him.
I tend to prefer Spanky in his younger years before he became the leader of the Gang. He wasn't the average tag-a-long seen in most Our Gang shorts. He was a grouch, someone who wasn't afraid to make wisecracks at the older kids.
The teaming of Spanky and Scotty was great. For two kids that supposedly didn't get along off camera, they had such great chemistry. And they managed to provide a perfect Greek chorus.
Making Spanky the leader of the Gang was a smart decision. As the mid-30s rolled in, the older Rascals weren't going to be around much longer. And pretty soon Spanky was going to be one of the older kids himself. Plus, the leadership role fit him well - a somewhat grumpy but likable fellow who is always coming up with some sort of scheme. As with Scotty, Spanky had great chemistry with Alfalfa Switzer.
It's rather difficult to watch Spanky in the MGM years. He's gained quite a bit of weight and lost quite a bit of talent. Though I suppose one can place the blame for his suddenly weak acting skills on MGM. They simply didn't understand the concept of 'natural acting.'
How I tend to break down Spanky's OG years:
- "Free Eats" and "Spanky:" Spanky's debut films. His scenes are clearly improvised. They just stuck a camera in front of the guy and let him speak his mind. The results were fantastic.
- The 1932-1933 season: This was during main Spanky's scene-stealing period. He's a joy to watch in all of these films, so it's really difficult to single one title out as a favorite.
- "Bedtime Worries" and "Wild Poses": Not many child actors can hold their own against three professional stage performers. But Spanky wasn't your typical child actor.
- The Early Scotty Years (1934): Spanky's back in his comic relief role, this time with a partner. Spanky and Scotty's interactions with each other were clearly inspired by Laurel and Hardy, and work well.
- The Early Leader Years (1935-1936): Spanky still has a good degree of charm during this period, and isn't quite yet an all-out straight man.
- The Later Roach Years (1936-1938): While still the leader, Spanky slowly takes a backseat to costar Alfalfa Switzer. It's especially noticeable in his last three Roach shorts.
- The Spanky-less Shorts (1938): Okay, so Spanky obviously wasn't in these films. But it's worth mentioning them as they show how much of a void was left during his brief absence. Alfalfa as the leader of the Gang sort of works. But one feels that he needs a buddy to keep him grounded.
- The MGM Years (1938-1942): Spanky is no longer the loveable grouch or the scheming mischief maker who gets himself and his pals into trouble. Now he's a patriotic, rule abiding, extremely polite American citizen. Spanky kisses up to authority figures and puts together unrealistically elaborate shows. It's not the least bit charming.
Spanky also stole the show in such Roach comedies as "One Track Minds" (with ZaSu Pitts and Thelma Todd) and "The Cracked Iceman" (with Charley Chase). He costarred with Wheeler and Woolsey in their first post-Code film "Kentucky Kernels." Spanky seems somewhat uncomfortable here, perhaps due to being away from the Hal Roach Studio. It doesn't help that the character he plays isn't too likable.
Other non-OG films included the Technicolor "Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "O'Shaughnessy's Boy" (where he and ex-Rascal Jackie Cooper played the same character), the musical "Here Comes the Band," "Mis Fane's Baby is Stolen," and the Poverty Row feature "Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus." In the latter film, Spanky is placed back into the 'cute little kid' role, despite being ten years old. It's a bad combination. But at least he gets to interact with former Roach star Edgar Kennedy.
After leaving the Gang, Spanky was reunited with Alfalfa Switzer in "Johnny Doughboy," a low budget feature in which (fittingly) the two ex-Rascals are part of a club dedicated to down-on-their-luck child actors. He had a few bit roles in films for about another year before leaving acting.
During his adult years, Spanky appeared in one last film, "The Aurora Encounter." In this low budget Sci-Fi feature, Spanky has a small role as a town governor.
Few Our Gang revivals leave Spanky out. However, all like to use the less amusing 'leader Spanky' as opposed to the cuter 'tag-a-long Spanky.' I suppose this is because most of these revivals also feature Alfalfa. And as I mentioned before, Alfalfa isn't as funny without Spanky rolling his eyes nearby.
Favorite Spanky lines:
"Boy, I like chocolate clake." - The Pooch
"Shoot papa!" - Birthday Blues
"Here's some phony notes from the Gang!" - Fish Hooky
"If I see any storks by my house, I'll shoot 'em!" - Forgotten Babies
"I don't think I'll taste so good. Mom says I'm spoiled!" - The Kid From Borneo
"Yeah, they're bad every place." - The Kid From Borneo
"Do you know about technocracy?" - The Kid From Borneo
The entire phone conversation in Mush and Milk
Pretty much every line in Bedtime Worries and Wild Poses
"Yeah, take it easy, Jack." - Hi'-Neighbor!
"Don't rush me, big boy." - Hi'-Neighbor!
"You're a lot of help." - The First Round-Up and Little Sinner
"It slipped!" - Honkey-Donkey
"'Maybe we ain't us.' Mmmm!" - Mike Fright
"'Well, well, Spanky. I was afraid you was going to be left behind.'" - Shrimps For a Day
"Say, you're getting into my hair!" - Anniversary Trouble
"Huh! From the drugstore!" - Beginner's Luck
"Alfalfa never fails." - Teacher's Beau
"Brains, son, brains." - Sprucin' Up
"No, but I could have shot sixty-four for the second!" - Divot Diggers
"Alright, alright, alright..." - The Pinch Singer
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