The Mysterious Mystery!

film no. 33

availability:

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

This copy is a home movie print from Pathescope in Boston. It includes the original opening title, and the inter-titles, but is missing the crew credits, and has a Pathescope end title. The footage totals 19:47, with 19:45 of it original. It appears that almost all of the original film is included.

The Our Gang Collection - Volume 3 (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

Released July 2007. This version is comparable to the A-1 version, but replaces the Pathescope end title with a new Pathé end title. The footage totals 19:51, with 19:46 of it original.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 4 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is the same version as the print released by A-1.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Assistant Director: Lloyd French

This credit derives from French's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director beginning the week ending July 19th.

2nd Assistant Director: Freeman Rollins

This credit derives from Rollins' payroll status as the Our Gang 2nd assistant director beginning the week ending July 19th and ending the week ending Sep. 13th.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit derives from Lloyd's payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.

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. Edward Sullivan was listed in the studio payroll summaries as an Our Gang gag man starting the week ending Sep. 13th, which means that he may have contributed gags for the added scenes.

Props by Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom

This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period.

Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro

He was Pal's trainer.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Most of the shooting for this film took place while she was on her summer break. Her name reappears in the studio payroll summaries the week ending Sep. 13th.

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As 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

• 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.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"

Featured role. Also referred to as "Sherlock Hawkshaw," his detective nickname. He's the leader of the gang's detective agency and gets at least as much screen time as anybody else.

Jackie Condon as "Little Adelbert Wallingford"

Featured role. He's the kidnap victim, but wins the hearts of his kidnappers.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. His detective nickname is "Watson." He's the second-in-command in the detective agency, and gets quite a bit of screen time.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. His detective nickname is "Hawk-Eye," but Maltin & Bann imply that this was used in place of "Farina," which it isn't. He provides comic punctuation throughout, particularly with his magnifying glass.

Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson as "Snowball"

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that his screen name was "Pineapple," but it's "Snowball." He's already a main player in this, his first short, but is overshadowed by a few of the others.

Andy Samuel as "Andy"

Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this short. This was essentially his last appearance, unless you count "Boys Will Be Joys" (no. 42).

George "Sonny Boy" Warde as "Sing"

Supporting role. Listed as "Sing Joy" by Maltin & Bann. He does mostly ensemble acting.

the animals:

Pal

Supporting role. He belongs to Gene and Farina in this one. He wears a disguise and gets a bit of abuse from Farina and his magnifying glass.

other animals

Supporting role. The pigeon that figures strongly in the plot.

the adults:

Charles A. Bachman as "Detective Jinks"

Supporting role. He falls victim to the gang's ingenuity and vows revenge.

William Gillespie as "Mr. Wallingford"

Supporting role. He's Adelbert's father, and is given a substantial role.

Sam Lufkin as the leader of the kidnappers

Supporting role. He's basically the heartless one among the kidnappers.

Dick Gilbert as one of the kidnappers

Supporting role. He's seen mostly in the scenes with Adelbert and the third kidnapper.

Allen Cavan as Adelbert's tutor

Small part. He's the victim of Adelbert's pranks at the beginning of the film. Maltin & Bann indicate that he's the grandfather, but I think this might be a mistake.

Charley Young as the butler

Bit part. Shown briefly letting the gang into the mansion.

other adults

Supporting roles and bit parts.
(1.) The third kidnapper, who helps Gilbert babysit Adelbert.
(2.) "Sam," the cop, who meets up with Farina early on, then frees Jinks from the gang's clutches.
(3.) The pilot, who isn't seen too clearly in this print.
(4.) Adelbert's mother, who's seen briefly at the mansion.
(5.) The maid, who's seen in the background at the mansion.
(6.) The guy that starts the propellor on the plane.

the locations:

Main Street, Culver City

As Andy is dressed as a woman, he walks along the Culver Boulevard side of the Adams Hotel, the address of which was 3896 Main. As Detective Jinks follows him, he first turns the corner from Washington Boulevard and walks along the Main Street side of the hotel. During this shot, the Sam Seelig Co. Culver City Public Market can be seen in the background on Washington Boulevard. Jinks continues to follow Andy along the Culver Boulevard side of the hotel and into the alley behind it. As Mickey peers into the alley, Farina burns him with the magnifying glass. A reverse angle shot shows the business section of Main Street in the background.

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

Farina follows the cop south along the west side of Motor Avenue to the park bench on the northwest corner of Motor and Woodbine. The bench advertises "United Builders General Contractors, 7030 Cardiff St." Later, Farina burns the dog with his magnifying glass at the southeast corner of Motor and Featherstone, right next to the Palms Garage at 3304 Motor. It appears that the dog sticks his butt in the puddle at the northeast corner, the same spot where Jackie Condon landed in the puddle in "Fire Fighters" (no. 2), though it's not actually the same pothole. As Joe is dressed as a baby and is following Jinks, there is a moment when they're in front of the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor. This is also where Joe later summons the cop to come and arrest Jinks. One of these places where Jinks follows Andy-in-drag is across the vacant lot on the southwest corner of Motor and Woodbine.

Mentone Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

Jinks follows Andy into the back door of a house on Mentone. In other Our Gang films, this house is normally seen in the background while activity takes place in the backyard.

Overland Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

As Gillespie and Bachman are racing along in the car, we get a driver's-eye-view of the road. During this shot, the car drives west on National Boulevard and makes a left on Overland Avenue. It then goes south on Overland, heading down the same hill seen in "One Wild Ride" (no. 45) and "Free Wheeling" (no. 117).

real estate office

Gillespie and Bachman drive past this.

miscellaneous:

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