Crazy House

film no. 76

availability:

Our Gang Volume #12 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is a home movie from Blackhawk, but with the company name blacked out. The opening and end titles are remade and there's a textual introduction. The inter-titles are remade, but the wording appears to be original. The picture quality ranges from fairly good to poor. The print totals 21:36, with about 16:15 of it original footage. Ignoring the inter-titles, most of the original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 7 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy is also the Blackhawk print. The quality of the copy isn't as good as Grapevine's.

special note

I've also been able to view a print from Interstate Television Corporation which includes the original credits.

technical details:

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."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film. The table top miniature effect is reminiscent of the work of Alvin V. Knetchel in earlier episodes, but I don't know if he was still with Roach at this point.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Probably indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably 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 - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• editing - Bert Jordan and William Terhune were among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan probably wrote the story. Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall and Hal Yates may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll, William A. Collins and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Harry Lucenay and Tony Campanaro were probably among the animal trainers.
• animation - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

Jean Darling as "Jean"

Featured role. She's the lonely little rich girl who wants to be a boy and play with the gang.

Jay R. Smith as "Percy"

Featured role. He's the rich boy that subjects the gang to the various tricks in the house.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. Jean tells him to bring the gang over to the house. He's given a lot of attention along the way.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"

Featured role. Jean dresses him up in her doll's clothes.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He's given plenty of footage dealing with the pranks in the house.

Mary Ann Jackson

Supporting role. She's given plenty of closeups as she reacts to the various tricks.

Harry Spear

Supporting role. He's first seen boxing with Farina, and later switches clothes with Jean.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He referees the boxing match, and is given a fair number of closeups during the trick sequence.

Jimmy Perrin

Small part. He's seen at the boxing match, and then joins the gang on their visit to the house, but isn't given much of anything specific to do.

other kids

Bit parts. Three more boys are seen at the boxing match, and each is given a closeup.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Pansy"

Supporting role. He's given his share of time with the pranks.

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

Joseph W. Girard as Percy's father

Small part. He's shown demonstrating the various trick contraptions in the house.

Eric Mayne

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's the friend of Percy's dad.

man 076 as one of the cops

Small part. He's the cop that gets bitten by Pete. Later seen in "Old Gray Hoss" (no. 78).

F. F. Guenste as the butler

Bit part. He's seen very briefly talking to the governess.

May Wallace as Jean's mom

Bit part. She's shown very briefly. I'm not sure how Maltin & Bann were able to identify her.

Ed Brandenberg as one of the workmen

Bit part. He's the other workman besides the one that does the talking. I can't tell the difference between him and Chet Brandenberg, so this is according to Maltin & Bann.

other adults

Small parts and bit parts. A 1928 casting directory lists an actress named Kathleen Chambers as appearing in this film, but I still need to familiarize myself with her.
(1.) The woman who plays "Mrs. Middlebunny."
(2.) The black maid who's spooked by the tricks in the kitchen.
(3.) Jean's governess.
(4.) Farina's mother.
(5.) The woman with the face lift.
(6.) The workman who does the talking.
(7.) One more uniformed cop and the two plainclothes cops. One of the cops is supposed to be Charles A. Bachman, but none of them look like him.

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