Tire Trouble

film no. 22

availability:

Rascals Silents Vol. 2 (VHS) from A-1 Video

This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "The Cure," but with a new opening title made by A-1. There are a few seconds of footage not included in the Video Yesteryear version. The print totals 12:33, with 12:13 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included.

Our Gang . . . "Si Sic Omnes" (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1987. This is also the TV print, but with the TV opening titles and a few seconds missing from the scene with the two sissies. The print totals 18:53, with 18:33 of it original footage. This version is shown at a slower projection speed.

Amusement Park Comedies From The 1920's (VHS/DVD) from Encore Home Video and

Amusement Park Comedies (VHS) from A-1 Video

This is a digest print by Pathegram, perhaps a British 9.5mm print. It includes inter-titles, but they're remade, and don't seem to retain the original wording. The print totals 5:48, with 4:15 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS) from Video Classics

This copy has a generic opening title card which reads "Our Gang in Swell Time." The inter-titles look original, but the picture quality is very poor and a lot of footage has been left out. The print totals 11:33, with 11:30 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 9 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is the TV print taken from the Video Yesteryear volume. The ad for this volume mistakenly lists "One Wild Ride" (no. 45).

special note

I've also been able to view a short home movie clip from this film.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film but without his 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 left the studio during this period
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

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

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickie"

Featured role. He's basically the leader of the gang in this short, and gets some footage beating up on sissies.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. The nickname doesn't show up in any of these prints. He's given some solo footage during the pier sequence.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't show up in any of these prints. He's the victim of the gang's booby traps on their vehicle.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie"

Supporting role. He's the one that convinces the old man that he's not sick.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Supporting role. He meets up with a professional fat man at the pier.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Supporting role. She's mostly along for the ride, but is present in most of the scenes.

boy 007a as "Harold Webster"

Small part. Looks like him, anyway, laughing at the gang's taxi. His character name is written onto a card that he presents to the gang.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. Mickey and Ernie beat up on a couple of sissies, and then Mickey beats up another boy. There are other boys in the wealthy neighborhood, too, as part of a dance school for boys. In earlier scenes, a boy runs out in front of the taxi and gets paddled, and at one point, there are a couple of boys on the side of the road while the gang's taxi goes by.

the animals:

the adults:

Harry Rattenberry as "J. William McAllister"

Featured role. He's virtually the star of the film, befriending the gang and feeling better than he has in years.

woman 022 as the wife

Small part. She appears early in the film and then again at the end. She later appeared in "High Society" (no. 30).

George B. French as one of the doctors

Small part. The third doctor, and one I recognize.

Noah Young as one of the police officers

Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. Kind of looks like him. He and his partner enter the mansion to search for the kids.

Lyle Tayo as "Mme. La Rue"

Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. She's the woman who pulls the kids out of her car, and then calls a cop. It's too hard to identify her in these prints. I believe her character name is actually Mme. La Rues, since there's no apostrophe on the sign showing her name.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Two additional men attending to McAllister, who might also be doctors.
(2.) The professional fat man at the pier.
(3.) The other cop that appears with Noah Young.
(4.) The motorcycle cop.
(5.) The maid.
(6.) The man who gets socked by the boxing glove on the gang's taxi.
(7.) The chauffeur of the car the gang has invaded.
(8.) The streetcar conductor plus whichever passengers can be seen.
(9.) The traffic cop.
(10.) The guy riding on the back of the ambulance.
(11.) Several adults outside the mansion.
(12.) Scores of people in the cars on the road.
(13.) Scores of people working at and visiting the pier.

the locations:

Venice Pier

This is where the amusement park footage was shot.

the wealthy neighborhood

It appears that at least some of the footage in the wealthy neighborhood was shot on the same streets as in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4). The gateway to the street is definitely the same, and the shot of the walkway looking towards the sidewalk seems to be the same as well. This spot also seems to be used in "Mary, Queen Of Tots" (no. 41).

billboard

There's a Ford billboard in the scene where the gang's driving their cab.

miscellaneous:

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