Spook-Spoofing

technical details:

Production G-5.

Filmed October 11 to 27, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on Nov. 15, 1927.

Silent cutting continuity submitted Nov. 22, 1927.

Copyrighted January 14, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP25352. Renewed August 11, 1955, with registration no. R154165. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2023.

Released January 14, 1928. It was the 70th film in the series to be released.

Silent three-reeler. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Spook-Spoofing".'

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film lists Roach as the presenter, and reads "A Robert McGowan Production."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film.

Titles by Reed Heustis

This credit appears in the film.

Animation by Roy Seawright

This credit derives from Seawright's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. In this film, electric shocks, words, lightning, and bursting balloons are all animated.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Probably indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably 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

school teacher - Fern Carter

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:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Lead role. The gang's practical jokes lead him to the graveyard, where he tries to bury Harry.

Harry Spear

Featured role. He pretends to be dead. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Toughy," but this name doesn't appear in any of the inter-titles. Farina calls him "Clammy" at one point.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. He's the practical joker in this film and is given a lot of footage.

Jay R. Smith

Featured role. He's the undertaker's son and arranges the graveyard hoax. Farina calls him "Buzzard" at one point.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He's gets caught on a tree branch with an owl behind him for most of the film.

Bobby Dean

Supporting role. He's the other fat boy besides Joe, and made his debut in this film. He doesn't do much of anything specific and is only seen occasionally. In the cutting continuity, he's listed simply as 'boy.'

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Small part. The nickname doesn't appear in these prints. He and Mildred tag along to the graveyard.

Mildred Kornman

Small part. She tags along with Wheezer and brings along a taxi horn.

boy 071

Bit part. This is the boy that tells Farina about the dead body.

Johnny Aber

Extra. He's in front among the boys running to look at the dead body.

Jean Darling

Unconfirmed. Maltin & Bann list her, but she doesn't appear in the available prints. However, she does appear in at least one photo taken on location for this film.

other kids

Bit parts. Four more boys are running down the street chasing the ambulance, but only one or two are seen clearly. I don't recognize them from other films.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1)

Small part. He goes along to the graveyard, but doesn't do anything too specific.

mule 026

Bit part. This is the white mule that spooks Jay and Joe. Possibly the same mule seen in "Commencement Day" (no. 26).

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

other animals

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The toad that sits on Farina's shoulder.

(2.) The goat that butts Joe into the mausoleum. He looks consistent with the goat from "Uncle Tom's Uncle" (no. 50).

(3.) The hog that Jay rides through the graveyard.

(4.) The owl that spooks Jackie.

(5.) The white cow that spooks Jay and Joe.

(6.) The black cat that Farina goes around.

(7.) The chicken in the coop in the background of the vacant lot footage.

the adults:

Charles Bachman as the cop

Bit part. He inspects the dead body that Farina's wheeling down the street.

Charley Lloyd as the vendor

Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. He's selling the darkened glass for viewing the solar eclipse. The first edition of their book credited Charley Young.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) One man and 2 women buying the darkened glass.

(2.) The window washer whose ladder Farina avoids walking under.

(3.) The two men driving the emergency vehicle.

(4.) Various pedestrians seen in the background of different shots.

the locations:

Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles

The northeast corner of this intersection is where Farina avoids the black cat. The brick building is the People's Water Company at 3392 Motor Avenue. This is the building with the poster on the wall. Just prior to this, we see him avoiding cracks in the sidewalk as he passes the grocery store at 3384 Motor, and the barber shop at 3388 Motor. After looking at the spooky poster, Farina sits on the curb on the south side of Woodbine, with the Masonic Hall behind him at 3402 Motor. The Motor side of the Masonic Hall is in the background in the scene where Farina puts the hex on Harry. Just to the right of the hall, we see a portion of the Shoe Repairing shop run by J. A. Pryor at 3406 Motor. When Farina tries to sneak off after killing Harry, he's walking up the west side of Motor just north of Woodbine. As he's carting Harry's dead body off to the graveyard, he's walking west on Woodbine away from Motor. One of the shots shows the ambulance-chasers rounding the corner from Vinton west onto Woodbine, which is followed by a shot showing them round the corner from Woodbine south onto Motor. The northwest corner of the intersection is shown, as well as Dickie Moore's house from "Free Wheeling" (no. 117) way back there on Irene Street.

