Fast Freight

film no. 85

availability:

Our Gang Volume #13 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is a home movie print from Blackhawk, but with the company name blacked out. It includes a textual introduction. The inter-titles have been remade, but appear to retain the original wording. At least a couple seem to be missing from this print. The picture quality is fairly good. The print totals 19:51, with about 17:15 of it original footage. Ignoring the inter-titles, it appears that almost all of the original version is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

special note

There's a European video release of this film lasting 18:06 which has better picture quality than the Grapevine version. 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 a few instances of misspellings and the like. Also, Farina's pamphlet advertising California is reproduced in a less-than-accurate fashion. Music is provided by the Beau Hunks with sound effects.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film probably credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."

Supervised by Robert F. McGowan

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

Directed by Anthony Mack

This credit probably appears in the film. Mack was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of Robert F.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit probably appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

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
• assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien
• 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.
• animal training - Harry Lucenay and Tony Campanaro were probably among the animal trainers.
• animation - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Lead role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He rides the rails, and is joined by the other kids.

Joe Cobb

Featured role. He does almost all of the talking among the white kids.

Harry Spear

Supporting role. He gets his rear end burned on the train, and keeps falling into a vat of flour at the old house.

Mary Ann Jackson

Supporting role. She does mostly ensemble work, but gets a moment where her rear end catches on fire.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He does mostly ensemble work, but has a featured scene where he's throwing lightbulbs.

Jean Darling

Supporting role. She does almost entirely ensemble acting in this short.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Petie"

Featured role. He rides the rails with Farina, and is featured in many gags along the way.

dog 074

Bit part. The wolf that walks between the kids looks quite a lot like a German shepherd to me, and presumably the one seen in "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no. 74).

Leo

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

other animals

Bit parts.
(1.) The frog that gets under Farina's hat.
(2.) The owl that spooks Farina.
(3.) The lizard that crawls down the back of Mary Ann's coat.

bugwatch

The bees that Farina lets loose under the train, including both real ones and animated.

the adults:

Robert Dudley as the chief of police

Small part. He shows up at the end of the film to round up the runaways.

other adults

Bit parts.
(1.) The face in the spooky wall painting, which Maltin & Bann identify as James Finlayson, but I have to admit to some skepticism.
(2.) The railroad worker who closes the train door on Farina.
(3.) The conductor seen on the back of the train.

miscellaneous:

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