Our Gang

1224. OUR GANG (1926-USA). BY 1926, THE OUR GANG COMEDIES, PRODUCED BY HAL ROACH, WERE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED AS AUDIENCE FAVORITES. THEIR JUVENILE CASTS THEN INCLUDED A FAT, FRIENDLY LAD NAMED JOE COBB; FRECKLE-FACED MICKEY DANIELS; CUTE, PRETTY MARY KORNMAN; AND A FUNNY ACTOR NAMED ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS. FEATURED HERE ARE A PAIR Of THE NINE OUR GANG FILMS RELEASED THAT YEAR.
1. THUNDERING FLEAS (1926-USA). WITH ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS, MICKEY DANIELS, JOE COBB, MARY KORNMAN, JOHNNY DOWNS, SCOOTER LOWRY. MARY’S BIG SISTER IS SCHEDULED TO WED, SO THE LITTLE GIRL CASTS HERSELF IN A MOCK MARRIAGE CEREMONY WITH JOE AS HER UNLIKELY GROOM. BEFORE YOU CAN SAY “I DO,” THE GANG BECOMES INVOLVED WITH PROfESSOR CLEMENTS AND HIS TRAINED FLEA AND INSECT CIRCUS. THE STAR Of HIS SHOW IS ONE GARFIELD (WHO IS CLEVERLY DEPICTED VIA ANIMATION). CHAOS REIGNS WHEN GARFIELD DECIDES TO QUIT THE CIRCUS AND MAKE A NEW HOME ON FARINA’S POOCH MAGNOLIA. SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE CAST ARE SOME FAMILIAR NAMES AND FACES Of “SILENT” COMEÂDIES: CHARLIE CHASE (AS A WEDDING GUEST); MARTHA SLEEPER (AS THE BRIDE); JAMES FINLAYSON (AS THE JUSTICE Of THE PEACE); AND, FINALLY, OLIVER HARDY, AS A POLICEMAN TO WHOM GARFIELD AND HIS FELLOW FLEAS LAKE A LIKING.
2. SHIVERING SPOOKS (1926-U5A). WITH ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS, JOE COBB, MARY KORNMAN, JOHNNY DOWNS, SCOOTER LOWRY, BOBBY YOUNG, JAY R. SMITH, JACKIE CONDON. (DON’T BELIEVE THE CAST LISTING AT THE START Of THE FILM, IT’S ALL WRONG!) THE APTLY NAMED PROfESSOR FLEECE IS A FAKE SPIRITUALIST, WHO’S CONSTANTLY ONE STEP AHEAD Of THE LAW. A SUCKER CROP Of NAIVE LADIES, WITH TIME ON THEIR HANDS AND MONEY TO WASTE, COME TO HIS HEADQUARTERS. GARBED IN A PHONY MUSTACHE AND SWAMI OUTFIT, AND WITH THE HELP Of HIS BEHIND-THE- SCENES ASSISTANTS, HE PERFORMS “MIRACLES’ FOR THESE FOOLISH WOMEN. LEAVE IT TO THE OUR GANG KIDS TO EXPOSE THIS FAKER. SILENT FILMS WITH MUSIC SCORE, CORRECT PROJECTION SPEED. 57 MINUTES TOTAL. ÒSILENTÓ COMEDIES.