The Sun Down Limited

film no. 31

availability:

The Little Rascals - Hook And Ladder/Hi Neighbor/Sundown Ltd. (VHS/DVD)
from GoodTimes Home Video

Released Mar. 1 or 21, 2001. Presumably released initially on VHS. Included as part of The Little Rascals 4-Pack DVD, released May 29, 2001, and probably also Our Gang Collection (10 VHS set/8 DVD set), released May 7, 2002. This copy is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago, entitled "Sundown Ltd." The inter-titles are original and, aside from the opening and ending titles, the film appears to be virtually complete. The ending title appears to be taken from one of the later talkies. The picture quality is very good. The print totals 25:43, with 25:32 of it original footage.

Our Gang Comedies (3 LD set) from MGM/UA Home Video

Released 1994. This is also a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, but with a freeze-frame of the opening title. The original footage totals about 25:50 and the picture quality is very good.

The General (1927) and Sundown Ltd. (1924) (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

This is the home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios. The print totals 25:21, with 25:29 of it original.

The Our Gang Collection - Volume 2 (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

Released Mar. 2007.

The Little Rascals - Funniest Episodes (5 VHS set) from GoodTimes Home Video

Released June 25, 2002.

The Best Of Our Gang Volume 2 (DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video

Released June 1, 2004. Also included as part of The Best Of Our Gang Volumes 1 & 2 (2 DVD set).

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

Released July 13, 2004. This is also the home movie print. The title of the DVD set is superimposed in the lower right hand corner of the screen. The print totals 25:56, with 25:46 of it original footage. There's also a clip lasting 0:02, showing Mickey, which is included in the main menu of these DVDs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies (Volume 1) (VHS) from Nostalgia Family Video

This copy is also the home movie print, but includes the copyright title card. The picture quality is fairly good. The print totals 19:20, with 19:11 of it original footage.

Our Gang Volume #2 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is also the home movie print, and is virtually the same as the one from Nostalgia Family Video. The print totals 19:16, with 19:07 of it original footage. This version has appeared numerous times on bootlegs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 9 (VHS) from Video Classics

This copy is also the home movie print, but includes the original end title. The print totals 23:11, with 23:07 of it original footage.

The Original Little Rascals Comedies (2 Movie Collection) (VHS)
from Video Resource Distributors

Also packaged into a 2 VHS set entitled The Original Little Rascals Comedies (4 Movie Collection). The tape is in EP mode, but the quality is still pretty good. The print is identical to the one from Nostalgia Family Video.

The Little Rascals & Our Gang Collection Vol. 1 (DVD) from Janus Entertainment, Inc.

Also compiled with Vol. 2 into a 2 DVD set entitled The Little Rascals Our Gang Collector's Edition.

The Original Comedy Classics

Released 1999. Includes other stars beside Our Gang.

Our Gang Volume 2 (DVD) from TV Classics

Released Sep. 5, 2003.

TV Time Comedy 100 TV Episodes (10 DVD set) from TV Time

This collection also features films with other stars.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 5 from HenryButch

This copy derives from the MGM/UA laserdisc.

Three Stooges, Little Rascals & East Side Kids Collection (5 DVD set) from Diamond Ent. Corp.

Released Aug. 30, 2005.

Classic Troublemakers (3 DVD set) from St. Clair Entertainment

Released Oct. 25, 2005.

The Our Gang Story (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video

VHS released 1994. DVD released May 21, 2002. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set), released Mar. 21, 2001, Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 VHS/DVD set), released Feb. 2002 (VHS) and Mar. 2004 (DVD), and The Best Of Our Gang Volume 1 (DVD), released June 1, 2004. A clip lasting 1:10 is included, showing footage from the runaway train sequence, with narration added.

SlapHappy: Vol. 9 (DVD) from Fishigan Films

Released 2003. Originally produced in 2001. Includes a clip from this film. This volume is also included as part of The SlapHappy Collection (11 DVD set).

SlapHappy: The Movie (DVD) from Fishigan Films

Released 2004. Includes a clip from this film. This volume is also included as part of The SlapHappy Collection (11 DVD set).

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

The film probably includes this credit, but without his middle initial.

Titles by H. M. Walker

The film probably includes this credit.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Props by Charles Oelze

This credit derives from Oelze's payroll status as Our Gang prop man during this period.

Teacher: Fern Carter

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
• laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
• publicity director - Garrett Graham
• purchasing agent - Clyde Hopkins
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

• photography - Credits from this period were in a transition between Frank Young and Art Lloyd.
• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer and James Parrott may have contributed gags.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"

Featured role. He's the leader of the gang and drives both the grownup train and the kiddie version.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. He's at Mickey's side throughout the short, on both trains.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. He gets most of the comedy relief, particularly in the scene where's he's run over by the train. He's the porter on the kiddie version.

boy 003 as "Toughy"

Supporting role. He's Mickey's nemesis, having built his own inferior kiddie railroad, and then sabotaging the gang's version.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Supporting role. She leaves Toughey behind to ride on Mickey's train.

boy 031 as "Powder-Puff"

Supporting role. He's the older black boy in this film. He tries to join the gang, but they play hard-to-get.

Ivadell Carter

Supporting role. She's Mary's friend, and flirts with Joe. Not listed by Maltin & Bann, who give her first name as Wadell in other listings. I'm almost positive this is the girl.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie"

Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble acting in this short.

Andy Samuel

Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble acting in this short.

George "Sonny Boy" Warde

Supporting role. Listed as Sonny Loy Warde by Maltin & Bann (he was later known as Sonny Loy). He mostly does ensemble acting in this short.

boy 028

Small part. He's Toughy's sidekick, and later appeared in "Olympic Games" (no. 63).

Lassie Lou Ahern

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's perhaps the smallest of the passengers on the gang's train.

Peggy Ahern

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She accompanies Lassie Lou.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. There are quite a few additional kids in this film, but I don't recognize them from other films. The kids are not only passengers on Mickey's train, but also work at the junior train station.

the animals:

dog 001

Supporting role. He serves as locomotion for the gang's railroad. Returning after a short absence, he left the series after this film.

Pal

Small part. He belongs to Toughy, pulling his train. Maltin & Bann don't list him.

dog 003

Bit part. He pulls the cart that the kids ride to the station.

other animals

Bit parts. The only remaining animals are the two cats that provide motivation for the train's dog power. They look like they could be the same cat.

the adults:

man 030 as one of the cops

Bit part. Previously seen in "High Society" (no. 30).

other adults

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The engineer who warns Mickey to stay off the train.
(2.) The other man in the engine, accompanying Joe.
(3.) The security guard, who chases the gang out of the railroad yard.
(4.) A man in regular clothes at the railroad yard, possibly a foreman.
(5.) Three additional cops chasing down the gang's runaway train.

the locations:

Santa Fe Railroad Yard

The earlier footage is presumably shot in and around this location, including the roundhouse.

Palms city limit

This is shown in the background at the kiddie version of the railroad. There's a filling station right there.

Blacksmith Shop

The gang's runaway train enters this building.

Palms Garage

This is the building the train exits.

Sam Seelig Co. Culver City Public Market and Slater's Drug Store

The runaway train goes right by this Culver City location. As we can see, there are apartments for rent above the drug store.

Grocery

One of the last shots of the runaway train shows a grocery in the background, but I can't make out the name of it.

Palms business

Directly before the grocery shot is a very brief glimpse of a business called "Palms" something. I can't tell what else it says.

the hill

The hill where the train crashes at the end of the film is also seen in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4)

miscellaneous:

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