Fly My Kite

the animals:

Pete the Pup III

Supporting role. He's with Chubby throughout the film, and plays keep-away from Dan.

cat 080

Bit part. He knocks a couple of pans down from the shelf. Presumably the mouse being chased by the cat is fake.

Leo

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

other animals

There are about five goldfish in the bowl in Grandma's house.

the adults:

Margaret Mann as "Mrs. Margaret Mann" aka "Grandma" aka "Granny"

Featured role. She's in danger of being sent to the county home, until it turns out that her bonds are worth a lot of money.

James Mason as "Dan"

Featured role. He's Grandma's skinflint son-in-law. His name was "Jim" in the synopsis. He's described as Margaret Mann's adopted boy in studio documentation, but the film contradicts this. The cutting continuity introduces him as "Dan (Jimmy Mason)."

Eddie DeComa doubling for Margaret Mann

Small part. He's seen quite a bit in the film, doing all of Grandma's acrobatic work. The payroll ledger reveals that he was given a two-week contract for this film, and since he was an acrobat, I'm presuming that he did the stunts. Listed by Maltin & Bann as David Sharpe, who isn't mentioned in the ledger among the names for this film.

Broderick O'Farrell as the bond agent

Small part. He informs Dan about the value of the bonds. Listed in the cutting continuity as "Agent."

Mae Busch as Dan's new wife

Bit part. She's shown in the car ordering Dan to get rid of Grandma. The cutting continuity identifies her only as "woman."

other adults

Bit part. The only remaining adults are the cop that Grandma summons to arrest Dan, and somebody looking out the window of one of the houses across the street from the vacant lot. The ledger includes Milton Metts, Wells Simpson and Charles A. Bachman. The cop doesn't seem to be Bachman, and I'm not familiar with the other two names, but in any event, two of these three must have wound up on the cutting room floor.

the music:

The soundtrack for this film was recorded on April 2, 1931.

"Fanfare" by Leroy Shield

The last chord of the fanfare is heard as the MGM lion is seen. It's probable that original prints included the entire fanfare.

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A13.) The thirteenth version is played over the opening titles.

(A12.) The very end of the twelfth version is played as Farina has Stymie by the hand and the end title appears.

"Heap Big Injun" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. This is played as Grandma reads the story to the kids.

"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played during the boxing sequence. This version is similar to the one reproduced on the second Beau Hunks CD.

"The Villain" by Leroy Shield

Part of the "Goofs Suite." Listed as "Villain" on the music cue sheet. This is played as we're first introduced to Dan and his wife. It's played again as Dan returns and breaks Grandma's glasses.

"Grandma Plays" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931, under the erroneous title "Grandpa Plays." This is played as Dan walks into the house. It's overlapped by some piano playing by Grandma.

"Prelude" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Dan gives Grandma the bad news. The opening is repeated as the kids comfort Grandma. Part of it is repeated as Dan reads the letter to Grandma and runs outside to get the kite.

"Go Get Him" by Leroy Shield

This is played as the kids punish Dan inside the house. The original issue of the Beau Hunks "On To The Show!" CD identified this piece as "Instrumental (Hurry)." The recent reissue revises this. The cue sheet lists it as "Hurry."

"Miser" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Dan reads the letter and is partially repeated as he talks to the bond agent.

"Wishing" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Parts of this piece are played as Wheezer finds the bonds.

"You Are The One I Love" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this is played as Grandma helps Chubby with his kite and continues as he first flies it.

"Sliding" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swells." This is played as Dan struggles with Chubby and Dickie, and Grandma reads the letter. It's repeated during the telephone pole scene.

"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Pete plays keep-away with the kite. This seems to be going at a faster tempo than it did in "Pups Is Pups" (no. 100). A very fast version is played as Grandma summons the cop.

other music

The only remaining music is the piano improvisation by Margaret Mann, which is overlapped by the Shield tune "Grandma Plays."

the locations:

Overland Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

The site of the vacant lot where the kite is flown is on this street between Regent Street and Francis Place. Shown in the background are several houses across the street, including 3650, 3658 and 3668 Overland Avenue.

Cadillac Avenue and Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles

The cop is leaning against the street sign at the southeast corner of these two streets.

Hal Roach Ranch

The scene with the telephone pole was shot along the access road that led into the ranch. It was located roughly where David Avenue is nowadays, just west of Robertson Boulevard.

546 Orange Drive, Los Angeles

This is Grandma's address as shown on the envelope from the Imperial Steel Company, and the number is also shown on the house.

miscellaneous:

12 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Four weeks after shooting finished for "Bargain Day" (no. 106), the 'start' date arrived for "Fly My Kite" on Mar. 2nd. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Mar. 14th. No shooting took place on Mar. 1st or 8th, which were both Sundays. After this, ten weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to film "Big Ears" (no. 108). The studio was closed for six of those weeks.

From a press release for this film: "'But, Daddy, you haven't done so bad, yourself,' was the answer Charles 'Chic' Sales Jr. gave his paternal parent after a long talk on the advantages and disadvantages of a career in the moving picture industry. Young Charles had a yen for the movies, and without the consent of his Dad went over to the Hal Roach Studios to apply for work in the famous Our Gang Comedies. Father found out, however, and because his son did not first ask him about it, penalized Charles, Jr. to the extent that he was to ride to and from the studio on his bike - no help would be given, and because Charles, Jr. is a good sport, no help was asked. The result of an interview with Robert McGowan, director of the famous kid troupe, was a call the next morning to work on "Fly My Kite," a current Our Gang comedy. Charles, Jr. got out his bike and pedaled his way out to Culver City with high hopes of being famous some day - like his Dad. Master Sales had quite a 'bit' in this Our Gang comedy, which is now on the program at the _____ Theatre, and he liked the work so well he is hoping he can play again with Our Gang. Who knows?" The working copy of this item named him Charles ("Chick") Sales, Jr., but pencilled-in corrections rendered it as Charles ("Chic") Sale, Jr.

Grandma is reading from the Wild West Weekly of Nov. 1, 1930, at the beginning of this film.

Reel one ends just as Wheezer finds the bonds.

The set for the stock broker's office was also used in the concurrently filmed Laurel & Hardy short "Chickens Come Home."

Interesting to note that the letter from the Imperial Steel Co. initially has lower-case letters, but is in all caps when later seen through the fishbowl.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B421.

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

© Robert Demoss.