This film is not officially available. I have, however, been able to view most of it on various home movie fragments.
Production A-19.
Prep work May 3, 1923.
Filmed May 4 to 29, July 3 to 14, and October 2, 1923. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Released December 16, 1923. It was the 20th film in the series to be released.
Copyrighted December 24, 1923, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU19759. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Sunday Calm".'
33 days of shooting went into the making of this film. The 1923 studio datebook indicates that the Our Gang unit was 'preparing' for this film on May 3rd with director Tom McNamara. This was the day after Robert McGowan had finished initial shooting for "July Days" (no. 18). Actual shooting for "Sunday Calm" began on May 4th and continued under McNamara until May 26th. After the usual Sunday off, the Our Gang unit put in two more shooting dates on May 28th and 29th, but this time under assistant director Clarence Morehouse. Apparently, neither McNamara nor McGowan were available for these two dates. May 29th was considered the 'finish' date. No shooting took place on May 6th, 13th, 20th or 27th, which were all Sundays, nor on the 30th, which was Memorial Day. McGowan spent a day shooting retakes for "July Days" on the 31st, and then directed the unit through "No Noise" (no. 20) and retakes for "Stage Fright" (no. 17). On July 3rd, the day after retakes were finished for this last film, McGowan began working on "Sunday Calm" again, continuing until the film was considered 'finished' on July 14th. No shooting took place on July 8th or 15th, which were both Sundays, nor on July 4th, which was Independence Day. The Our Gang unit actually had a few days off before McGowan started the next film on the 18th, which was "Derby Day" (no. 21). Work started and finished not only for this film, but also for "Tire Trouble" (no. 22) and "Big Business" (no. 23), and Mark Goldaine had just begun directing "The Buccaneers" (no. 24) before "Sunday Calm" was finally completed. On Oct 2nd, shooting was divided between Goldaine's "The Buccaneers," and Morehouse's "Sunday Calm."
There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.
While sitting on the front porch, Joe and Jack are both holding the comics section of the Los Angeles Sunday Times. They've only got the outer part of the section, which splits in half as they're handling it. Joe's reading the front, while Jack is reading the back, but we see the illustrations on the opposite sides of the pages. On Joe's half, we see Martin Branner's Winnie Winkle, while on Jack's half, we see C. M. Payne's Smatter Pop. After several seconds, they both turn their pages around. Jack's half now shows Frank King's Gasoline Alley, while Joe's half shows the front page, though I can't make out which comic is on there.
Brought along on the picnic is some MacLaren's Limburger Cheese.
©Jan. 21, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 4/25.
2006 updates: 1/9, 6/12, 8/20, 9/5.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 11/16.
2008 updates: 3/31, 4/27, 4/29, 7/6.
2009 updates: 3/29, 5/19, 5/22, 7/23.
Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Robin Cook for assistance on this page.