Boxing Gloves

film no. 91

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 12 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a complete print with original titles. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 17:21. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There are also two clips from this film shown during the opening advertisement on all the Cabin Fever VHS releases. The 1st lasts 0:03, and shows Mary mussing Joe's hair. The 2nd lasts 0:01, and shows a closeup of Harry.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 & Vol. 12 (DVD) from Cabin Fever: Same contents as the Cabin Fever VHS releases. Also released as part of The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited (6 DVD set).
The Little Rascals Volume 1 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1985. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, with opening, crew and ending titles all remade. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 16:46.
The Little Rascals Book XVII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is the Blackhawk print. There are also four clips from this film included in the documentary The Story Of Hal Roach And Our Gang, and three clips included in the interview segment Catching Up With The Rascals: Jean Darling.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 3:27 is included, containing various different scenes, with narration added.

technical details:

Production G-25.

Filmed May 13 to 25, 1929. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on July 22, 1929.

Cutting continuity submitted August 5, 1929.

Copyrighted September 9, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP666. Renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176918. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2024.

Released September 9, 1929. It was the 90th film in the series to be released. However, if "Lazy Days" was released later, as some sources state, then "Boxing Gloves" would have been the 89th release.

All-talking two-reeler. (In actuality, there is a lot of silent footage in this film.)

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

King World Productions episode no. 11b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: The film credits Roach as a presenter, and designates it as "A Robert McGowan Production." Maltin & Bann list Roach only for this credit.
Supervised by Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. The specific credit in the film is for 'Supervising Director.'
Directed by Anthony Mack: This credit appears in the film. Mack was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of Robert F.
Photographed by Art Lloyd and F. E. Hershey: This credit appears in the film.
Edited by Richard Currier: This credit appears in the film.
Dialogue: H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film. The press release for this film credits McGowan with the dialogue.
Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Story by Hal E. Roach and Robert F. McGowan: This credit doesn't appear in the film. The press release credits only McGowan.
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.
A Victor Recording, Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Joe Cobb as "Joe Cobb": Featured role. He competes with Chubby for Jean's affection, which leads them to the boxing ring. Farina introduces him as 'The Wild Bull of the Pompadour, Joe Cobb.'
Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby Chaney": Featured role. His role is parallel to Joe's. Chubby's last name is included on the sign outside the boxing match, as revealed in a publicity photo. According to the cutting continuity, Farina was supposed to introduce him as 'The Fightin' Wildcat Bone Crusher, Chubby,' but mistakenly says 'The Wild Fighting Cat Bone Crusher, Chubby.' The publicity photos by this time had begun to use his nickname.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Featured role. The nickname isn't used in this film. He organizes and referees the fight.
Mary Ann Jackson: Supporting role. She tries unsuccessfully to get into the fight, and eventually kidnaps Jackie Cooper to accomplish this.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer" aka "Bobby": Supporting role. He's featured in the earlier bout with Donnie, and then serves as the time keeper at the later one. Harry accidentally calls him "Bobby" early in the film. The cutting continuity spells this "Bobbie." Referred to as "Baby Wheezer" in the press release.
Harry Spear: Supporting role. He organizes the 'baby fight', and then serves as Joe's trainer.
Jean Darling as "Jean": Supporting role. She figures into the earlier part of the film pretty strongly as Joe and Chubby fight over her.
Bobby Mallon as "'Announcer' Graham McCracker": Supporting role. He's the radio announcer at the fight.
Jackie Cooper: Small part. He walks out on the 'baby fight,' and then serves as the reporter for the later one. This was his first appearance in the series. His full name is actually used in the cutting continuity, which is unusual for a kid who was still essentially in the periphery of the gang.
Donnie Smith as "Donnie": Small part. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Beezer" moniker is used, but it isn't. He's identified in the cutting continuity as "Donny," but as Donnie Smith in the publicity material. He appears at the beginning of the film boxing with Wheezer.
Andy Shuford: Small part. He serves as Chubby's trainer.
boy 082: Extra. He's sitting closest to the door that Farina emerges from.
Johnny Aber: Extra. He's sitting to the right of the tomato thrower.
Godfrey "Duffy" Craig: Extra. It appears that he's the boy sitting closest to Joe's corner of the ring.
Bill Johnson: Presumed extra. A casting directory credits this chubby boy with appearing in the film, but I'm not able to find him.
Billy Schuler: Presumed extra. A casting directory credits him with appearing in this film, as do Maltin & Bann, but I haven't spotted him yet. He doesn't look like the boy named "Billie" who sits next to Jackie Cooper at the start of the film.
other kids: Supporting roles and extras.
(1.) The boy that bullies Joe into staying in the ring. The ticket taker calls him "Bozo." He's listed in the cutting continuity as the 'Tough Kid.'
(2.) The ticket taker who spends most of his time keeping Mary Ann out of the stands. He's listed in the cutting continuity as both the 'Cashier' and the 'Gate Keeper.'
(3.) "Billie," the boy sitting with Jackie Cooper at the start of the film. This is not Billy Schuler.
(4.) The kid watching the 'baby fight' from the outside.
(5.) The three Asian boys that throw the egg at Bobby Mallon. They're not shown in any of the longshots during the fight, but join the line as the kids are walking in.
(6.) The remaining boys watching the fight, numbering probably at least thirty. According to the press release for this film, 100 extra boys were in the stands during the boxing match. However, a careful study of the publicity photos suggests that the number was 34.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1): Supporting role. He accompanies Mary Ann throughout the film.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Extras. Several chickens are in the coop where Joe and Chubby are first seen.
bugwatch: A moth flutters by in this same location.

