The Spanking Age

film no. 80

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 2 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy includes the original opening titles, crew credits and inter-titles, but an end title by Blackhawk Films. The picture quality is fairly good. The print totals 19:57, with 19:52 of it original footage. It appears that almost all of the original film is included.

special note

There's a European video release of this film lasting 20:32. 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.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

The film credits Roach as the presenter, and also reads "A Robert McGowan Production." Maltin & Bann credit Roach only.

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. Currier also prepared the soundtrack while at the Victor headquarters in New York.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title.

Passed by the National Board of Review

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
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• editing - Bert Jordan and William Terhune were among the cutters during this period.
• 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, and possibly Ted Driscoll, William A. Collins and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Harry Lucenay and Tony Campanaro were probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mary Ann Jackson

Lead role. She decides to throw a party since she's not able to go along with spoiled Jean.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Lead role. He assists Mary Ann in preparing for the party.

Jean Darling

Supporting role. She's shown at the beginning and at the end, and is the spoiled rich girl.

Joe Cobb

Supporting role. He appears only in the last quarter of the film, and is given a lot of attention during the meal.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Supporting role. He's also given a lot of attention during the meal.

Harry Spear

Small part. He's present during the meal, but isn't given too many specific things to do.

girl 080

Small part. She's the black girl at the table, but isn't given much to do.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1)

Supporting role. He's featured throughout the film reacting to various things.

cat 080

Small part. This is the tabby that's at the end of the abuse chain, so he gets kicked by Pete.

Leo

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

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The sandcrab that gets into the shrimp salad.
(2.) The chicken that Wheezer removes to get at the eggs.

the adults:

Lyle Tayo as the stepmother

Supporting role. According to Maltin & Bann, who presumably have viewed a photo revealing her face. In the film, she's only seen from the waist down. She's a mean stepmother, and abusive to her husband.

other adults

Supporting roles and bit parts.
(1.) The kids' father, named "Thomas E. Brown."
(2.) The salesman in the kilt, with the name "MacIntosh" on his briefcase.
(3.) The salesman with the name "Dr. Jenkins" on his briefcase.
(4.) The cop who escorts the gang out of the house.
(5.) The woman on the sidewalk talking to the cop.

the music:

"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson

Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. This version is an instrumental. This is played over the opening titles.

piece 084a

This is played over the first text title and while Mary is eating the cake. This first version is the same as the first version in "Wiggle Your Ears." A second version is played as Jean walks in, and is the second version from "Wiggle Your Ears."

"My Man" by Maurice Yvain

Originally titled "Mon Homme." English lyrics were added by Channing Pollack in 1920. Performed in the Ziegfeld Follies by Fanny Brice in 1921. An instrumental version is played as Wheezer eats the cake, and ends abruptly as the next piece starts. This first version is the same as the first version in "Wiggle Your Ears." A second version is played while Wheezer discovers the sandcrab crawling on the floor, but is ended abruptly. This same version is played again as Pete is interacting with the sandcrab and Mary starts serving the cake, and is the same as the second version in "Wiggle Your Ears."

piece 080a

This is played as Wheezer is still eating the cake and while Mary has a second helping, and slows down as the mother opens the door.

piece 080b

This is an effects piece that's played as the mother discovers what Mary and Wheezer have been doing. After Wheezer runs behind the counter, a variation of this effects piece is played as Mary gets spanked and the mother puts coal oil on the cake. A very short bit of this music is played as Mary slumps to the floor after being slapped.

piece 080c

A small part of this piece is played briefly as Wheezer runs behind the counter. Another part is played as Mary kicks Wheezer and Wheezer kicks Pete. Still another part is played as Mary laughs after the stepmother slips and gets slapped for it.

piece 084d

The tag end of the first version from "Wiggle Your Ears" is played as Pete kicks the cat. The second version from that film is played as the mother is talking to Mary, with the end effect as she slips on the floor.

