Baby Brother

film no. 61

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 18 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Four (3 LD set) from Cabin Fever

Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture qualty. The footage totals 28:11 at a slower projection speed. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited - Rare, Original Silent Episodes (VHS)
from Cabin Fever

Released 1996. This is identical to the other Cabin Fever release.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 6 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is a copy of the Cabin Fever version.

Rascals Silents Vol. 4 (VHS/DVD) from A-1 Video

This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "Rockabye Baby." Six of the original inter-titles are included, and the picture quality is fair. The footage totals 12:27, with 12:21 of it original.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by F. Richard Jones

He wasn't credited anymore, but he still held the position of director-general until his resignation on March 9th.

Directed by Anthony Mack and Charles Oelze

This credit appears in the film. Mack's real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. His uncle, Robert F. McGowan, was on vacation during the filming of this short.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film. The inter-titles have the burlap look in this film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit 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

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
• optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A. McGowan, Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Jean Yarbrough and Frank Butler may have been among the gag writers.

the kids:

the gang

Joe Cobb as "Joe" aka "Joseph"

Lead role. He's the star of the film, a rich kid that wants a baby brother, so he buys one.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in this film. He's the one that finds a baby to sell to Joe.

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He gets a bit of dialogue, but mainly in relation to his brother Horatio.

Bobby "Bonedust" Young

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this film. Most of his activity is in relation to the twins.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He's mostly along for the ride in this film, but he has a couple of lines.

Elmer "Scooter" Lowry

Supporting role. He's given mostly ensemble work to do.

Jean Darling

Small part. She appears off and on, and isn't given much to do.

Jannie Hoskins

Small part. She appears off and on.

Davey Monahan

Bit part. He's the one additional boy in the gang during the baby assembly line sequence, but he's given very little to do.

the babies

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Horatio"

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann mistakenly give him the "Wheezer" moniker, while assigning the "Horatio" character to Donnie Smith, who isn't in the film. In any event, he's given more attention than virtually any of the other babies. This was Wheezer's debut in the series.

Mildred Kornman

Supporting role. She gets stuck on a rogue baby bouncer. There appears to be somebody doubling for her in this scene. She appears to be Jackie's younger sister.

Richard and Robert Smith as "Coolidge" and "Tunney"

Supporting roles. These two are Bonedust's little brothers, and can be told apart with a pickle. A later interview with the twins reveals that Richard played "Coolidge" and Robert played "Tunney," and that the pickle routine actually reflected reality.

other babies

Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts. One of the babies was the younger sister of the Smith twins.
(1.) "Nasturtium" aka "Joe, Jr." This is the black baby that Farina steals for Joe.
(2.) Farina's baby brother, whose diaper starts smoking while he's on the drying machine.
(3.) The first baby stolen by Farina, which Joe runs off with.
(4.) The baby with the big nose that Farina tries to acquire.
(5.) There are three additional babies in this film, one of which is Scooter's younger sibling, and another is Jean's younger sibling.

undetermined kids

A 1927 casting directory states that Johnny Aber appeared in this film, but he's clearly not in the available print, which is apparently complete.

the animals:

Pal

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He provides motor power for the rocking machine.

dog 059

Small part. This is Joe's Pekingese.

cat 060

Bit part. This is the cat in the foreground licking up the melted ice cream. Previously seen in "Tired Business Men" (no. 60).

other animals

Bit parts and extras.
(1.) Six other cats follow the trail of melted ice cream, some of which may have been previously seen.
(2.) A chicken can just barely be made out behind Hardy.

the adults:

Anita Garvin as Joe's nursemaid

Supporting role. She introduces Joe to the poor kids.

Oliver Hardy as the iceman

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann identify him as the nursemaid's boyfriend. He becomes very embarassed when Joe asks the nursemaid for a baby brother.

Harry Earles as "Gus," one of Barr's midgets

Supporting role. He gets into a fight with Farina.

Ben Hall as the man in the glasses

Small part. He's the assistant to Joe's dad.

Silas D. Wilcox as one of the cops

Small part. This is the other cop standing behind Farina.

Ed Brandenberg as the shoeshine worker

Bit part. Maltin & Bann list him as a cop.

Lyle Tayo as one of the party guests

Bit part. She's sitting across the table from Joe's mom, and later lingers at the door when Joe runs in with the black baby.

Symona Ferner Boniface as one of the party guests

Extra. I'm pretty sure she sits to the right of Lyle Tayo and to the left of Joe's mother.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Nasturtium's mother, who pays Farina a quarter to look after her baby, but has to chase Joe to get it back.
(2.) The cop that apprehends Joe, until Farina coaxes him away.
(3.) At least eleven additional women at the bridge party.
(4.) Another domestic worker besides the butler.
(5.) The mother with the big nose.
(6.) The man standing in the background holding his coat in the early scenes at the house.
(7.) The guy walking by when we first see the midget.
(8.) The guy getting his shoes shined, whose face is never shown.

the music (sort of):

I'm Lonesome I Guess That's All

Or at least that's what the lyrics say on the player piano that Joe's crying over.

miscellaneous:

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