Monkey Business

film no. 48

availability:

Laurel and Hardy and Friends - Volume Ten (VHS) from Hal Roach Studios

Released June 1, 1999. This print has an original opening title, no crew credits, and a non-original end title followed by a Pathécomedy title card. At least two inter-titles are missing from this print. The picture quality is good. The print totals 24:35, with 24:31 of it original footage. Almost the entire original film is included.

Kid Gangs And Juvenile Stars (DVD) from Looser Than Loose Publishing

Released 2007. This print compares to the one on the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" VHS, and totals 19:39.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 2 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies II (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This print is identical to the one from the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" release. A version of this film has appeared numerous times on bootlegs, and probably derives from the Video Classics release.

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

This copy derives from the same source as the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" print, but less of the picture frame is shown. The print totals 18:29, with 18:26 of it original footage.

Hail...Hail - "Our Gang's" All Here (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1987. This copy is a TV print from Those Lovable Scallawags With Their Gangs entitled "Monkey Business." This print includes at least two inter-titles that are not in the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" version. The print totals 16:00, with 15:33 of it original footage. Since the print is projected at a slower speed, this represents only about two-thirds of the original film.

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

Released 1994. This version is essentially the same as the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" print. The footage totals 24:36.

A Festival Of Silent Comedy Volume Four (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

This version is comparable to the Video Classics version, and is missing the same small amount of footage. The footage totals 24:12.

The Our Gang Collection - Volume 1 (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

Released Feb. 2007. Previously released on "A Festival Of Silent Comedy Volume Four."

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

This print is identical to the A-1 Video version.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 5 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy derives from the MGM/UA laserdisc.

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 0:38 is included, combining footage of Farina getting beaten up by the gang, with his meeting with the chimp and the subsequent beating of Farina's father, with narration added.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by F. Richard Jones

Probably credited in the film as supervising director.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

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

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

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.

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
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• photography - Credits during this period went to Art Lloyd.
• editing - Bert Jordan was among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates, Frank Terry and James Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom were probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll, Sherbourne Shields and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers. There was a chimpanzee named "Akka" that was owned by Castang and Judge, who specialized in chimps. I'm not sure if the "Akka" in this film is the same one, though.

the kids:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Lead role. He's essentially the star among the kids, but takes a back seat to the chimp.

Mickey Daniels

Supporting role. As usual, he's the leader of the gang, and the one who gets beaten up by the chimp.

Joe Cobb

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

Johnny Downs

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

Mary Kornman

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

Jackie Condon

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

Jay R. Smith

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

Jannie Hoskins as "Mango"

Small part. She's shown at Farina's home.

boy 032a

Bit part. This is the blonde boy with the penny.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. One other boy shows up with the blonde boy. Later, when the gang has their tent set up, there are a handful of other kids there, including at least one girl.

the animals:

Pal

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's seen with the gang.

other animals

Lead role, supporting role and extras.
(1.) "Akka" the chimpanzee, who is the star of the film. I'm quite sure that this isn't the same chimp from "Buried Treasure" (no. 47).
(2.) The chimp seen boxing with Akka in the first scene.
(3.) The goat seen in Farina's yard.
(4.) Two geese and a duck shown in Farina's yard.
(5.) A dog shown far into the background walking in front of the building on the northeast corner of Motor and Woodbine.
(6.) At least one chicken behind the fence where the gang is hanging out.

the adults:

Robert A. (Anthony Mack) McGowan as the first police officer

Supporting role. This is the cop that first warns the kids about the responsibility of keeping a chimp, then appears later with the other cops.

woman 044 as Farina's mom

Small part. It's hard to tell, but I'll assume this is the same woman from "Your Own Back Yard" (no. 44) based on the way she's dressed.

Harry Bowen as the man repairing the auto

Small part. The chimp tears his car apart while he's away.

William Gillespie as one of the police officers

Small part. He's the one who gets beaten up by the chimp.

Charlie Hall as the balloon vendor

Bit part. He doesn't notice that his balloons are missing.

Allen Cavan as the man watering his lawn

Bit part. The chimp puts a kink in his hose, causing him to spray himself.

Charles A. Bachman as one of the police officers

Bit part. He shows up in the patrol wagon.

Ed Brandenberg as the driver of the patrol wagon

Bit part. The chimp pushes him out of the wagon and drives off with the kids in back.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The man training the chimps at the start of the film.
(2.) Farina's father, who gets beaten by his wife, and then by the chimp.
(3.) The fruit vendor, whose cart is overturned by the chimp.
(4.) The proprietor of the pawn shop, where the chimp steals some guns.
(5.) The cop present with Robert A. McGowan before the wagon arrives.
(6.) The man lighting his cigarette.
(7.) The woman who summons the cop.
(8.) The trainer's assistant.
(9.) The construction worker who gets the hydrant turned on him.
(10.) The man tying his shoe.
(11.) The man and woman walking down the sidewalk.
(12.) Various construction workers at the end of the film.

the locations:

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles

The People's Water Company of Palms, at the northeast corner of this intersection, at 3392 Motor Avenue, is shown in the background, and also seems to be the spot where the cop is summoned by the old man. The vacant lot on the southwest corner is also used, with the billboard being very close to the corner.

Hal Roach Studios backlot

Much of the chimp-on-a-rampage footage was shot here.

Bacon's Pharmacy and Safeway Stores, Inc.

This is at 3568-3570 Motor Avenue, and has the word "DRUGS" boldly shown on the building. Later seen in "Bouncing Babies" (no. 93).

Adams Hotel

Shown as the wagon drives by.

barber shop

As later shown in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51) and "Love My Dog" (no. 59). To the left is a hardware store, and to the right is a sanitary market.

other locations

Many locations are shown as the chimp goes wild, including:
(1.) A building that looks like the Culver Hotel.
(2.) A eucalyptus-lined street that might be Robertson Boulevard.
(3.) A pillared building that might be MGM.
(4.) The building that Charley Hall stands in front of, with the number 7001 on it.

miscellaneous:

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