High Society

film no. 30

availability:

Laurel and Hardy and Friends - Volume Six (VHS) from Hal Roach Studios: Released Dec. 15, 1998. This copy has the original opening titles, but the inter-titles are remade, although the wording seems original. There is, however, a joke about President Hoover, suggesting that the original referred to Coolidge. The picture quality is good. The ending title is by a company called Atlas, and is followed by the Pathécomedy title card and then the Pathé rooster. The footage totals 25:09, with about 21:45 of it original. Ignoring the inter-titles, most of the original film is included.
The Our Gang Collection - Volume 3 (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com: Released July 2007. This is comparable to the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" version, but without the Atlas end title. The footage totals 24:30, with about 21:30 of it original.
Rascals Silents Vol. 3 (VHS) from A-1 Video: This seems to be the same version that appears on the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" release.
Our Gang Comedies (3 LD set) from MGM/UA Home Video: Released 1994. This version is essentially the same as the one on the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" release. The footage totals 24:54, with about 21:30 of it original.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 2 (VHS) from Video Classics and
Our Gang Comedies II (VHS) from The Picture Palace: This copy is essentially the same as the one listed above, but the picture quality isn't quite as good. The ending title is generic, but is then followed by the Pathé rooster and the subsequent original ending title.
Rascals Silents Vol. 1 (VHS) from A-1 Video: This copy has a new opening title card and no crew credits. Otherwise, it's very similar to the Video Classics version, except that bits of footage are cut out here and there, and the projection speed is faster. The print totals 17:45, with about 15:30 of it original footage.
Our Gang Volume #4 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace: This copy is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "Mickey's New Home." The print totals 12:26, with 11:59 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 3 (VHS) from HenryButch: This is the Mischief Makers print.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 5 (VHS) from HenryButch: This copy derives from the MGM/UA laserdisc.

technical details:

Production A-30.

Filmed March 24 to April 5, 1924. There were also shooting tests connected with this film taken on April 8, 1924.

Copyrighted May 29, 1924, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU20261. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released August 24, 1924. It was the 29th film in the series to be released.

A 20-second clip from this film was used in the Boy Friends comedy "Too Many Women." (Or it might possibly be from "Jubilo, Jr." since the footage isn't seen in any available prints of either Our Gang film.)

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "High Society".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1051, "Mickey's New Home," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17356. Footage also went into episode no. 1080, "Play Ball!!" copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP18381, and recopyrighted May 16, 1961, with registration number LP19565.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film but without his middle initial.
Photographed by Frank Young: This credit appears in the film, but not in the book.
Edited by T. J. Crizer: This credit appears in the film, but not in the book. The 'T' stands for Thomas.
Titles by H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film.
Story by Hal E. Roach and Frank Capra: This credit doesn't appear in the film. Even Maltin & Bann leave out Capra's name, but he submitted the story treatment.
Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey Kelly": Lead role. He's the star of the film, appearing in virtually every scene.
Jackie Condon as "Percy" aka "Percival": Featured role. In a departure from his usual character, he plays a bratty rich kid, and gets quite a lot of footage.
Mary Kornman as "Mary": Featured role. She and Mickey have a mutual affection going on in this film.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in these prints. His big scene is with the parrot and the pastries.
Joe Cobb as "Joe": Supporting role. His big scene is the one where he's stealing fruit.
Andy Samuel: Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
"Sonny Boy" Warde: Supporting role. Maltin & Bann list him as Sonny Loy Warde (he was later known as Sonny Loy). He does mostly ensemble acting.

the animals:

Pal: Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He appears frequently throughout the film.
parrot 008: Small part. Presumably the same parrot from "The Cobbler" (no. 8), he's one of the many animals in the series to get drunk.
other animals: Bit parts.
(1.) A cat covered in feathers.
(2.) Six horses pulling two fire wagons.
(3.) About three fish in a bowl.

the adults:

Pat Kelly as "Uncle Pat" aka "Patrick Shamrock Kelly": Featured role. He's second only to Mickey in significance for this film.
F. F. Guenste as the butler: Featured role. He's shown frequently, particularly when he's giving Mickey a bath, and suffers during the gang's visit to the house.
woman 022 as "Aunt Kate" aka "Kate Kelly": Supporting role. Known as "Aunt Mary" in the TV print. She's given a sizable part in this film.
man 030 as the cop: Supporting role. This would be the cop that puts a scare into the kids, but he's actually a nice guy.
other adults: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The fruit vendor. The gang steals his fruit, but he's still there to bid farewell to Mickey.
(2.) The man who comes to deliver Mickey to his new home, presumably a child welfare agent.
(3.) The maid, seen briefly putting up with Jackie.
(4.) Several cops, firemen, and ambulance workers. There are also plainclothes policemen. Maltin & Bann list Charles Bachman and Jack Gavin among them, but I can't spot them in these prints. They also list Sam Lufkin, but I still need to find out what he looks like.

the locations:

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles: The northeast corner of this intersection is shown in the scene where the cop is knocked down by Mickey and Pal. The brick building was the People's Water Company of Palms at 3392 Motor Avenue.
the fruit stand: This appears to be in the same brick arch that the fruit stand in "The Champeen!" (no. 9) is located.
the meat market: A sign on the door reads "Mark Twain." The windows on the left say "groceries" and "fruit." The windows on the right say "meat market."
the fire stations: The first station is next to a building that says "Hardware Paints & Oils." The second station also appears to be authentic, and next to a building with a sign that may read "bar."
L. A. Police: The police leave from a location with a sign that reads "L. A. Police" followed by another unreadable word.

miscellaneous:

This film was the fifth of six in the fifth 'series' of Our Gang films.

There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

The letter authorizing Aunt Kate to take custody of Mickey is dated June 17.

The papers for Mickey's adoption are signed by a judge named L. A. French. He was actually the purchasing agent for the studio and later became production manager.

Copyright Feb. 1, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 4/25, 12/15.
2006 updates: 1/9, 2/11, 2/20, 5/16, 6/12, 7/5, 10/25.
2007 updates: 1/8, 4/1, 10/17, 10/22, 11/25.
2008 updates: 2/21, 3/18, 3/31.

Thanks to Rob Stone and Joe Moore for assistance on this page.