Post by mtw12055 on Feb 20, 2015 19:23:54 GMT -5
So has anyone here seen any of "The Boy Friends" shorts? You know, that semi-spin-off of Our Gang that focused on teenage Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, and some non-Gang members?
I saw all fifteen (sixteen if you count "Let's Do Things") shorts recently. As a whole I thought they were decent. For me, what made Roach comedies stand out from those being made by other studios were that his tended to be more character and situation driven. "The Boy Friends" shorts are certainly situation driven, but tend to favor gags over characterization. I find the characters to be rather two-dimensional, which is a shame because I actually want to like them. I already like most of the actors, particuarly Grady "Alabam" Sutton. Still, the films aren't bad. The ones directed by George Stevens are easily the best. Bob McGowan, Anthony Mack, Lloyd French, and Edgar Kennedy also sat in the director's chair at different points.
Mickey and Alabam were the only two to appear in all of the shorts. Mary was absent for one. Dorothy Granger left the series pretty early on and was replaced by Betty Bolen (anyone have any info on her?). David Sharpe and spouse Gertrude Messinger left about mid-way through the series' run. Shapre was replaced by David Rollins, then by Eddie Morgan, and then by future OG director Gordon Douglas. Messinger was replaced by Dorothy Ward and then by Jacqueline Wells.
My favorite entries in the series include "High Gear," "Air-Tight," "Call a Cop!", "You're Telling Me," and "Too Many Women." That last title features a great direct reference to Our Gang.
"Wild Babies," the last film in the series, is one of the strangest. It largely takes place in a dream where would-be composers Mickey and Alabam attempt to steal a song from an island tribe. The duo are taken hostage and placed in a pot to be eaten by the natives. The natives include Roach regular Harry Bernard (inblackface blackskin) and Jimmy Robinson (Hambone from the Mickey McGuire series). From what I understand, elements of this film were originally incorporated into "Hopping Off," a Boy Friends entry that was ultimately never finished.
Any other "Boy Friends" thoughts ?
I saw all fifteen (sixteen if you count "Let's Do Things") shorts recently. As a whole I thought they were decent. For me, what made Roach comedies stand out from those being made by other studios were that his tended to be more character and situation driven. "The Boy Friends" shorts are certainly situation driven, but tend to favor gags over characterization. I find the characters to be rather two-dimensional, which is a shame because I actually want to like them. I already like most of the actors, particuarly Grady "Alabam" Sutton. Still, the films aren't bad. The ones directed by George Stevens are easily the best. Bob McGowan, Anthony Mack, Lloyd French, and Edgar Kennedy also sat in the director's chair at different points.
Mickey and Alabam were the only two to appear in all of the shorts. Mary was absent for one. Dorothy Granger left the series pretty early on and was replaced by Betty Bolen (anyone have any info on her?). David Sharpe and spouse Gertrude Messinger left about mid-way through the series' run. Shapre was replaced by David Rollins, then by Eddie Morgan, and then by future OG director Gordon Douglas. Messinger was replaced by Dorothy Ward and then by Jacqueline Wells.
My favorite entries in the series include "High Gear," "Air-Tight," "Call a Cop!", "You're Telling Me," and "Too Many Women." That last title features a great direct reference to Our Gang.
"Wild Babies," the last film in the series, is one of the strangest. It largely takes place in a dream where would-be composers Mickey and Alabam attempt to steal a song from an island tribe. The duo are taken hostage and placed in a pot to be eaten by the natives. The natives include Roach regular Harry Bernard (in
Any other "Boy Friends" thoughts ?