Mentone Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

In the scene where Joe demonstrates his rifle, the boys are in the backyard of a house on Mentone. Seen in the background is the vacant lot on the southwest corner of Motor and Woodbine, with the Masonic Hall beyond that. The cop questions Farina at the northeast corner of Woodbine Street and Mentone Avenue. It's interesting to note that the vacant lot on this corner had recently had a brush fire in these shots. Farina then continues west on Woodbine, crossing Mentone, with the bottom portion of Berean Chapel Foresquare Church in view at the northwest corner. During these scenes, we often see Motor Avenue in the background, with the Mitholithic building clearly seen.

miscellaneous:

15 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Anthony Mack was still directing "Dog Heaven" (no. 70) when the 'start' date arrived for "Spook-Spoofing" on Oct. 11th, directed by Robert F. McGowan. Time was divided between the two films until Oct. 13th, when "Dog Heaven" finished. After this, McGowan continued with "Spook-Spoofing" until the 'finish' date of Oct. 27th. No shooting took place on Oct. 16th or 23rd, which were both Sundays. Nearly a week after the finish date, retakes were shot for "Dog Heaven" before shooting began for "Rainy Days" (no. 72).

Farina passes a poster that reads "Dead Men Tell No Tales," which was playing at the Lincoln Theatre on Sep. 2.

Maltin & Bann indicate that this film was a three-reeler. However, the cutting continuity describes it as a two-reeler, with the first reel ending as Farina props up Harry with a board.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B619.

availability:

The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 VHS set) from Genius Products

Released late Oct. 2008. This is an original print, but with the Our Gang name and MGM references blocked out. It does, however, include the MGM lion. The footage totals 31:22. There is no musical soundtrack. Richard Lewis Ward provides commentary. There is also a clip from this film included in the documentary The Story Of Hal Roach And Our Gang.

The Little Rascals Book XXV (VHS) from Blackhawk Video

This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, with remade opening and ending titles and introductory text. The inter-titles are remade, but seem to have the original wording. The picture quality is mostly good. The print totals 22:12, with about 18:40 of it original footage. Ignoring the inter-titles, almost all of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #8 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This is a TV print from The Little Rascals series made by Interstate Television Corporation, but the company name has been blacked out. The opening and ending title cards are remade, but the crew credits and inter-titles are original. The picture quality is fairly poor. The print totals 26:34, with 26:18 of it original footage. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from Brentwood Video

This is the Blackhawk print. This DVD is also available in a 2 DVD set with another same-named DVD. This is probably the version that appears on bootlegs containing the Roach talkes.

Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from Brentwood Video

The DVD is one of two with this name, the other containing the entire film. This DVD includes a documentary entitled Hollywood Hall Of Fame, with 16 clips from this film. The 1st lasts 0:02, and shows Farina with the cop. The 2nd lasts 0:04, and shows the boys running from the lightning. The 3rd lasts 0:02, and shows Harry walking away from the boys. The 4th lasts 0:02, and shows Farina running with the boys. The 5th lasts 0:02, and shows a closeup of Joe. The 6th lasts 0:02, and shows Farina putting a hex on Harry. The 7th lasts 0:04, and shows the boys trying to escape. The 8th lasts 0:02, and shows Farina sitting on the curb. The 9th lasts 0:09, and shows Jay riding the pig. The 10th lasts 0:04, and shows Joe and Bobby. The 11th lasts 0:39, and shows the practical joke being played on Farina. The 12th lasts 0:02, and shows Jackie without his pants. The 13th lasts 0:02, and shows the kids in the mausoleum. The 14th lasts 0:02, and shows Joe electrocuting Farina. The 15th lasts 0:04, and shows the pig again. And the 16th lasts 0:05, and shows Farina avoiding cracks in the sidewalk.

Hal Roach's Rascals 3-Tape Set (3 VHS set)

Released Feb. 2000. Includes the same print as the DVD as well as the Hollywood Hall Of Fame documentary.

Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 2 Pack (2 VHS set) from Brentwood Home Video

Released November 2000. Also released as part of Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 10 Pack (10 VHS set).

TV Time Comedy 100 TV Episodes (10 DVD set)

special note

There's a European video release of this film lasting 22:33. The titles are all remade, with the object of making them appear original. However, the font is not quite the same as on the original prints, and there are one or two mistakes. Music is provided by the Beau Hunks with sound effects.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.