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, but not the opening and ending titles. This print, as well as all other available versions, is missing a couple of inter-titles as well as a minimal amount of footage. 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. This version includes the copyright notice. The image is a bit cropped throughout the print. 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, and includes the copyright notice. 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, and 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:

Production A-31.

Filmed April 21 to May 1, 1924. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted August 2, 1924 by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU20463. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released September 21, 1924. It was the 30th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "The Sun Down Limited".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1009, "All Aboard," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17314.

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.
Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro: He was Pal's trainer.
Teacher: Fern Carter
Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
Passed by the National Board of Review: Probably indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

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.
Gabe Saienz 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:

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

miscellaneous:

10 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after filming finished for "High Society" (no. 30), the 'start' date for "The Sun Down Limited" arrived on Apr. 21st. Shooting continued until May 1st. The next day, May 2nd, the studio datebook states 'company held up account accident to Mr. McGowan.' This same wording was repeated the next day. On Monday the 5th, the datebook reads 'alternating held up acct McGowan's accident.' Then for the rest of the week, the Our Gang unit continued to alternate (meaning no filming took place), even though the production number A-31 was still being entered. After this, another three weeks went by without any progress and the unit finally began shooting "Every Man For Himself" (no. 32). Apparently, the unit never returned to "The Sun Down Limited" and the existing footage was sufficient to put together a cohesive short.

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

©Feb. 2, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 4/4, 4/25, 4/27, 5/7, 8/27, 12/15.
2006 updates: 1/2, 1/3, 1/9, 1/16, 2/11, 2/13, 2/20, 5/16, 6/12, 7/5, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/17, 10/22, 11/5, 11/25.
2008 updates: 2/21, 3/18, 3/31, 7/6.
2009 updates: 5/17, 5/18, 5/22, 6/6, 6/7, 7/19, 7/23, 7/26.

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