piece 084e

This is played as Jean slaps Mary and the chain reaction occurs and they make faces at each other. A short part of it is played as the mother pulls Mary out from behind the counter. Another very short piece of this is played as Pete first starts interacting with the sandcrab.

piece 084c

This piece is played as the father walks in and as the mother is hitting plates over his head. The end is cut off abruptly.

piece 084s

This is a very short piece with harmonizing violins very much in the style of "Wishing" by Leroy Shield. It's played as Mary wishes they had their real mother.

piece 084g

This is played as Wheezer talks about their real mother being with the angels.

piece 084h

This is played as Pete eats the tainted cake and Mary takes orders from the mother.

"The Whistler And His Dog" by Arthur Pryor

Published in 1905. In this film, a portion of the song is played as Mary takes orders from the mother and looks are exchanged between Mary and Jean. This is a different section than the familiar part heard in "The Pinch Singer" (no. 143).

piece 084j

This is played as Mary has the idea to throw her own party. It returns briefly as Mary gives Pete a taste of the food.

piece 084k

This is played during the cake-making scene. The bell effect from "Wiggle Your Ears" is missing, but there is still a pause in that spot.

piece 084l

This is played as Mary gives Wheezer a taste of the batter and then climbs up to get some eggs.

piece 084m

Part of this piece is played as Mary drops eggs down to Wheezer. Another part is played as Farina first notices the sandcrab.

piece 084t

The first half of this piece is played as Mary drops eggs down to Wheezer and then slips on the floor. The ear-wiggling sound effect is included.

piece 084n

This is played as Mary orders Wheezer to get eggs from the barn and then kicks him. He then kicks Pete.

piece 084o

This is played as Pete kicks the cat, and as Mary throws the limburger out the window and Pete buries it. The opening part as heard in "Wiggle Your Ears" is missing.

piece 084p

This is played as Wheezer enters the barn and tries to remove the hen from its nest. It's played again as Wheezer goes back into the kitchen.

"Me-ow" by Mel B. Kaufman

This is played while Wheezer is taking the eggs and getting pecked by the hen.

"The Vamp" by Byron Gay

Published in 1919. Also known as "Vamp A Little Lady." Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra had a number 3 hit with this song in 1919, with vocals by Billy Murray and Harry Macdonough. This is played during the sequence with the door-to-door salesmen. The wedding bell sound effect from "Wiggle Your Ears" has been mostly edited out.

piece 080d

This is played as Wheezer hits the salesman on the foot with a hammer and appears in the middle of "The Vamp."

piece 080e

This is played while Wheezer interacts with the sandcrab and Mary puts the cake in the oven.

piece 080f

A very short part of this piece is played as Pete barks at the oven.

piece 080g

This is played as Mary puts shaving cream on the cake, greets the gang and everybody takes a seat.

piece 080h

This is played as the gang first tastes the salad.

piece 084u

This is played as Joe encourages Farina to eat the sandcrab.

"Jealous" by Jack Little, Tommy Malie and Dick Finch

This is played as Farina changes his mind and hands the sandcrab over to Joe, who has second thoughts. The ear-wiggling sound effect is included. The song was featured in Hugh J. Ward's Christmas Fairy Pantomime Cinderella. It was a number three hit for Marion Harris in 1924.

piece 080i

This is played as everybody has puckered mouths.

"Ain't We Got Fun" by Richard Whiting

Written in 1921 with lyrics by Gus Kahn and Raymond B. Egan. This version is an instrumental. This is played as the father returns home after selling his patent.

piece 080j

This is played as the father and two kids celebrate, and the mother and Jean return to find the gang at the table and summon the cop. Then Mary and Wheezer come down the stairs in nice clothes.

"Toddling" by Erno Rapee and Dr. William Axt

An edited version of this is played as the cop escorts the gang out of the house and the father and his two kids walk out on the mother and Jean.

piece 084y

This is a very brief ending piece played as Mary and Wheezer walk backwards into a cactus.

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