technical details:
Production G-11.
Filmed February 27 to March 15, 1928. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on March 19, 1928.
Cutting continuity submitted March 20, 1928.
Copyrighted September 22, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP25669. Renewed December 7, 1955, with registration no. R160738. This copyright expired
at the end of 2023, and the film is now in the public domain.
Released September 22, 1928. It was the 77th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Growing
Pains".'
the crew:
- Produced by Robert F. McGowan for
Hal Roach
- This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, and also says "A
Robert McGowan Production."
- Supervised by Robert F. McGowan
- The film credits him as supervising director, but without the middle initial.
- Directed by Anthony Mack
- This credit appears in the film. Mack was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of
Robert F. He's credited in the 1928 studio datebook as "McGowan, Jr."
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Story by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit doesn't appear in the film, but is indicated in the cutting continuity.
- Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay
- He was Pete's owner and trainer.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Indicated in the opening title card.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As indicated in the film.
- All Rights Reserved Under International Convention of Buenos Aires
- 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
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant direction - Probably Charles Oelze.
- assistant cameraman - Probably Clair Boshard.
- cutting - Possibly Lloyd Campbell.
- writing - 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.
the kids:
- Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary Ann"
- Lead role. She continually pesters the other kids and sicks the giant on them.
- Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"
- Featured role. His mother constantly gives him cod liver oil. The kids think he's been turned into a giant.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins
- Supporting role. He's the victim of several of Mary Ann's practical jokes.
- Joe Cobb
- Supporting role. He's also a frequent victim and has plenty of screen time.
- Jay R. Smith
- Supporting role. He's given a fair amount of attention.
- Harry Spear
- Supporting role. He's given some individual attention and is the first to successfully get back at the giant when he starts throwing eggs.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. His big scene is the one where he keeps using bigger hammers to hit the giant on the head with.
- Jean Darling
- Small part. She's not mentioned in the continuity, but appears in the publicity photos.
- Jimmy Farren
- Small part. He's not mentioned in the continuity, but appears in the publicity photos.
- other kids
- A publicity photo reveals an unknown little girl with the Our Gang kids.
the animals:
- Pete (no. 1)
- Supporting role. He's featured throughout the film. The continuity refers to him as
"Pansy," but not in any of the inter-titles.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- bugwatch
- A hornets nest is put down the back of the giant's pants, but it isn't clear whether we actually
see the hornets themselves, or if they might be animated.
the adults:
- John Aason as "John Aason," the vaudeville giant
- Featured role. Maltin & Bann spell his last name Aassen. He's the circus giant who stands in for
Wheezer and scares the kids.
- other adults
- Small parts and bit parts.
- (1.) Mary Ann and Wheezer's mother, known as "Mrs. James Jackson."
- (2.) The cab driver.
- (3.) The man who carries Mary back to the gang while she's dressed as a baby.
- (4.) The woman Mary hides behind before pushing Harry in the mud.
miscellaneous:
16 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Only three days after shooting finished for "Crazy
House" (no. 76), the 'start' date arrived for "Growing Pains" on Feb. 27th. Shooting
continued until the 'finish' date of Mar. 15th. No shooting took place on Feb. 26th, Mar. 4th or Mar. 11th, which
were all Sundays. Anthony Mack (listed as McGowan Jr. in the 1928 studio datebook) directed on each of the
shooting dates. After this, roughly seven and a half weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began shooting "The
Ol' Gray Hoss" (no. 78). The studio was closed for over five of those weeks.
The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B437.
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