Return Of Our Gang, The

1242. THE RETURN Of “OUR GANG” (192L-192S-USA).PRODUCER HAL ROACH, PROUD PAPA Of THE OUR GANG COMEDIES, BEGAN THE SERIES AT PATHS STUDIOS IN 1922, IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS Of ANOTHER SERIES FEATURING A BLACK CHILD ACTOR NAMED ERNIE “SUNSHINE SAMMY” MORRISON. THESE SHORT FILMS CREATED AN IMMEDIATE SENÂSATION WITH CRITICS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE. HERE ARE SEVERAL TYPICALLY ENTERTAINING ONE AND TWO-REELERS FROM THE EARLY YEARS Of “OUR GANG.”
1. THE SCHOOL PLAY (STAGE FRIGHT) (1923-USA). WITH JOE COBB, ERNIE “SUNSHINE SAMMY” MORRIÂSON, JACK DAVIS, MICKEY DANIELS, MARY KORNMAN, JACKIE CONDON, ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS, JANN1E HOSKINS, ANDY SAMUELS. FIRST, AN ASSORTMENT Of GANG MEMBERS FIND A VARIETY Of WAYS TO HARASS AN OVERLY EXCITABLE FRUIT VENDOR. THEN, A GROUP Of PARENTS MEET TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING SCHOOL PLAY, TO BE SET IN ANÂCIENT ROME. THE KIDS END UP GARBED IN AN ARRAY Of SILLY OUTFITS. NONE CAN LOP THAT Of FAT JOE COBB, WHO’S PERFECTLY CAST AS THE EMPEROR NERO-COMPLETE WITH TOGA. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE GANG WILL POSE NO THREAT TO LAURENCE OLIVIER OR JOHN GIELGUD.
2. SUMMER DAZE (THE COBBLER) (1923-USA>. WITH MICKEY DANIELS, JACK DAVIS, ERNIE “SUNSHINE SAMMY” MORRISON, JACKIE CONDON, MARY KORNMAN, ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS, PETE THE PUP. THIS TWO-REELER OPENS WITH AN UNRELATED SEQUENCE BY “THE MISCHIEF MAKERS.” IT FEATURES A ZANY BOXING MATCH BEÂTWEEN A FAT BULLY AND HIS BLONDE CHALLENGER. THE OBJECT Of THEIR AFFECTIONS-A CUTE YOUNG GIRL-ACTS AS THE TIMEKEEPER, WITH A LITTLE BLACK BOY AND A DOG MANAGING TO DISRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS. THIS IS PROBABLY FROM AN IMITATION OUR GANG COMEDY MADE BY A RIVAL STUDIO, POSSIBLY FROM THE BUSTER BROWN SERIES! SUMMER DAZE CONCLUDES WITH THE SECOND HALF Of THE COBBLER, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE ANTICS Of FARINA. A COUPLE Of GANG MEMBERS ARE HEADING OfF FOR A DAY IN THE COUNTRY, AND FARINA DECIDES 10 TAG ALONG. IN SHORT ORDER, HE FINDS HIMSELF FATALLY ATTRACTED TO A WATERMELON PATCH WHERE HE CONSUMES NEARLY HIS OWN WEIGHT IN PILFERED MELONS, AND OTHERWISE AGGRAVATES A HOPELESSLY HAPÂLESS FARMER.
3. DOG DAYS (1925-USA). WITH MICKEY DANIELS, JOE COBB, ALLEN “FARINA” HOSKINS, MARY KORNÂMAN, EUGENE JACKSON, JACKIE CONDON. THE BOYS ARE BUSY TRAINING THEIR PETS TO PERFORM TRICKS. JOE’S DOG, THOUGH, ONLY SITS BY THE SIDE Of ITS MASTER, AND THEN REFUSES TO RESPOND TO THE COMMANDS Of ITS MASTER. THE PUP REDEEMS ITSELF BY RESCUING MARY, A “JADED SOCIETY LADY Of TEN,” WHO’S TRAPPED ON A RUNAWAY PONY-DRAWN CARRIAGE. SHE INVITES THE KIDS LO HER BIRTHDAY PARTY, WITH AMUSING RESULTS. SILENT FILMS WITH MUSICAL SCORE, CORRECT PROJECTION SPEED. 57 MINUTES TOTAL. ÒSILENTÓ COMEDIES