1-2-3-Go!

film no. 200

availability:

This film appeared on at least one bootleg release.

technical details:

Production 2710.

Release no. C-298.

Filmed December 3 to 6, 1940, over four days of shooting.

Released April 26, 1941. It was the 199th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 21 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "1-2-3-Go!".' The titles still had the earlier artwork with the sideview MGM lion in relief.

the crew:

Produced by M-G-M: The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated.
Directed by Edward Cahn: This credit appears in the film.
Director of Photography: Jackson Rose, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Leon Bourgeau: This credit appears in the film.
Screenplay by Hal Law and Robert A. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial.
Art Director: Richard Duce: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title card.
Western Electric Sound System: As indicated in the film.
Approved by the Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
Teacher: Fern Carter

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He organizes the safety society and is basically the spokesman.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey Gubitosi": Featured role. It's his accident and resultant broken leg that inspires the formation of the safety society.
Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy": Featured role. He provides a few comic moments along the way and gives the speech at the end of the film.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He's present with the main group throughout the film, but is only given a few specific things to do.
girl 189: Small part. She's the girl eating ice cream during the meeting, and interacts with the cab driver later on.
James Gubitosi: Small part. I'm pretty sure he's the boy that has to give up a home run because it went into the street.
boy 200a as "Big Shot": Bit part. Buckwheat pulls him out of the street and scolds him.
Freddie Walburn: Bit part. He's mostly in the background, but is also the boy that retrieves the home run from the street.
boy 200b: Bit part. He's the first kid to demonstrate the safety procedure on the street.
girl 199: Bit part. She's the second kid to demonstrate the safety procedure on the street.
other kids: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) Perhaps twenty to twenty-five additional kids at the baseball games, which probably are the same that make up the club. The first boy at bat is named "Jimmy." There is also one more boy featured demonstrating the safety procedures.
(2.) The additional bedridden kids in the children's ward, numbering perhaps ten, plus the six Italian siblings of one of the patients.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The only animal in this film is the MGM lion.

the adults:

John Dilson as the mayor of Greenpoint: Small part. Spanky calls him "Mr. Mayor." He gives a speech at the end of the film.
Margaret Bert as one of the nurses: Small part. She's the nurse at the reception desk.
May McAvoy as "Miss Jones," one of the nurses: Small part. She's called away and gives Mickey's seditive to another nurse.
Joe Young as the man at the accident scene: Small part. He witnesses the accident and calls for an ambulance.
Arthur Hoyt as "Horace," one of the pedestrians: Small part. He shows his wife that he's a member of the safety society.
Anne O'Neal as one of the pedestrians: Small part. She's Horace's wife.
Barbara Bedford as "Ann," one of the nurses: Bit part. She gives Mickey his seditive.
William Tannen as the cab driver: Bit part. He shows girl 189 that he's also a member.
woman 182: Extra. She's one of the dignitaries with the mayor.
other adults: Bit parts and extras. Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts lists Charles Evans, but this name is omitted from Maltin & Bann's book.
(1.) The driver of the car that hits Mickey.
(2.) The cop at the accident scene.
(3.) The other mothers in the children's ward, numbering probably no more than five, and most notably the Italian woman.
(4.) The other adults in the last scene, including two press photographers.
(5.) The two ambulance workers.
(6.) The nurse operating the switchboard at the hospital, and at least one more nurse in the children's ward.
(7.) At least two hospital orderlies, one leaving the elevator and one in the children's ward.
(8.) Three women and one man in the hospital lobby.
(9.) Various pedestrians and drivers.

the music:

"Our Gang" by David Snell: This is played over the opening titles. This is the earlier recording, used prior to "The Big Premiere" (no. 189). This is a medley of three songs:
(1.) "London Bridge" - The earliest reference to this nursery rhyme is in a play from 1659, and it was associated with children by 1720. It may derive from a part of the "Heimskringla" by Snorri Sturluson, which was composed around 1225.
(2.) "Mulberry Bush" - Also known as "So Early In The Morning" and "This Is The Way." It was probably originally called "Here We Go Round The Bramble Tree" in the mid 18th century, with the type of tree changed by inmates of Wakefield Prison, who exercised around a mulberry bush.
(3.) "The Farmer In The Dell" - This nursery rhyme is of uncertain origins.
piece 200a: This is the music played as the kids use their safety measures out on the street and adults join in the club, too. It sounds like more than one piece is incorporated into this work.
piece 200b: This is the fanfare played before the radio broadcast.
"The Gang Goes Home" by David Snell: This is a shorter version of "Our Gang," including only "London Bridge."
other music: The only remaining music is the cacophonous song performed by the boys in the hospital lobby.

miscellaneous:

The gang's club is called the Our Gang 1-2-3-Go Safety Society. At the end of the film, their barn is turned into a National Headquarters.

The gang lives in Greenpoint in this film, and Mickey is taken to the Greenpoint Hospital.

In the category of unseen characters are "Angelina" and "Rosa," the two Italian kids that can't visit their sister in the hospital because they're helping their papa in the restaurant. Also, there's "Dr. Williams" and "Police Chief Hobson."

This film was produced in conjunction with an actual 1-2-3-Go safety campaign that was sponsored by MGM in cooperation with The National Motion Picture Traffic Safety Council. Here's a quote from the Greenbriar Picture Shows website describing a ceremony that was held as a result of this campaign in which the kids, on behalf of MGM, were presented with an award: The Our Gang kids "were obliged to appear before an audience of 'school traffic officers and faculty advisors from more than six hundred elementary, junior, and senior high schools.' There were also city officials, church leaders, and officers of prominent women's organizations.....(the Our Gang kids received) on-stage instruction from uniformed police - the program included a segment wherein 'student traffic officers' instructed the Gang on 'the proper procedure for conducting people across the street'." The Our Gang Safety Club button was available to exhibitors for one cent each.

See page 236 of Maltin & Bann's book for this film's expenses and profits.

Thanks to Lynn Paden for assistance on this page.