Bear Shooters

technical details:

Production G-32.

Release no. 257.

Filmed December 19, 1929 to January 4, 1930, and January 21, 1930. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Also filmed in Spanish as "Los cazadores de osos" with the same production number, and also reportedly in French. The Spanish version was 1,867 ft.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on January 22, 1930.

Cutting continuity submitted February 12, 1930.

Music cue sheet prepared March 12, 1930.

It appears that MGM either failed to copyright this film back in 1930, or copyrighted it under a different title. Because of this, it is treated as a public domain film.

Released May 17, 1930. It was the 98th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

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

Opening title in Spanish version: 'Hal Roach presenta Sus Actores Chiquitos en "Los Cazadores De Osos".'

King World Productions episode no. 2, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

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, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Assistant Director: Don Sandstrom

This credit derives from studio documentation.

Photographed by Len Powers

This credit appears in the film. He's credited as Len Power in the Spanish version.

Film Editor: Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Story Editor: H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film. Some of the studio documentation for this film credits him as Harley M. Walker. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse

This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Spanish language coach: Laura Peralta

She's listed in the payroll ledger. Also listed as a Spanish instructor is Robert O'Connor, who seems to have worked with the Laurel & Hardy unit during this period. Listed as a Spanish stenographer is Pilar Rives.

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

general manager - Warren Doane

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien

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

direction - The foreign-language versions were probably directed by James W. Horne.

assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.

editing - Louis McManus probably edited the Spanish version.

cutting - Possibly Lloyd Campbell.

writing - Robert F. McGowan probably headed the story department. Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall, Harry Keaton and Carl Harbaugh may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom, Thomas Benton Roberts and Bob Saunders were probably involved in this capacity.

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles, as well as the Spanish title cards.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

animation - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

Leon Janney as "Spud" aka "Donald"

Lead role. He has to take care of Wheezer, but recruits Mary Ann for the purpose so he can go camping. Publicity material lists his character name as "Don." His character name in the Spanish version is "Pancho."

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. He's present throughout the film and is featured in a lot of the humorous moments, particularly with the gorilla. He wears a Daniel Boone cap throughout the film. His character name in the Spanish version is the same.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"

Featured role. He has the croup and must be 'greased' periodically. His character name in the Spanish version is the same.

Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary"

Supporting role. She gets to go along on the camping trip since she's agreed to take care of Wheezer. Her character name in the Spanish version is "Maria."

Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby"

Supporting role. He's mostly preoccupied with eating and puts limburger on Wheezer's neck instead of goose grease. His character name in the Spanish version is "Gordito."

Jackie Cooper as "Jack"

Supporting role. He's present through most of the proceedings, but isn't given much to do. It's his idea to take Spud's mule, and later he throws the bees nest under the gorilla's butt. His character name in the Spanish version is "Juanito."

in still images

A picture on Wheezer's bedroom wall show a little girl.

the animals:

Pete the Pup (no. 1)

Supporting role. He's present through most of the film, but doesn't do too much until the end, when he chases the bootlegger into the lake. His character name in the Spanish version is "Pepe."

Dinah the Mule

Supporting role. She pulls the gang's wagon, then later kicks the gorilla.

skunk 014

Bit part. Presumably the same skunk seen previously. He provides the closing gag.

Leo

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

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.

(1.) The goose that serves as the horn on the gang's wagon.

(2.) Six chicks hatched inside the stove.

(3.) Two fish, at least one of which is fake, and probably the other as well.

the adults:

Charles Gemora and Charlie Hall as "Charlie," the bootlegger in the gorilla suit

Supporting role. These two wore the gorilla suit in this film, with Hall being the guy whose face we see after the head has been removed. Most of the rest of the film was without Hall, though, as he worked only on the retake day of January 21st. A third person that could easily have worn the suit at times was Clarence Morehouse, who was Gemora's manager and not only wore the suit from time to time, but often took the credit when Gemora was wearing it, which is the way Gemora preferred doing things. This meant that the bad press surrounding the film "Ingagi," for instance, was something Morehouse had to deal with. So could Morehouse have worn the suit in all of the non-Hall footage? No. A photo exists from a deleted scene in which the head has been removed from the costume, revealing somebody that is neither Morehouse nor Hall, and looks quite a lot like Gemora. However, Morehouse was the one who received the daily checks for $150, though as Gemora's manager, he could've done this without wearing the suit in the film. Maltin & Bann list Gemora as Charles Gamora.

Robert Kortman as "Bob," the other bootlegger

Supporting role. He tries to rescue his friend, but is chased into the lake by Pete.

Laura Peralta as Spud's mother

Small part. She orders Spud to take care of Wheezer. This is a tentative identification, since we don't get a very good look at her face. But she does look like Peralta, and the payroll ledger doesn't provide any possible alternatives. Peralta was under salary as a Spanish language coach, and didn't receive a separate check for acting, but this is the same situation we encounter with "The First Seven Years," where a woman looking like Peralta played Jackie's mother while the ledger offered no possibilities among the extras. Maltin & Bann credit Fay Holderness with this part, but it clearly isn't her.

