Video Classics

This is a private seller whose selection is roughly comparable to Grapevine's, but includes several notable differences. The entire contents are taken from The Roach Pathé Silents. Over half of the Video Classics titles can be found at their website, which can be found by clicking here. Individual films can be ordered at a rate of 10 dollars for 10 reels. The first seven volumes are available through The Picture Palace.

releases:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 1 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• Better Movies (no. 43) - This is the only video release of this film. Unfortunately, it's the Mischief Makers print entitled "Stage Struck." The print totals 15:07, with 14:52 of it original footage.
• Every Man For Himself (no. 32) - This is the only video release of this film. Two versions have appeared on this release. Originally, a home movie print from Laff-Movie, Inc. entitled "The Big Idea" was included, with remade inter-titles (with apparently original wording). This print totaled 12:22, with about 10:25 of it original footage. That version has been replaced by a Mischief Makers print entitled "Shoe Shine Shop," with the opening title refashioned with the original film title.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 is drastically cut in the earlier version. The last part of the film is missing, however, but can be seen in the earlier version. The print totals 15:10, with 14:49 of it original footage.
• Buried Treasure (no. 47) - This is a Mischief Makers print without inter-titles. The print totals 15:16, with 14:34 of it original footage, but contains some footage at the end not included in the Rom-Man Technologies version.
• Saturday Morning (no. 6) - This is the only video release of this film. Unfortunately, it appears to derive from a Mischief Makers print and is missing all of the inter-titles. The print totals 15:29, with 15:05 of it original footage.
• No Noise (no. 20) - This is the only video release of this film. Unfortunately, it appears to derive from a Mischief Makers print and is missing all of the inter-titles. The print totals 15:08, with 14:48 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 2 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• High Society (no. 30) - This is a home movie print with remade inter-titles (but with apparently original wording). It's virtually the same as the VHS version released by Hal Roach Studios in the "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" series, but with slightly inferior picture quality.
• Monkey Business (no. 48) - This is a nearly-complete version, but is missing a couple of inter-titles that can be found in the Video Yesteryear version.
• One Wild Ride (no. 45) - This is a home movie print from Laff-Movie, Inc. entitled "Gimme A Ride." The inter-titles are remade, but appear to have original wording. The print totals 13:00, with 10:29 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 3 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• Commencement Day (no. 26) - This is a Mischief Makers print entitled "Little Red Schoolhouse." The print totals 12:23, with 12:09 of it original footage. It is equivalent to Grapevine's version, which is the only other video release of this film.
• Seein' Things (no. 25) - This is the only video release of this film. Unfortunately, it appears to derive from a Mischief Makers print, since none of the inter-titles are included. The print totals 15:15, with 14:57 of it original footage.
• War Feathers (no. 54) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is of very poor quality. It does, however, contain a very small amount of footage not found in HenryButch's version. The print totals 18:54, with 18:46 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 4 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• The Big Town (no. 34) - This is the most complete version of this film that I've seen so far. The print totals 23:31, with 23:22 of it original footage.
• Circus Fever (no. 35) - This is the only video release of this film, and is virtually complete. The print totals 23:44, with 23:30 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 5 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace, which adds Lodge Night (no. 15). Contents:

• The Champeen! (no. 9) - This is a home movie print from Laff-Movie, Inc., and is nearly complete. Unfortunately, the picture quality isn't that good, but is no worse than any of the other versions I've seen. The print totals 22:22, with 22:16 of it original footage.
• Boys To Board (no. 10) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is of very poor picture quality. However, it contains some footage not seen in the A-1 Video version. The print totals 13:00, with 12:45 of it original footage.
• Giants Vs. Yanks (no. 12) - This is the TV print from Those Lovable Scallawags, and is virtually the same as the one released by Goodtimes Home Video. The print totals 16:55, with 16:26 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 6 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• Dog Days (no. 36) - This is a digest version with fairly poor picture quality. The print totals 9:35, with 9:34 of it original footage. Overall, the Video Yesteryear version is superior.
• Baby Clothes (no. 49) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc. It's essentially the same as the Grapevine, Nostalgia Family Video, and HenryButch versions, but is run at a slower speed. The print totals 25:12, with 25:06 of it original footage.
• Uncle Tom's Uncle (no. 50) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., but is missing a bit of footage and is of fairly poor picture quality. The print totals 23:03, with 22:58 of it original footage. Overall, the Video Yesteryear version is superior, but the Grapevine version includes a little bit of footage not seen there.
• Back Stage (no. 13) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is essentially the same as most of the other available versions. The Reelclassicdvd version has better picture quality, but is run at a slower speed.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS)

This volume is also available through The Picture Palace. Contents:

