Stage Fright

film no. 17

availability:

The Return Of "Our Gang" (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1987. This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "The School Play." The music has been replaced by Rosa Rio playing the organ, and the film is shown at a slower speed. The print totals 21:32, with 20:50 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #5 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This is also the TV print, but with the original soundtrack and shown at a faster projection speed. The print totals 12:29, with 11:57 of it original footage. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 8 (VHS) from Video Classics

This is also from the TV print.

The Little Rascals Collection (5 DVD set) from Passport Video

Released July 13, 2004. This is the TV print, but without the opening title card. The title of the DVD set is superimposed in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

Rascals Silents Vol. 3 (VHS) from A-1 Video

This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios entitled "Amateur's Delight." The opening portion of the film is missing, but the portion pertaining to the play seems to be complete, and includes the original inter-titles. The opening and end titles are not original. The picture quality is fairly good. The footage totals 17:30, with about 17:29 of it original.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 3 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is the Mischief Makers print.

special note

I've also been able to view a 9.5mm copy of this film, though the beginning is missing, and the inter-titles are remade. It doesn't look like the wording is original.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara

Maltin & Bann list only McGowan, and the film probably reflects this, but without his middle initial. According to Rob Stone's notes, McGowan directed only the retakes, while McNamara served as the original director. McNamara was credited in the payroll summaries as an assistant director until the week ending June 2nd, but probably never served in this capacity for this film

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.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Her name appears in the studio payroll summaries until the week ending June 30th, after which she seems to have had the summer off.

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 - Bud "Stax" Graves and Gene Kornman
• driver - Bob Davis joined the Roach studio the week ending June 9th.

possible uncredited involvement

• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have been among the gag writers.

the kids:

featured players

Mickey Daniels

Featured role. He's featured apart from the gang in the fruit sequence, in addition to being in the play, where he spends most of his time fighting with Jack. He eventually ends up with the "Marcus Antonius" role, which is originally Jackie's. He refers to himself as "Marcus th' Mighty."

Joe Cobb

Featured role. He gets to play "Nero" in the play.

Jack Davis

Supporting role. He's featured throughout the play sequence, particularly in the bit where his mother puts makeup on his face. Most of his time is spent fighting with Mickey.

Mary Kornman

Supporting role. She gets picked to play "Mrs. Nero" in the play.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

Supporting role. The nickname is provided by Maltin & Bann. He and Farina do a native dance, as they're passed off as two of the starving Trombonians, named "Salto" and "Peppo." He also appears in the play. The 9.5mm print refers to him as "Ernie."

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He and Ernie are passed off as "Salto" and "Peppo" early in the film. His big moment is when he gets rolled up in some scenery.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He's initially introduced as "Marcus Antonius," a part later taken by Mickey. His big scenes are the ones in which he keeps entering from the wrong side, and at the end when he puts the firecrackers on the cow's tail.

other featured players

Featured role. Of particular note is the girl that plays "Little Irma," who's passed over for the "Cleopatra" role. Her mother keeps putting her on the stage to recite.

other kids

Jannie Hoskins

Bit part. Seen in a single closeup shot in the audience. This was her series debut.

Andy Samuel

Extra. Not one of the main gang, but sitting in the audience.

other kids

Extras. Besides Andy Samuel, there looks to be three or four more kids in the audience.

the animals:

dog 001

Supporting role. He's featured mainly in the fruit sequence chasing the cat.

monkey 004

Bit part. Presumably the same monkey as in other films from this period. He belongs to Tony the fruit vendor, and is obtained by El Faro. He spends some time climbing on a cuckoo clock.

parrot 008

Extra. Presumably the same parrot previously seen. In this film, the parrot is in the birdcage at Mrs. McFiggetty's house.

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The dog that pulls the refreshment stand away as the boys lunge for it.
(2.) The cow whose tail Jackie ties the firecrackers to. This is probably the same cow from "Fire Fighters" (no. 2).
(3.) The cat chased by dog 001 during the apple sequence.
(4.) The gopher that Ernie grabs out of the hole instead of the hot potato.

the adults:

Helen Gilmore as Mickey's mom

Supporting role. She seems to have a lot to do with the production, as she's backstage throughout.

Clara Guiol as "Miss Fawn Ocheltree"

Supporting role. She's the authoress who wrote the play, and is in charge of the production.

Richard Daniels as Mickey's dad

Supporting role. He's in charge of scenery and various other things, and messes things up almost as much as the kids do.

William Gillespie as "Prince Dalmar El Faro"

Small part. He convinces the community to raise money for the starving Trombonians, and is seen at Mrs. McFiggetty's house.

Charles Stevenson as "Tony," the fruit vendor

Small part. He gets harassed by the kids and sicks a cop on them.

woman 014 as Mary's mom

Small part. She's seen off and on, both at the casting meeting and backstage at the show. This is a preliminary identification, as it might not be the same woman.

woman 013 as Jack's mother

Bit part. She's sitting next to Irma's mom while the kids are cast for the play. She's later seen putting makeup on Jack's face.

other adults

Supporting role, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Irma's mother, who repeatedly puts her child on the stage to recite.
(2.) Another woman serving as a backstage hand and seen carrying Joe away to get his face washed.
(3.) Several adults at the meeting to cast the play, and probably 40 or 50 in the audience. According to Maltin & Bann, Jack Hill is among them. My guess is that is the guy to the left of Andy Samuel. The guy to the right of Andy kind of looks like the fireworks salesman in "Fast Company" (no. 16). There's a man in the audience that looks like Mark Jones, who I'm assuming is the one Maltin & Bann identify as Roy Brooks, since they do this with other films. They also list Sam Lufkin, but I don't think it's possible to identify him in the TV print. Presumably, the black woman holding Jannie Hoskins is Florence Hoskins, Jannie and Farina's mother, but her face isn't shown.

the locations:

Hal Roach Studios backlot

It appears that the sequence with Tony's Fruit Stand was shot on the New York exterior set.

miscellaneous:

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