the adults:

Charlie Hall as the sidewalk diner attendant: Small part. He sells the pop to Joe and Chubby.
other adults: Bit part. The only other adult in this film is the first customer at the sidewalk diner.

the music:

"I Wonder What's Become Of Sally" by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen: Published in 1924. Al Jolson had a number one hit with this song. Bobby Mallon sings it briefly in this film.
music in alternate prints
"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson: Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. This version is an instrumental. It appears during the opening titles, but only in the Cabin Fever version, suggesting that it was probably not an original part of the film.
"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: This appears during the opening and ending titles of the Blackhawk print, and was almost certainly not part of the original film. This is the version heard at the opening of "Teacher's Pet" (no. 101).

the locations:

Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles: The northeast corner of this intersection is where Joe and Chubby drop their pop bottles. The brick building is the People's Water Company at 3392 Motor Avenue. Seen in one shot is the park bench on the northwest corner previously seen in "The Love Bug" (no. 37). Presumably, the chicken coop is located at the usual location near the southwest corner.
Hal Roach Ranch: Otherwise known as the Arnaz Ranch. This is where the boxing ring was set up. The portable sound equipment was mounted on a truck close to the scene.

miscellaneous:

12 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two and a half weeks after shooting finished for "Railroadin'" (no. 90), the 'start' date for "Boxing Gloves" arrived on May 13th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of May 25th. No shooting took place on May 12th and 19th, which were both Sundays. Anthony Mack directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Lazy Days" (no. 92).

Publicity photos reveal some deleted footage involving Chubby as he works out prior to the match. Andy Shuford was included in this footage.

From the press release: 'The shrill voices of the children blew out six fuses in the recording apparatus before the Victor engineers could adjust the delicate mechanism to take care of the high-pitched volume of sound. The youngsters became so excited in the thrill of the ring battle of the Gang's two fatties, Joe Cobb and Chubby Chaney, that they forgot to lower their voices as directed by the recording engineer, Elmer Raguse.'

Another publicity photo shows Joe and Chubby with the broken bottles, but they're at a different corner than the one used in the film.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B359.

Publicity materials referred to the kids as The Roach Rascals.

©May 1, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 5/3, 5/16, 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/8, 1/9, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/4, 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/19, 2/26, 7/6, 7/12, 7/20, 11/6.
2009 updates: 7/26.

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