technical details:
Production A-14.
Filmed January 12 to February 23, and April 11, 1923. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Premiered on June 10, 1923, in New York City.
Released on July 1, 1923. It was the 14th film in the series to be released.
Copyrighted July 19, 1923, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU19216. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Dogs Of War!".' The Exclusive print says '"Our Gang"
Comedy.' The exclamation point in the film title is not indicated by Maltin & Bann.
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1056, "Battleground," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17361. Footage also went into
episode no. 1053, "Hollywood U.S.A.," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17358.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Credited in the film as a presenter.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara
- McGowan receives sole credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. McNamara's involvement is revealed by entries in Camera for the weeks starting Jan. 8th and
15th.
- Assistant Director: Clarence Morehouse
- This credit derives from Morehouse's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director during this period. Camera magazine indicates his involvement for the weeks starting
Jan. 8th and 15th.
- Photographed by Harry W. Gerstad and Len Powers
- Not listed by Maltin & Bann. Gerstad receives sole credit in the film. Powers was still considered the Our Gang cameraman on the first two days of shooting, so he may have been
involved on those dates. The payroll summaries reveal that he moved on to the Dippy Doo Dads series the following week and was replaced by Gerstad. Camera magazine indicates his
involvement for the weeks starting Jan. 8th and 15th.
- Edited by T. J. Crizer
- This credit appears in the film, but is not indicated by Maltin & Bann. The 'T' stands for Thomas.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Props by Charles Oelze and Dick Gilbert
- This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period.
- Story by Hal E. Roach and Tom McNamara
- This credit doesn't appear in the film. McNamara is credited as the scenarist for the Our Gang units for the weeks starting Jan. 8th and 15th by Camera magazine. R. H.
Fahe was listed in the payroll summaries as an Our Gang gag man during this period.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As 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 and Chester "Bud" Graves
- possible uncredited involvement
- titles - Tom McNamara probably illustrated the title cards.
- writing - Robert F. McGowan,
Thomas J. Crizer and
Leo McCarey may have contributed gags. Hal Conklin first appears in the payroll summaries as an Our Gang gag man the
week ending Feb. 3rd. He may have contributed gags to this film, or perhaps started off with the next one.
- still photography - Clarence "Stax" Graves was employed during the April shooting dates, and could conceivably
have taken some of the stills.
the kids:
- featured players
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Featured role. He appears throughout the film, and even gets some business of his own. He's a "her" in this film.
- Mickey Daniels
- Featured role. Mickey appears throughout the film, mostly as part of the group. Mary's 'sick chart' spells his name "Micky."
- Jack Davis as "Jack"
- Featured role. He's featured during the war sequence, but does mostly ensemble acting during the studio sequence.
- Mary Kornman
- Supporting role. She appears both during the battle scene (as the nurse), and then again at the film studio.
- Jackie Condon as "Jackie"
- Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
- Joe Cobb
- Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
- Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison
- Supporting role. Ernie also does mostly ensemble acting. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Sunshine Sammy" moniker was used in this film, but it wasn't.
- other kids
- Andy Samuel
- Small part. He's one of the boys in the opposing army, and is shown more than the others.
- George "Freckles" Warde
- Bit part. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Monty O'Grady, but I'm quite certain that it's not him. He's another boy in the opposing army. Not to be confused with George
"Sonny Boy" Warde.
- Elmo Billings
- Bit part. He's another boy in the opposing army.
- Gabe Saenz
- Bit part. He's another boy in the opposing army.
- other kids
- Bit parts.
- (1.) The other girl in the film-within-a-film besides Mary. We never get a good look at her.
- (2.) Two remaining boys in the opposing army, but we never get a good look at them.
- in still images
- At least one boy is shown in a still photo on the wall behind Roy Brooks in the casting office.
the animals:
- skunk 014
- Small part. The "kittie," as Farina puts it. Presumably the same skunk that later appeared in "Big Business" (no. 23).
- horse 014
- Extra. This is the white horse seen in the background towards the end of the film as the gang is making their getaway. Could be Duke from "The Ol' Gray Hoss" (no.
78).
the adults:
- featured players
- Dick Gilbert as the studio guard
- Supporting role. He appears repeatedly during the studio sequence chasing the kids around.
- William Gillespie as the director of "Should Husbands Work?"
- Supporting role. He's featured strongly during his scenes, which are decidedly over-the-top. He also appears to be the actor in military garb that helps Farina down the
steps, and is apparently in costume for the Harold Lloyd feature "Why Worry?".
- Charley Lloyd as the cameraman of "Should Husbands Work?"
- Small part. He's shown during the filming of the film-within-a-film. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Charley Young.
- Charles Stevenson as the actor playing "Dan"
- Small part. He's featured in the film-within-a-film.
- Vera White as the actress playing the mother of "Little Clarice"
- Small part. She's featured in the film-within-a-film. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Clara Guiol.
- Harold Lloyd
- Small part. He briefly appears as himself, on the set of an actual film called "Why Worry?."
- woman 014
- Small part. This is the other woman in "Should Husbands Work?"
- Roy Brooks as the studio receptionist
- Small part. He's seen in the front office. He's listed by Maltin & Bann, but as one of the actors on the lot.
- other adults
- Owen Evans as the assistant director of "Should Husbands Work?"
- Small part. He's the guy in glasses crouching next to Gillespie.
- Joseph "Ernie" Morrison as the assistant director of "Should Husbands Work?"
- Small part. He's shown during the filming of the film-within-a-film.
- Sammy Brooks
- Small part. He's the short guy in the crew for "Should Husbands Work?"
