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Post by malaria on Jun 2, 2019 10:21:00 GMT -5
I'm sure this has been done umpteen times before, but I'm lazy and relatively new to the site to boot. Realizing that such judgments are entirely subjective, here are mine:
1. Pups Is Pups: Comedy, melodrama, a million subplots. The pinnacle.
2. Birthday Blues: The weep-wah cake should've gotten an Oscar for Best Supporting Confection.
3. Free Wheeling: pretty decent special effects for 1648, Stymie as medical hero, and the subject of one of the greatest passages in 20th-century literature (h/t: Richard Price).
4. Readin' & Writin': Not for nothing is Brisbane my fave Australian city... "and YOU'LL never be president!"
5. The Pooch: Petey rises from the "dead". Stymie's greatest performance, and just the footage of tiny Spanky running is uproarious on its own.
6. Choo-Choo: Multiplot and hilarious story by none other than Hal Roach. The fireworks going off on the train are a precursor to "Snakes On A Plane."
7. A Lad 'n A Lamp: "I wish I had a monkey" was a standard komic katchphrase at my elementary school. "I am... the GENIUS OF THE LAMP!! BEGONE, VILLAIN!!"
8. Mush And Milk: Finlayson and Spanky were magic. "I 'unno, YOU started it!" (Indescribably Finlayson double-take). Also a good shot at the snobby French.
9. Moan & Groan, Inc: "I knowwwwww... why this short is funny... BUT I WON'T TELL YA!!" (maniacal laughter)
10. Mike Fright: You can find dedicated Rascals fellow-travelers by simply saying "maybe we ain't us." Every true 'murrican over the age of 30 knows this deathless line.
Yours?
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Post by mtw12055 on Jun 2, 2019 13:07:03 GMT -5
Hmmm... I think I’ll have to split this up into two lists - talkies and silents.
1. Teachers Pet - A classic.
2. Dogs is Dogs - Both heartwarming and funny.
3. The Pooch - Ditto.
4. Love Business - Very funny follow-up to “Teacher’s Pet” (I like “School’s Out” too, but this I laugh at more)
5. Free Wheeling - Such a charming short, even if the rear projection used during the climax is corny.
6. Divot Diggers - Bob McGowan returns to let the kids loose on a golf course. Comedy gold.
7. The First Seven Years - Maybe the best from the first season of talkies. It really feels like an every day kid’s backyard adventure.
8. Fishy Tales - Funny late-Roach short, with some fun interactions between Alfalfa and Spanky. Also love Tommy Bond’s performance when Butch actually believes Spanky’s sob story.
9. Fish Hooky - A collision between two Rascal generations, plus great footage of a ‘30s amusement park.
10. Glove Taps - Similar to “Fishy Tales,” with plenty of great little moments from the cast.
I’ll add “Little Daddy” as an underrated runner-up... and what the heck, I’ll throw in a couple of MGMs - “Duel Personalities” and “Going to Press” (Froggy: Hey, Officer, he’s taking me for a ride!” Officer: Good! That’s nice of him!”)
Now onto the silents.
1. The Champeen! - Great place to start off if you’re new to the silents. Aside from Joe Cobb, who only gets a brief cameo, you get to know the original cast pretty well here.
2. The Mysterious Mystery! - Underrated short with a fun climax.
3. The Fourth Alarm! - I prefer this over its remake, “Hook and Ladder” (though that one is good too). Very funny, energetic short.
4. Derby Day - Amusing throughout, with a great punchline.
5. Telling Whoppers - Another underrated short with Farina and Joe at their best. The climax, which is similar to the one in “Free Wheeling,” looks way more realistic here.
6. Thundering Fleas - Hilarious short, and a fun little “who’s who?” for Hal Roach fans.
7. Cat, Dog & Co. - I used to overlook this one. It’s quite amusing.
8. Young Sherlocks - Great showcase for Sunshine Sammy.
9. Dogs of War! - Another great introduction to the silents.
10. July Days - One of Mickey Daniels’ best.
Runner-ups? Oh, gosh... “Love My Dog” is a sweet Farina film. “Spook-Spoofing” had the potential of being funny if not for the Farina abuse(!)... “Saturday’s Lesson” is quite good. “Shootin’ Injuns” (despite it’s un-PC title) and “Mary, Queen of Tots” have great special effects in them.
Shall we do Bottom Ten next? 😂
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Post by malaria on Jun 2, 2019 15:54:58 GMT -5
Truly I cannot name ten silents I've SEEN.  |
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Post by RJH on Jun 2, 2019 17:42:51 GMT -5
A previous effort was here: littlerascals.proboards.com/thread/1526/best-shortsMany of the silents are on youtube. Quality isn't always terrific, but it's better than never getting to see them. The Roach films are too hard to rank, so they're in chronological order. If I ever feel like it I might put in comments. Honorable mentions to all films in my post from the thread three years ago. Silents: The Champeen! Dogs of War! Stage Fright Derby Day The Sun Down Limited The Mysterious Mystery! Mary, Queen of Tots One Wild Ride The Fourth Alarm! Playin' Hookey Roach Talkies: Hook and Ladder Free Wheeling Hi, Neighbor! Mike Fright The Lucky Corner Two Too Young Pay as You Exit Roamin' Holiday The Pigskin Palooka Hide and Shreik MGM Alfalfa's Aunt The Little Ranger Going to Press Mighty Lak a Goat Men in Fright Aladdin's Lantern Clown Princes Kiddie Kure Duel Personalities Come Back, Miss Pipps |
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rascalstooge
Full Member
10 years this coming November.
