Saturday Morning

film no. 6

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 1 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies I (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This print has a title card reading "Saturday Morning with Our Gang." The generic ending title reveals that it's a Video Classics release. I suspect that it's a TV print from the Mischief Makers series, but with new titles added. There are no inter-titles in this print, and the beginning sequence is missing. The print totals 15:29, with 15:05 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included.

other releases

At least one bootleg of Grapevine versions of the silent Our Gangs includes this film as a bonus, presumably the Video Classics version.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by Charles Parrott

Better known as Charley Chase. The film probably includes this credit. Parrott was director-general of all of the studio's output during this period. This was the last such credit he received in the series.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara

This credit probably appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

• general manager - Warren Doane
• assistant general manager - L. A. French
• secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
• construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
• purchasing superintendent - John L. Murphy
• still photographer - Gene Kornman

possible uncredited involvement

• photography - The earliest credits given were for Len Powers, who was working for Roach during this period.
• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period.
• titles - Tom McNamara probably illustrated the title cards.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have contributed gags.
• property department - Charles Oelze and Dick Gilbert were probably involved in this capacity by this time.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels

Featured role. Mickey is virtually the star of this film, being given the longest of the opening sequences, and then joining the gang later on. The 9.5mm version calls him "Mickey," but it's not an original inter-title.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison as "Sorghum"

Featured role. He appears early in the film with "Maple" in footage cut from this print, and then joins the gang later on. He still seems to be the leader.

Jack Davis as "Waldemar"

Featured role. His opening scene is cut from this print, but it involves him as a rich kid who wants nothing more than to have the type of fun that poor kids have. He appears throughout the gang scenes.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Maple"

Supporting role. He appears early in the film with "Sorghum" in footage cut from this print, and then joins the gang later on, providing comedy relief.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. It appears that he pretty much just appears during the gang scenes, but he's still one of the main players.

other kids

Bit part. The only remaining kid in this print is the baby in the carriage being cared for by Katherine Grant. We only see the baby in a longshot, so identification is virtually impossible.

the animals:

dog 001

Supporting role. This is Mickey's dog, and appears quite a bit, with a featured spot during the violin sequence.

Dinah the Mule

Small part. Dinah is pulling Ernie's wagon.

dog 002

Small part. This is Jackie's dog, and was previously seen in "Fire Fighters" (no. 2). He went on to appear in "The Big Show" (no. 7).

other animals

Supporting roles and small parts.
(1.) The bear that escapes from the train and chases the kids around in the last part of the film.
(2.) Two toads who are mercilessly scrubbed by Mickey.
(3.) A pony ridden by Jack, and apparently not one of the ponies seen in earlier films.
(4.) A horse ridden by William Gillespie.

the adults:

woman 001 as Mickey's mother

Supporting role. She gets a lot of footage during the early part of the film.

William Gillespie as Waldemar's father

Supporting role. He's presumably in the earlier scene with Jack, and is seen off and on later in the film. Maltin & Bann identify him as the father in the cast listing, but as Waldemar's valet in the text section.

Joseph Morrison as "Aunty Jackson"

Supporting role. He's presumably in the earlier scene with Ernie, but doesn't appear in this print until the end of the film.

Katherine Grant as the maid

Small part. She's seen briefly on a park bench.

Richard Daniels as the violin teacher

Bit part. Maltin & Bann list him as 'one of the parents,' but there's a sign next to his door that says 'violin teacher.' This makes sense, too, since Mickey is sent away from his house carrying his cello. In any event, Richard Daniels is seen very briefly.

other adults

Small parts.
(1.) The neighbor woman, who appears briefly with woman 001 enjoying the music. The 9.5mm version calls her "Mrs. Glump," but the inter-titles aren't original.
(2.) Jackie's mother, who don't see until the end of the film.
(3.) The two police officers, who each appear briefly.

the music (sort of):

"Humoresque" Op. 101 No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak

Written in 1894. This is the piece that Mickey's playing.

the locations:

the river

This location appears to be around the same area as the one in "A Quiet Street" (no. 5).

the park

The location where Gillespie meets up with Katherine Grant looks like it could possibly be the same one used as Peggy Cartwright's yard in "Young Sherlocks" (no. 3).

miscellaneous:

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