Heebee Jeebees

film no. 69

availability:

technical details:

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.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Teacher: Fern Carter

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

• director-general - Leo McCarey
• 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

• assistant direction - Probably Charles Oelze.
• assistant cameraman - Probably Clair Boshard.
• cutting - Probably Lloyd Campbell.
• writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity.

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"

Small part. 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.
(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.

miscellaneous:

The Lucky Corner Homepage