Lee Lindsay as the cop

Small part. In a scene cut from the end of the finished film, he arrests the bootleggers. He was an actual Culver City motorcycle cop.

other adults

On January 4th, $75 was charged to this production for the day players who worked that day. Leon Janney made $15, while Lee Lindsay made $10. Between their names is Jimmie House, making $15, which makes it pretty likely that he worked in the film, but wasn't in the finished product. This still leaves $35 unaccounted for, with a long list of names that mostly worked in the other production that day, "All Teed Up." So far, I haven't been able to figure out the handful of names that completes the list for "Bear Shooters," but whoever they were, they wound up on the cutting room floor.

the music:

The music cue sheet only lists four titles for this film. One of these is "Mademoiselle Promenade" by H. Maurice Jacquet. I don't yet know which tune this is.

"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson

Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. An instrumental version is played over the opening titles and continues through the introductory inter-title. It returns for the last gag where the kids hide in the log and Wheezer arrives with the skunk, and continues over the end title. The Victor files don't indicate this, but it stands to reason that this recording of the song came from the reel one sound disc for "Wiggle Your Ears" (no. 84), since this was the case with the other talkies of this era.

"Dance Of The Jacks" by Poldini

Also known as "Danse des Valets." A short bit of this is played as we're first introduced to Wheezer and Spud. More of it is heard as Spud's mother orders him to stay home and continues as we're introduced to Jackie and Chubby.

"Never Mind Bo Peep" by Victor Herbert

Published in 1903 as part of "Babes In Toyland," with lyrics by Glen MacDonough. A instrumental segment is heard as Wheezer tries to pick a fight with Spud and their mother enters the room.

"Marionette" by Felix Arndt

Published in 1914. This arrangement is by J. S. Zamecnik. A full version of this piece is played from the time Farina arrives until the scene where Spud tries to bribe Mary. A shorter piece of it is played as Wheezer catches the gorilla.

"Jack In The Box" by Zez Confrey

Copyrighted 1927. This is played from the time Spud joins the boys until they finally get on the road.

piece 098b

This is played as Chubby eats the limburger and Wheezer chases himself. It returns as Chubby greases Wheezer and he gets reactions to the smell.

piece 098c

This is played after Mary discovers the chicks and continues as Farina rows and Wheezer coughs.

piece 080j

This is played as Farina fishes and we're introduced to the first bootlegger.

"Flirtation" by Sommer

The second half of this piece is played as Farina puts the rope around Wheezer. "Music Box" appears as the middle section.

"Music Box" by Paul Lincke

This is played as the middle section of "Flirtation."

"Toddling" by Erno Rapee and Dr. William Axt

Most of this is played as the gorilla comes up behind the kids and Farina mouths off. The ear wiggling sounds from "Wiggle Your Ears" (no. 84) can be heard.

piece 097d

This is played as Farina first meets the gorilla.

piece 097e

A part of this piece is played as the gorilla carries Farina and Wheezer throws a rock at his head.

piece 097c

This is played from the time the gorilla starts chasing the kids until Mary finds herself right in front of him.

piece 098d

This is a short piece played as the gorilla chases Mary.

piece 098e

This is played as the gorilla chases Wheezer, and continues until Mary konks him on the head.

piece 098f

This is a short effects piece played as the gorilla gets up after having been konked on the head.

piece 097a

This is played as the gang is trying to trap the gorilla, and continues as he is trapped. It is played again during the sequence with the bees.

piece 080i

About two seconds of this is played as the second arrow goes into the gorilla's butt.

piece 097b

This is a short effects piece played as the third arrow goes into the gorilla's butt.

piece 097l

This is played as Pete chases the bootlegger into the lake.

music from alternate prints

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

This is played at the beginning of the Blackhawk print, but is abruptly replaced by "That Old Gang Of Mine."

miscellaneous:

14 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A little more than a week after shooting finished for "When The Wind Blows" (no. 97), the 'start' date arrived for "Bear Shooters" on Dec. 19th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Jan. 4th. No shooting took place on Dec. 22nd or 29th, which were both Sundays, nor on Dec. 25th or Jan. 1st, which were both holidays. About a week and a half after the finish date, retakes were shot on Jan. 21st. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. Six days later, the Our Gang unit began to film "A Tough Winter" (no. 99).

A deleted scene from this film involves a cop who comes along and arrests the bootleggers.

In January of 1930, the Our Gang kids, along with most of the other Roach stars, appeared on a network radio show called "Voices Of Filmland," which was recorded at KHJ studios in Hollywood.

The payroll ledgers list Jean de Briac and Mildred Mc Arthur as French instructors during this period, but their salaries were charged to other productions, throwing some doubt on the idea that a French version of "Bear Shooters" was made.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B335.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.