Posts: 237
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Post by rascalstooge on Oct 7, 2019 13:34:45 GMT -5
Mine are Roach talkies Pups Is Pups, Free Wheeling, Readin' and Writin', The Pooch, Choo-Choo, Bear Shooters, Free Eats, Mush and Milk, Dogs is Dogs, and Fish Hooky. My silent one is Dogs of War.
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dchord568
Junior Member
Posts: 84
Member is Online
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Post by dchord568 on Oct 11, 2019 18:50:26 GMT -5
I haven't seen the silents enough times to form any favorites. I refuse to name anything from the MGM era.
So here are my favorite Roach talkies, in chronological order, since I don't believe in ranking greatness against greatness:
Pups Is Pups
Fly My Kite
Hook and Ladder
Free Wheeling
Mush and Milk
Hi'-Neighbor
Mama's Little Pirate
Beginner's Luck
Our Gang Follies of 1936
The Lucky Corner
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Post by malaria on Oct 18, 2019 17:53:11 GMT -5
Very moved by the props accorded the magical "Pups Is Pups." *sniffle* |
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Post by wheezer on Jan 13, 2020 22:31:13 GMT -5
I'm just working my way through the silents- many great ones not yet seen, like The Champeen! It's hard to pick because I think they are all utterly charming and antic, but so far agree with RJH God that Derby Day, Dogs of War, The Fourth Alarm and The Sundown Limited are terrific. As for talkies- 1932-35 seem to be the glory years and I agree with everyone that Pups is Pups is hard to top. Also, Hook and Ladder, Hi Neighbor, Free Wheeling, The Pooch, Birthday Blues, Choo Choo or anything from 1932. I don't think I could pick 10 at this point, but I'll keep doing the research.
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Post by RJH on Jan 14, 2020 0:58:59 GMT -5
I'm just working my way through the silents- many great ones not yet seen, like The Champeen! It's hard to pick because I think they are all utterly charming and antic, but so far agree with RJH God that Derby Day, Dogs of War, The Fourth Alarm and The Sundown Limited are terrific. As for talkies- 1932-35 seem to be the glory years and I agree with everyone that Pups is Pups is hard to top. Also, Hook and Ladder, Hi Neighbor, Free Wheeling, The Pooch, Birthday Blues, Choo Choo or anything from 1932. I don't think I could pick 10 at this point, but I'll keep doing the research. Glad to see you share a lot of my favorites but I wish to point out that here I'm just the initials RJH. "God" is a title you get after you've made a certain number of posts, perhaps 500. |
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Post by wheezer on Jan 14, 2020 11:31:27 GMT -5
Well with your Our Gang knowledge, you are a 'God" to me, lol.
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Post by axelgrease on Jun 10, 2020 2:12:43 GMT -5
1. Pups Is Pups
2. Night 'n' Gales
3. The First Seven Years
4. Rushin' Ballet
5. Dogs Is Dogs
6. Love Business
7. Divot Diggers
8. Free Wheeling
9. Feed 'em and Weep
10. Bear Shooters
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Post by rainydays on Jul 3, 2020 5:46:39 GMT -5
Hi there! I’m new to this board although I’ve been a lurker for some time now! It’s great reading about everyone’s favorite shorts, and why they hold such a special place in our memories! Here are my personal top 10 although there are simply too many to list!
1. A Pleasant Journey: My favorite silent era short! I actually like this one better than its remake “Choo-Choo!”. Jackie Condon, who is one of my favorite Rascals, has a few great scenes with swapping places with Mary and cutting off pieces of Tilford’s beard! The rascals are pure rascals in this short! My favorite silent short!
2. Birthday Blues: the weep-wah cake is definitely the star of this short! Couldn’t stop laughing during my first viewing!
3. Teacher’s Pet: like many I consider this one a classic, and it’s the first Rascals short I ever saw so it’s near and dear to my heart.
4. Fish Hooky: It’s so heartwarming to see Mickey Daniels and Mary Kornman together again! Great to see silent Rascals like Mickey, Mary, and Joe sharing the screen with the “talkie” rascals! Also a Farina cameo appearance! Just a very fun episode overall.
5. Readin’ and Writin’ : Brisbane’s presence in the gang, brief as it may have been, did however give us some great moments! “Well I don’t wanna be president! I wanna be a street car conductor!” “Boy, do they pick up the nickels!” Still gets a laugh out of me!
6. Free Wheelin : Great short! Dickie Moore and Stymie were absolutely adorable and Their scenes together are just so natural and sincere!
7. Hi’-Neighbor : Another Rascals short that served as my introduction. Fun and satisfying to see the gang put together their fire engine and race against the bratty new kid. Spanky’s “There you are.”, “Don’t rush me big boy”, and Stymie’s “What hill?” are some great one liners in this episode!
8. Pay as You Exit : Buckwheat as Juliette is absolute perfection! First short with Buckwheat that I ever saw! He turned into a favorite of mine by the time the short was over. Also a fun quick cameo from Joe Cobb!
9. Fishy Tales : The fish and the cats were a great gag! Spanky trying to convince Butch about Alfalfa’s broken leg with a sap story was great too! Porky and Buckwheat are always great but I love their little exchange at the beginning: “Hello Porky,” “Hello Buckwheat,” “whatcha doing?” “ I dunno,”.
10. Mary Queen of Tots : Although I have many favorites from the silent era, this short and A Pleasant Journey are my all time favorite silent shorts! A very cute short! Mary is the poor little rich girl without friends until she meets and befriends the gang! Just very sweet and heartwarming and with some cool visual film tricks!
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Post by rocklyn80 on Sept 12, 2020 23:22:24 GMT -5
First roundup
Hi neighbor
Birthday blues
Mike fright
Lucky corner
Mothers little pirate
pups is pups
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