School Begins

film no. 79

availability:

A copy of this film was recently found, but is in poor condition, and is not available on video. Most of the information listed below derives from the cutting continuity, which was submitted for copyright purposes to the Library of Congress.

technical details:

Production G-13.

Filmed June 7 to 28, 1928. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on July 9, 1928.

Cutting continuity submitted July 11, 1928.

Copyrighted November 17, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP25844. Renewed December 7, 1955, with registration no. R160739. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2023.

Premiered in New York City on Sep. 16, 1928.

Released November 17, 1928. It was the 79th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler, with sychronized music and sound effects, on disc only.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "School Begins".'

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film probably credits Roach as the presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."
Supervising Director: Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but is not indicated by Maltin & Bann.
Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Anthony Mack: The film credits only Mack, who was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of Robert F. The 1928 studio datebook reveals that the uncle also directed, and that the nephew (credited as McGowan, Jr.) directed on June 9th through 12th, 14th, 16th through 19th, 21st, 22nd and 25th.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: This credit appears in the film.
Edited by Richard Currier: This credit appears in the film. Currier also prepared the soundtrack while at the Victor headquarters in New York.
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 on the title page of the cutting continuity.
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 sound effects in word form.
Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay: He was Pete's owner and trainer.
Teacher: Fern Carter
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title of the film.
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
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Joe Cobb as "Joe" aka "Joseph": Featured role. He has Harry thinking school is like prison. Later, he tries to go home early with a phony note, but it backfires on him.
Harry Spear as "Harry": Featured role. We first see him having a nightmare about school. Later, he's the victim of Mary Ann's practical joke.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina": Featured role. He doesn't have to go to school, but helps Joe by delivering the phony note. He's involved in many of the gags.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Featured role. He's Harry's little brother. He's featured in the fishing scene with Pete, and subsequently attracts the seals into the classroom.
Mary Ann Jackson: Supporting role. She plays a practical joke on Harry, only to have an immediate comeuppance.
Jean Darling as "Jean": Supporting role. She's involved in the practical joke, but otherwise does ensemble acting.
Jimmy Farren: Small part. A publicity photo reveals that he sits behind Harry in class. He may be one of the boys mentioned below.
other kids: Bit parts and extras. Included among these kids would be Billy Schuler, who was credited in a casting directory for appearing in this film.
(1.) The boy on his hands and knees as part of the practical joke.
(2.) The boy who provides Mary Ann with the grease.
(3.) The girl talking to the teacher as Joe's mom walks in.
(4.) The tough kid with the straw hat picking his teeth with a knife in Harry's dream.
(5.) The boy with the flap over his eye scratching his head with a gun in Harry's dream.
(6.) The rest of the kids in the class, who may or may not be in Harry's dream.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Petie": Supporting role. Or more specifically "Petie Dog," as Wheezer calls him. He accompanies Wheezer throughout the film.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Supporting roles and bit parts.
(1.) The two seals that invade the classroom.
(2.) The various fish in the stream and in the classroom.

the adults:

May Wallace as Harry's mother: Supporting role. Judging by a couple of postcards showing scenes from this film, it appears that she plays this role.
other adults: Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The teacher.
(2.) Joe's mom, "Mrs. Cobb."
(3.) The two seal trainers.
(4.) The teacher in Harry's dream, who may or may not be the real teacher, and the face superimposed on the schoolhouse, which is perhaps the teacher as well.
(5.) The two men operating the spanking machine in Harry's dream.

the music (sort of):

"Ol' Man River" by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern: Written in 1927, with lyrics by Hammerstein and music by Kern. This is what Farina says after he finishes playing the mouth organ.

miscellaneous:

19 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A week and a half after shooting finished for "The Ol' Gray Hoss" (no. 78), the Our Gang unit began filming "School Begins" on June 7th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of June 28th. No shooting took place on June 10th, 17th, or 24th, which were all Sundays. Direction was almost evenly divided between Robert F. McGowan and Anthony Mack (listed in the 1928 studio datebook as McGowan Jr.). McGowan directed on the 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 27th, and 28th, while Mack directed on the remaining days. Only four days after shooting finished for this film, the Our Gang unit began to film "The Spanking Age" (no. 80).

It's probable that a Roach comedy entitled "School Days" was actually a working title for this film.

The title sheet reveals an altered inter-title: "Ol' Man River goes rollin' along - Li'l white boys in school where they b'long." The cutting continuity reveals that the word 'white' was omitted from the finished film.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B590.

©Apr. 5, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 4/10, 4/25, 7/9.
2007 updates: 2/5, 2/27, 4/1, 7/16, 10/22, 11/25.
2008 updates: 1/7, 2/3, 7/6, 7/20.

Thanks to Rob Stone and Joe Moore for assistance on this page.