Boxing Gloves

film no. 91

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 12 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a complete print with original titles. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 17:21. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There are also two clips from this film shown during the opening advertisement on all the Cabin Fever VHS releases. The 1st lasts 0:03, and shows Mary mussing Joe's hair. The 2nd lasts 0:01, and shows a closeup of Harry.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 & Vol. 12 (DVD) from Cabin Fever: Same contents as the Cabin Fever VHS releases. Also released as part of The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited (6 DVD set).
The Little Rascals Volume 1 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1985. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, with opening, crew and ending titles all remade. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 16:46.
The Little Rascals Book XVII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 3:27 is included, containing various different scenes, with narration added.

technical details:

Production G-25.

Filmed May 13 to 25, 1929.

Copyrighted September 9, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP666. Renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176918. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2024.

Released September 9, 1929. It was the 90th film in the series to be released. However, if "Lazy Days" was released later, as some sources state, then "Boxing Gloves" would have been the 89th release.

All-talking two-reeler. (In actuality, there is a lot of silent footage in this film.)

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Boxing Gloves".'

King World Productions episode no. 11b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: The film credits Roach as a presenter, and designates it as "A Robert McGowan Production." Maltin & Bann list Roach only for this credit.
Supervised by Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. The specific credit in the film is for 'Supervising Director.'
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 and F. E. Hershey: This credit appears in the film.
Edited by Richard Currier: This credit appears in the film.
Dialogue: H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Story by Hal E. Roach and Robert F. McGowan: This credit doesn't appear in the film.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title card.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
A Victor Recording, Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Joe Cobb as "Joe Cobb": Featured role. He competes with Chubby for Jean's affection, which leads them to the boxing ring.
Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby": Featured role. His role is parallel to Joe's.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Featured role. The nickname isn't used in this film. He organizes and referees the fight.
Mary Ann Jackson: Supporting role. She tries unsuccessfully to get into the fight, and eventually kidnaps Jackie Cooper to accomplish this.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer" aka "Bobby": Supporting role. He's featured in the earlier bout with Donnie, and then serves as the time keeper at the later one. Harry accidentally calls him "Bobby" early in the film.
Harry Spear: Supporting role. He organizes the 'baby fight', and then serves as Joe's trainer.
Jean Darling as "Jean": Supporting role. She figures into the earlier part of the film pretty strongly as Joe and Chubby fight over her.
Bobby Mallon: Supporting role. He's the radio announcer at the fight. He introduces himself initially, but I can't make out what he says.
Jackie Cooper: Small part. He walks out on the 'baby fight,' and then serves as the reporter for the later one. This was his first appearance in the series.
Donnie Smith as "Donnie": Small part. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Beezer" moniker is used, but it isn't. He appears at the beginning of the film boxing with Wheezer.
Andy Shuford: Small part. He serves as Chubby's trainer.
boy 082: Extra. He's sitting closest to the door that Farina emerges from.
Johnny Aber: Extra. He's sitting to the right of the tomato thrower.
Godfrey Craig: Extra. It appears that he's the boy sitting closest to Joe's corner of the ring.
Bill Johnson: Presumed extra. A casting directory credits this chubby boy with appearing in the film, but I'm not able to find him.
other kids: Supporting roles and extras.
(1.) The boy that bullies Joe into staying in the ring. The ticket taker calls him "Bozo."
(2.) The ticket taker who spends most of his time keeping Mary Ann out of the stands.
(3.) "Billy," the boy sitting with Jackie Cooper at the start of the film. This is not Billy Schuler, as listed by Maltin & Bann.
(4.) The kid watching the 'baby fight' from the outside.
(5.) The three Asian boys that throw the egg at Bobby Mallon. They're not shown in any of the longshots during the fight, but join the line as the kids are walking in.
(6.) The remaining boys watching the fight, numbering probably at least thirty. Maltin & Bann list Billy Schuler, but I can't spot him anywhere.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1): Supporting role. He accompanies Mary Ann throughout the film.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Extras. Several chickens are in the coop where Joe and Chubby are first seen.
bugwatch: A moth flutters by in this same location.

the adults:

Charlie Hall as the sidewalk diner attendant: Small part. He sells the pop to Joe and Chubby.
other adults: Bit part. The only other adult in this film is the first customer at the sidewalk diner.

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. It appears during the opening titles, but only in the Cabin Fever version, suggesting that it was probably not an original part of the film.
"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: This appears during the opening and ending titles of the Blackhawk print, and was almost certainly not part of the original film. This is the version heard at the opening of "Teacher's Pet" (no. 101).
"I Wonder What's Become Of Sally" by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen: Published in 1924. Al Jolson had a number one hit with this song. Bobby Mallon sings it briefly in this film.

the locations:

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles: The northeast corner of this intersection is where Joe and Chubby drop their pop bottles. The brick building is the People's Water Company of Palms at 3392 Motor Avenue. Seen in one shot is the park bench on the northwest corner previously seen in "The Love Bug" (no. 37). Presumably, the chicken coop is located at the usual location near the southwest corner.

Copyright May 1, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 5/3, 5/16, 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/8, 1/9, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/4, 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/19, 2/26.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.