technical details:
Production G-6.
Filmed November 4 to December 28, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
The title sheet was prepared by H. M. Walker on Dec. 21, 1927.
The cutting continuity was submitted Dec. 23, 1927.
Released February 11, 1928. It was the 71st film in the series to be released.
Copyrighted February 11, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP25325. Copyrighted a second time on September 4, 1929, also by MGM, with registration no.
LP656. The second copyright was renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176916. This copyright expired at the end of 2024, and the film is now in the public domain.
effective.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Rainy Days".'
the crew:
- Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach
- This is how Maltin & Bann put it. The film probably credits Roach as the presenter, with a credit added reading "A Robert McGowan Production."
- Supervised by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan, Anthony Mack
and Charles Oelze
- Mack was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of Robert F., and is the only one credited in the film. According to the 1927 studio datebook, he didn't direct
until December 23rd, when he was listed as 'McGowan, Jr.' Prior to this, the uncle directed, but was not credited. Oelze was also not credited, but Jean Darling's mother noted
his role as co-director. The payroll summaries listed Oelze as an assistant director, but were no longer specifying which unit he worked for.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Titles by Reed Heustis
- This credit appears in the film.
- Animation by Roy Seawright
- This credit derives from Seawright's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. The animation in this film consists of bubbles and crawling wallpaper.
- Story by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit doesn't appear in the film.
- Props by Thomas Benton Roberts
- In his book Roll 'Em, Roberts recalled making the wallpapering machine for this film, as well as putting the brushes on Jay's feet.
- Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay
- He was Pete's owner and trainer.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Probably indicated in the opening title.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As indicated in the film.
- studio personnel
- director-general - Leo McCarey
- general manager - Warren Doane
- assistant general manager - L. A. French
- secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
- construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright
- still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- school teacher - Fern Carter
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant cameraman - Probably Clair Boshard.
- cutting - Probably Lloyd Campbell.
- writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom were probably involved in this capacity. Maltin & Bann
specifically credit Oelze with the 'technical wizardry' in this film.
the kids:
- Jay R. Smith as "Jay"
- Lead role. He takes the blame for what Wheezer does, and has to wallpaper the house to cover up for him.
- Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"
- Featured role. He chalks up the house and is featured quite a lot during the wallpapering sequence. He also has a featured spot pretending to be Petey.
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Featured role. He does a lot of sneezing in this film, and is also the one with the wallpaper idea.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins
- Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He's given most of the funny business in this short.
- Harry Spear
- Supporting role. He's shown boxing with Farina, but later is mostly part of the ensemble.
- Jean Darling
- Supporting role. She joins in on the chalking, but also has the idea to add things to the wallpaper paste.
- Mildred Kornman
- Supporting role. She mostly joins Wheezer and Jean.
- Bobby Dean
- Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's seen with Joe at the beginning of the film, but otherwise is just part of the ensemble. The cutting continuity lists him as
'other fat boy.' His real name was Bobby Dean Morton.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He's does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
the animals:
- Pete (no. 1) as "Petey"
- Supporting role. He's shown throughout most of the film, eating sausages, blowing soap bubbles, and getting into the flypaper.
- cat 060
- Bit part. She gets caught up in the flypaper.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
the adults:
- Lyle Tayo as the kids' mother
- Supporting role. She leaves Jay in charge of his younger siblings, and threatens to skin him alive if he lets Wheezer chalk up the house.
- other adults
- Undetermined role. A 1928 casting directory lists Charles A. Bachman as appearing in this film, but if so, then his scenes were cut from the available print.
miscellaneous:
40 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Three days after shooting retakes for "Dog Heaven" (no. 70), Robert F. McGowan began filming "Rainy Days,"
the 'start' for which was Nov. 4th. Shooting continued until Dec. 6th, on which date the word 'finish' was written into the studio datebook but then crossed out. Two days
later, on Dec. 8th, filming resumed and continued until Dec. 28th. Anthony Mack, listed as 'McGowan Jr.,' took over direction on Dec. 23rd. No shooting took place on Nov. 6th, Nov.
13th, Nov. 20th, Nov. 27th, Dec. 4th, Dec. 11th or Dec. 18th, which were all Sundays. There was also no shooting on Nov. 24th, which was Thanksgiving Day, or on Dec. 25th, which was both
Christmas Day and a Sunday. Also, no shooting took on Nov. 14th, Nov. 16th, Dec. 7th, Dec. 26th and Dec. 27th. It's probable that any shooting that took place after the original finish
date of Dec. 6th involved the animation by Roy Seawright. Beginning Dec. 16th, filming was divided between "Rainy Days" and "Edison, Marconi & Co." (no. 73).
Then on Dec. 21st, no shooting took place for "Rainy Days," as work was divided between "Edison, Marconi & Co." and "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no.
74). Then on Dec. 22nd, filming was divided between all three films. Starting Dec. 23rd, as Mack (listed as McGowan, Jr.) took over direction of "Rainy Days," McGowan
(listed as McGowan, Sr.) continued with "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." Then on Dec. 28th, filming was divided between all three films again, though it isn't clear which
of the two worked on "Edison, Marconi & Co." on this date. "Rainy Days" was considered 'finished' on this date. After this, filming continued into 1928 on
"Barnum & Ringling, Inc."
A California Scenics travelogue film called "Hollywood - The Movieland Of The World" contains a bit of footage taken on the set of "Rainy Days," showing the kids posing
for photos. The film was shot from late 1927 to late 1928, and probably came out in early 1929. Raw footage from the project, showing both the Our Gang footage from the documentary as well as
additional footage showing scenes being shot for "Rainy Days," is available for viewing on YouTube.
The second reel of this film begins as the little kids arrive at the tub and Pete bites at the bubbles.
The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B574.
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