Heebee Jeebees

film no. 69

availability:

This film is considered to be lost and is therefore unavailable on video. Most of the information listed below derives from the cutting continuity, which was submitted for copyright purposes to the Library of Congress.

technical details:

Production G-3.

Filmed August 29 to September 13, 1927.

Cutting continuity received Hal Roach Company on October 7, 1927.

Copyrighted November 1, 1927, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP24609. Renewed July 11, 1955, with registration no. R152703. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2022.

Released November 19, 1927. It was the 67th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Heebee Jeebees".'

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."
Directed by Anthony Mack: Mack was actually Robert A. "for Anthony" McGowan, the nephew of Robert F. This credit appears in the film.
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.
Story by Robert F. McGowan: Indicated in the cutting continuity.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated at the opening of the film.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
All Rights Reserved Under International Convention of Buenos Aires: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Joe Cobb: Featured role. He's changed into a dog, and spends most of the film howling and biting people's legs, as well as getting into a fight with Jean's stuffed dog.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Featured role. He's changed into a cat and sits on a fence and meows, getting a shoe thrown at him. He also confronts a real cat and goes after a rat.
Jay R. Smith: Featured role. He's changed into a monkey and harasses the fruit man. At the party, he swings from the chandelier.
Jackie Condon: Featured role. He's changed into a donkey and eats grass and kicks people.
Harry Spear: Featured role. He's changed into a goat and eats paper and butts people.
Jean Darling: Supporting role. Joe gets into a fight with her stuffed dog. She's identified in the cutting continuity only as a 'little girl,' and might be the one described in the crowd at the hypnotist's performance.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Small part. He points out the transformed boys to the women. Promotional material provided with the continuity indicates that he's changed into a bee, but the continuity doesn't mention this.
other kids: Presumed extra. There is at least one additional kid in the party scene, and she looks quite a lot like Nanette Fabray.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Pansy": He's hynotised to go in reverse and also climbs onto the minister's lap.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The cat that's confronted by Farina.
(2.) The white rat chased by Farina.
(3.) The images of animals superimposed over the kids' faces as they're hypnotized, including a dog, cat, monkey, donkey and goat.
(4.) The fish in the bowl that Jay plays with.

the adults:

George B. French as "Prof. Electra": Featured role. He's the one that hypnotizes the kids and steals from his adult subjects. Maltin & Bann list Bobby Vernon, who resembles this actor, but a 1927 casting directory indicates that French appeared in this film, and he looks entirely like the professor.
Charles Bachman as the cop: Supporting role. Presuming he's the cop described in the continuity, the Professor hypnotizes him into thinking he's a little boy. He then plays pranks on people.
Dorothy Vernon as Wheezer's mom: Supporting role. It isn't clear from the continuity which woman is Wheezer's mom, but she's probably at the party.
Lyle Tayo as Joe's mom: Supporting role. She's perplexed by her son's behavior, and might also be described doing other things, but would be identified only as a 'woman.'
other adults: Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts. The 1927 directory lists Edgar Sherwood and Grace Wood as appearing in this film, but I don't yet know which parts they played.
(1.) "Mrs. Droopleberry," who tries to sing while the kids make animal sounds.
(2.) The fat lady that's hypnotized to dance.
(3.) The man that's harassed by the hypnotized cop and the kids. This could actually be more than one character.
(4.) The butler.
(5.) The fruit man whose cart is overturned by Jay.
(6.) The pianist accompanying Mrs. Droopleberry.
(7.) The woman whose brooch is stolen by the hypnotist.
(8.) The minister.
(9.) The man who throws a shoe at Farina.
(10.) The remaining people at the party, including the host, "Mrs. Von Tudor." The continuity also describes some 'crows' laughing at what they're seeing, which perhaps is a reference to black people.
(11.) The musicians assisting the hypnotist.
(12.) The two cops seen at the end of the film with the professor.
(13.) The crowd of spectators at the hypnotist's performance, including an old lady.

the music (sort of):

"Whispering Winds Of The Desert": This is the song sung by Mrs. Droopleberry.

Copyright Mar. 26, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 4/25, 7/9.
2006 updates: 6/11, 6/12, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.

Thanks to Rob Stone and Joe Moore for assistance on this page.