Every Man For Himself

film no. 32

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 1 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies I (VHS) from The Picture Palace

Two versions of this film have been released on this VHS volume. The earlier copies had a home movie print made by Laff-Movie, Inc., in New York, entitled "The Big Idea." The inter-titles were remade, but appeared to be worded like the originals. The print totaled only 12:22, with about 10:25 of it original footage, but included the last part of the film, involving the twins, a portion missing from the current version. The current version is a Mischief Makers print entitled "Shoe Shine Shop," but with the opening titles replaced by a generic title card with the original film title. This print is missing all of the inter-titles but contains most of the early part of the film, which the early version drastically cuts. The print totals 15:10, with 14:49 of it original footage. Each version amounts to about two-thirds of the original film, but watching them together results in most of it.

SlapHappy: Vol. 2 (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: Vol. 7 (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).

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.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in Joseph McBride's Frank Capra - The Catastrophe Of Success.

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. Frank Capra had left the studio by this time, but the situation involving the twins was one of his leftover ideas.

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
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period, but Richard Currier and Bert Jordan were also in the editorial department.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer and James Parrott may have contributed gags.
• property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Sherbourne Shields and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels

Lead role. As usual, he's the leader of the gang, running their athletic club and shoe shine stand, and is the first to encounter the twins.

Mary Kornman

Supporting role. She's the 'cashear' at the athletic club. It's her flirting with Sissy that starts the ball rolling.

Joe Cobb

Supporting role. He boxes with Jackie early in the film, but otherwise does mostly ensemble acting in this one.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. Aside from boxing with Joe, he isn't given much of anything specific to do.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in these prints. He referees the boxing match, but otherwise is mostly part of the group.

Andy Samuel

Supporting role. Aside from some attention given to him inside the athletic club, he's basically part of the ensemble.

"Sonny Boy" Warde

Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's involved in the shoeshine part of the business.

boy 031a as "Powder Puff"

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in these prints, but Maltin & Bann refer to him that way. He runs the 'atomatick motor' at the shoeshine stand.

boy 003

Small part. He's seen showering at the athletic club, and leaves after causing a disturbance.

boy 032a

Small part. He's the blonde boy seen early in the film, first working out on the stirrups, then helping Mickey to get the mouse out of his pants.

boy 032b

Small part. He boxes with the dummy, then tries the 'lung testar,' before helping Mickey to get the mouse out of his pants. Kind of looks like the nose picker from "The Fourth Alarm!" (no. 53).

other kids

Featured roles. Of special note are the two unidentified boys that play the twins "Scrappy" and "Sissy."

unconfirmed kids

Maltin & Bann list Monty O'Grady, but he's not in these prints.

the animals:

Pal

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He plays around with the stirrups and is mainly seen in the early part of the film.

horse 014

Bit part. This is the white horse with the rings around his eyes.

other animals

Bit parts.
(1.) The white dog with the rings around his eyes.
(2.) Three mice living inside the gang's safe.

the adults:

Earl Mohan as "Jimbo Johnson"

Small part. This is the boxer. Maltin & Bann list Mohan as the boxer's friend, but the boxer himself looks like him to me.

F. F. Guenste as the cop

Small part. He catches the gang painting people's shoes. He usually played butlers in other Our Gang films, including "High Society" (no. 30).

George B. French as the drunken shoeshine customer

Small part. He falls asleep at the shoeshine stand and then leaves without his shoes.

William Gillespie as a pedestrian

Bit part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's the first person to look through the viewfinder, resulting in rings painted around his eyes.

Helen Gilmore as a pedestrian

Bit part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's the second person to get rings painted around her eyes.

Martha Sleeper as one of the women with rings around her eyes

Bit part. She's seen coming face to face with the laughing guy, then giving money to the fake blind man.

Dick Gilbert as one of the shoeshine customers

Bit part. He's the second customer among those with painted shoes.

Rolfe Sedan as one of the shoeshine customers

Extra. He's sitting at the shoeshine stand with Gilbert.

other adults

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The second shoeshine customer, who resembles Clara Guiol and May Beatty. She ends up with the first customer's shoes.
(2.) The friend of the boxer's. He hands the card to the cop.
(3.) The fake blind man.
(4.) The man whose hat is cleaned by Mickey.
(5.) The landlord, who hits the gang up for rent.
(6.) The first man with rings around his eyes, who asks the gang what they're laughing at.
(7.) The mother of the twins.
(8.) Several additional adults walking around with rings around their eyes, most notably the guy leaning against the building and laughing at everybody.
(9.) Several additional men with painted shoes.
(10.) Various fighters shown in photos on the wall of the gang's athletic club.

the locations:

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles

The cop is shown standing on the northeast corner of this intersection. The brick building is the People's Water Company of Palms at 3392 Motor Avenue. The gang's business is located along the south side of Woodbine just west of this intersection. In one of the shots of Helen Gilmore, the Masonic Hall of Palms can be seen at the southeast corner of the intersection at 3402 Motor Avenue.

miscellaneous:

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