The Holy Terror

film no. 83

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-17.

Filmed November 19 to 28, 1928. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Released March 9, 1929. It was the 83rd film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted July 11, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP522. Renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176904. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2024.

Silent two-reeler with synchronized music track.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "The Holy Terror".'

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."
Supervising Director: Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. Maltin & Bann omitted this credit.
Directed by Anthony Mack: This credit appears in the film. Mack was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of Robert F.
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 in the opening title card.
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:

Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary": Lead role. She's identified in the titles as "The Holy Terror." She makes everybody's life miserable until Joe finally succeeds in training her.
Joe Cobb as "Joe Cobb": Featured role. He makes a hundred dollars subduing Mary.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Supporting role. It's his idea to recruit Joe to train Mary. Much of the gag material involves him.
Jean Darling: Supporting role. She's Mary's sister in this short, and is present through most of the action.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Supporting role. He's Joe's first training subject.
Harry Spear: Supporting role. He's present through most of the short, but isn't given too many specific things to do.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Petey": Supporting role. He assists Mary Ann with her malevolent behavior.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

adults: Featured roles, supporting roles, small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The man in the gorilla costume who plays the Algerian ape, "Algy."
(2.) Mary Ann's mother.
(3.) "Grandpa."
(4.) The butler.
(5.) The negro maid.
(6.) The other ladies at the bridge party.

the music:

Two dates appear on the music cue sheet, though April 18, 1929, is directly associated with the cue sheet number. Also listed is Feb. 5th. Since this is a 'lost' film, the only item I can compare the music cue sheet with is the cutting continuity. The matching of the music with the action as described below is purely approximate.

"Runnin' Wild" by A. Harrington Gibbs: Published in 1922 with lyrics by Joe Grey and Leo Woods. Ted Lewis and His Band had a number 9 hit with an instrumental version in 1923. The music cue sheet credits somebody named Williams, so perhaps there was more than one song with this title. It opens the film, and is played a second time during the gorilla sequence, right after "Crickets Serenade."
"The Whistler And His Dog" by Arthur Pryor: Published in 1905. This tune is undoubtedly played during the opening scene in which Pete listens to the music box.
"Allegro Perpetuo" by Domenico Savino: Published in 1926. This tune is probably played as Pete tears up the radio. It's later played a second time during the boys' battle with Mary Ann, right after "Furioso #3."
"Love's Voyage" by Barrett: This is probably played as Jean tells her mother about Mary's misbehavior.
"Old Man Grouch" by Copping: This is undoubtedly played as we're introduced to Grandpa.
"Love's Impulse" by H. Maurice Jacquet: This is probably played as the women are seated back at their bridge table, nervous after having seen the gorilla.
"Rustic Idyl" by Josef Pasternack: This tune is played four times in the film. The first time probably accompanies our first glimpse of the Gang, as Joe trains Wheezer. It's then played twice in a row during the boys' battle with Mary Ann, right after "Dramatic Agitato." It then shows up almost at the end of the film, probably as Joe is getting his hundred dollars, right after "Lords And Ladies."
"Never Mind Bo Peep" by Victor Herbert: Published in 1903 as part of "Babes In Toyland," with lyrics by Glen MacDonough. In this film, it's played after the first instance of "Rustic Idyl."
"Vanity Fair" by Josef Pasternack: This is probably played as Farina hears Mary's mother say that she'd pay a hundred dollars to have her daughter trained.
"Dramatic Agitato" by Walter Cleveland Simon: Published in 1920. This is probably played as the boys first begin battling Mary Ann.
"Furioso #2" by Otto Langey: This is played during the boys' battle with Mary Ann.
"Furioso #3" by Otto Langey: This is played during the boys' battle with Mary Ann.
"Scherzando Hurry" by Hugo Frey: This seems to be the final piece in the initial battle scene with Mary Ann, and probably bridges the two reels.
"Anvil Chorus" by Giuseppe Verdi: Technically entitled "Coro di zingari" from Act 2, Scene 1, of Il Trovatore from 1853. This is undoubtedly played as Joe paddles Mary Ann.
"Le Reve" by George Coltermann: This is the second part of "Deux pieces de salon" (op. 13). This is probably played as Mary Ann sets the gorilla free.
"Stalking The Prey" by Leo A. Kempinski: Published in 1928. This is undoubtedly played as the gorilla initially walks through the hallway looking for the kids.
"Anticipation Of Danger" by Giuseppe Becce: This is played three times in the film. The first time probably accompanies the scene where Farina pretends not to be afraid of the gorilla. The other two times are also during the gorilla sequence, with the second time occuring after "Panicky Agitato," and the third after "Sinister Agitato."
"Sobbing" by Maurice Baron: Or perhaps it was written by Henri Baron. This is played during the gorilla sequence, though it would make more sense during the scene where Mary Ann cries after being paddled. Perhaps the music cue sheet has the pieces listed slightly out of order.
"Panicky Agitato" by Irénée Bergé: Published in 1925. This is played during the gorilla sequence.
"Sinister Agitato" by Giuseppe Becce: Published in 1926. This is played during the gorilla sequence.
"Furioso" by Domenico Savino: This is played during the gorilla sequence.
"Crickets Serenade" by Theo Bendix: This is played during the gorilla sequence.
"Lords And Ladies" by Gustave Salzer: Published in 1906. This is undoubtedly played after Mary Ann is subdued.
"Kiddie Kapers" by Nathaniel Shilkret, Lew Pollack and Al Sherman: Published in 1928. The cue sheet doesn't mention Sherman. This is presumably played over the end title.

miscellaneous:

9 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Roughly a week after shooting finished for "Noisy Noises" (no. 82), the 'start' date arrived for "The Holy Terror" on Nov. 19th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Nov. 28th. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates except Nov. 28th, when Anthony Mack took over. No shooting took place on Nov. 18th or 25th, which were both Sundays. After this, six days passed before the Our Gang unit began shooting "Wiggle Your Ears" (no. 84).

©Apr. 9, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 4/25, 7/9.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/19, 7/6, 7/20, 9/30.
2009 updates: 7/23.

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