- Sam Lufkin as a custodian
- Bit part. He's one of the two guys sweeping the treadmill, specifically the one in the bowler hat.
- James "Paul" Parrott
- Bit part. He's the guy in the hospital scene with the bandaged head who's getting his head whacked with a book. He was in the middle of shooting a film in his series called "The
Smile Wins," which shared several shooting dates (Jan. 12 to 17) in common with "Dogs Of War."
- Eddie Baker
- Bit part. He's the other hospital patient from "The Smile Wins" who whacks Parrott with the book.
- Clarence Morehouse as the projectionist
- Bit part. He runs "Should Husbands Work?" after it's been altered by the kids.
- Jack Hill as a police officer
- Bit part. He and his partner stand next to the flatbed truck as he gets slapped by Ernie's fake arm.
- Wallace Howe
- Bit part. He's in costume for "Why Worry?" and is dressed in a suit and bowler hat as Farina comes down the stairs behind the administrative building.
- Leo White
- Bit part. He's in costume for "Why Worry?" and is in military garb talking to William Gillespie, who helps Farina down the steps.
- Jobyna Ralston
- Bit part. Harold Lloyd's leading lady, seen during his scene.
- Fred Newmeyer
- Bit part. Harold Lloyd's director, seen during his scene.
- Bob Davis as the truck driver
- Bit part. He's barely seen at all.
- Walter Lundin
- Bit part. Harold Lloyd's cameraman. He's barely seen.
- other adults
- Bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The man in the bear costume.
- (2.) The man serving as projectionist.
- (3.) Two remaining men in the crew of "Should Husbands Work?"
- (4.) Two men sweeping the treadmill before Farina switches it on.
- (5.) The other police officer shown with Jack Hill.
- (6.) The woman who takes Mary to the studio.
- (7.) The black woman dressed as a maid and watching the rushes for "Should Husbands Work?"
- (8.) Six men dressed as Mexicans in the Harold Lloyd scene.
- (9.) Many people seen in the background on the lot. There are three men and one woman in costume with Howe and White, and Farina walks past them right after wandering onto the
lot. There are four men and three women shown in front of the studio as the gang arrives, plus another adult barely seen in the doorway. In the hospital scene that the gang disrupts, there
are two principal actors plus the director and three crew members, as well as four nurses in the background. There are about eleven banditos that chase the gang. There is also a man inside
the "cage" in the casting office, but barely seen. There are numerous people walking in the background of several shots, as well as in the still photos on the walls of the casting
office. Also, since Maltin & Bann list Roy Brooks, there's a possibility that Mark Jones is among the adults in this film, since they seem to identify Jones as Roy Brooks for
other films.
- in still images
- Glen Cavender
- He's shown in a photo on the wall behind Roy Brooks in the casting office. The photo was taken by Nelson Evans.
the locations:
- Hal E. Roach Studios
- Much of the studio is featured in this film, including the front of the administration building and many of the behind-the-scenes locations. Known as West Coast Studios in the
film. The site of the gang's war appears to be in an adjacent vacant lot.
miscellaneous:
30 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Shooting was supposed to begin on Jan. 11th, but the retakes for "The Big Show" (no. 7) continued on that date.
Therefore, "Dogs Of War!" began shooting on the 12th, and continued until Feb. 10th. No footage was shot on Jan. 14th, Jan. 21st, Jan. 28th, Feb. 4th, or Feb. 11th, which were
all Sundays. After this, shooting commenced on "Lodge Night" (no. 15), but additional "Dogs Of War!" footage was shot on Feb. 20th, 22nd and 23rd, with the
last date being divided between the two films. After this, "Lodge Night" was completed, and "Fast Company" (no. 16) and "Stage Fright" (no. 17)
were both started. On Apr. 11th, McGowan did retakes for "Dogs Of War!" while Tom McNamara seemingly finished "Stage Fright" (there would be retakes). The
very next day, shooting began for "July Days" (no. 18), further illustrating the point that the Our Gang unit took very little time off during this early period.
The Motion Picture News of May 26, 1923, reported the following: "The National Board of Review is stingy with its * this week, there being no feature picture listed as
worthy of winning the six-pointed star. Instead Pathe walks away with the honors, the number selected being an Our Gang two-reel comedy, 'Dogs of War.' Hal Roach's kid
comedians are going through some peppery paces these days and as far as the NEWS is concerned the Board's w. k. * can be awarded to all of their pieces. There is more solid
entertainment packed away in these two-reelers than in a dozen so-called features which are being released this spring."
The 1923 studio datebook reveals what the weather was like on the various shooting dates. During the initial January and February dates, the weather was described as 'bright'
almost half the time. Specifically, it was 'bright & windy'on Feb. 4th. It was described as 'medium' on Jan. 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th, and 28th. It was described as
'raining' on Jan. 23rd, 25th, 29th, and Feb. 11th, 'rainy' on Jan. 30th and 31st, 'rainy & dark' on Feb. 1st, 'spotted & rainy' on Feb. 8th, and
'dark' on Jan. 22nd. The weather was described as 'dull' on Jan. 24th, and 'dull most of day' on Jan. 12th. It was described as 'clear' on all of the shooting
dates of late February and April.
We see at least two genuine films in progress as the Gang runs around the studio. One is the upcoming Harold Lloyd feature, "Why Worry?" (his last for Roach), and the
other is a Paul Parrott comedy called "The Smile Wins" (not to be confused with the Our Gang film of the same name).
In March of 1923, the Our Gang kids made a personal appearance at the California Theatre in Los Angeles, wearing the "war" costumes used for this film.
This film was the second of six in the third 'series' of Our Gang films.
40 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
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