• The Fourth Alarm! (no. 53) - This is a nearly complete print, totaling 20:29, with 20:28 of it original footage, but is inferior to the Passport Video version.
• Fast Company (no. 16) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., entitled "Speedy Action." Much of the film is missing. The print totals 13:16, with 13:05 of it original footage. To get the maximum amount of footage, this version should be combined with the version from volume 8 of this series (which is the same as the Grapevine version).
• Thundering Fleas (no. 51) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc. The print totals 22:36, with 22:29 of it original footage. The picture quality is not quite as good as the Video Yesteryear version, which is just as complete.
• Playin' Hookey (no. 65) - This is a home movie print from the Motion Picture Bureau entitled "Who's Afraid?." The picture quality is very poor, and the beginning of the film is missing. The print totals 12:43, with 12:38 of it original footage. However, it's the most complete version available, with A-1 Video's "An Average Day" TV episode containing the missing footage. Combined, most of the film can be obtained.
• Tire Trouble (no. 22) - This is a home movie print entitled "Swell Time," and is of very poor picture quality. Much of the film is missing. The print totals 11:33, with 11:30 of it original footage. It's the only available version with original text-titles.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 8 (VHS)

Contents:

• The Love Bug (no. 37) - This is a Mischief Makers print entitled "The Beauty Parlor," and does not include any inter-titles. The print totals only 12:20, with 12:08 of it original footage. However, it's equivalent to the only other available version, from A-1 Video.
• Fast Company (no. 16) - This is a Mischief Makers print entitled "The Big Switch," and is the same as the Grapevine version. This version and the version on volume 7 each contain footage missing from the other. The order form for this volume did not list this film, but instead listed One Terrible Day (no. 4), which was not included on the VHS that I received.
• A Pleasant Journey (no. 11) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is missing most of the second reel. This makes it equivalent to the Grapevine version.
• Stage Fright (no. 17) - This is a Mischief Makers print entitled "The School Play," and is missing all of the text-titles. It's equivalent to virtually all of the other available versions.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 9 (VHS)

Contents:

• Lodge Night (no. 15) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc, and is nearly complete, with the original footage totaling 22:57, but the picture quality is fairly poor. This version is inferior to both the Grapevine and Blackhawk Video versions.
• Big Business (no. 23) - This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, with remade inter-titles (but with the original wording). This print is essentially the same as the Grapevine version, but the picture quality is not quite as good as the Blackhawk Video version.
• The Sun Down Limited (no. 31) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is nearly complete. The print totals 23:11, with 23:07 of it original footage. There are many other versions available that are at least as good as this one.
• Cradle Robbers (no. 28) - This is a home movie print from Thunderbird Films with fairly poor picture quality. It's essentially the same as the Grapevine version.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 10 (VHS)

Contents:

• Shootin' Injuns (no. 39) - This is a home movie print from Kodak Cinegraph, with remade inter-titles (but with the original wording). It's equivalent to the Grapevine version.
• Boys Will Be Joys (no. 42) - This version is the same as Grapevine's, with poor picture quality and some missing footage. A superior version can be found from A-1 Video and Encore Home Video.
• Good Cheer (no. 46) - This seems to be a Mischief Makers print entitled "Happy Holiday," but with the original opening title and some of the original inter-titles restored. It's identical to the Grapevine version. The "Laurel and Hardy and Friends" version from Hal Roach Studios is superior.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 11 (VHS)

Contents:

• Young Sherlocks (no. 3) - This is a TV print from Those Lovable Scallawags. Much of the film is missing. This version is equivalent to the Grapevine and Nostalgia Family Video versions. The TV print has footage not found in the Rom-Man Technologies version, which has footage not found in the TV print.
• The Big Show! (no. 7) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is virtually complete, and can be considered equivalent to the Grapevine version. However, the picture quality is not quite as good as the Festival Films version.
• Dogs Of War! (no. 14) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is virtually complete. It's essentially the same as the Grapevine version. Far superior is the Cabin Fever version.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 12 (VHS)

Contents:

• The Buccaneers (no. 24) - This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., and is missing a bit of footage.
• Ask Grandma (no. 38) - This is a home movie print with fairly poor picture quality, but with original inter-titles. Some of the film is missing, and the print is identical to the Grapevine version. Combine one of these with the Nostalgia Family Video version for the maximum footage.
• Official Officers (no. 40) - This is a home movie print from Kodak Cinegraph, making it equivalent to the Grapevine version. However, my copy cuts off halfway through.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 13 (VHS)

Contents:

• A Quiet Street (no. 5) - This seems to be a Mischief Makers print with remade titles. None of the inter-titles are included. It's equivalent to all other available versions.
• Derby Day (no. 21) - This is a home movie print with fairly poor picture quality, making it equivalent to the Grapevine version. The best version is from Cabin Fever.
• Shivering Spooks (no. 52) - This is a virtually complete version, making it equivalent to the Grapevine version, which is essentially the best version.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 14 (VHS)

Contents:

• Fire Fighters (no. 2) - This is a virtually complete print. The print totals 25:31, with 25:17 of it original footage, making it easily the best version out there.
• July Days (no. 18) - This is a home movie print with fair picture quality and original inter-titles. It's equivalent to all of the other available versions.
• Mary, Queen Of Tots (no. 41) - This is a home movie print with original inter-titles. It's equivalent to the Grapevine version, which is the best I've seen.

© Robert Demoss.