technical details:
Production G-26.
Filmed June 10 to 20, 1929. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Released August 24, 1929. This release date is according to the release charts in Motion Picture News, which is
the only one of three choices that makes this the usual Saturday release on the MGM schedule. Maltin & Bann list it as
Aug. 15, 1929, a Monday, while Richard Lewis Ward's A History Of The Hal Roach Studios lists it as Oct. 24,
1929, a Thursday. Even with an August release, it's possible that "Boxing Gloves" made it into theaters
first, and that "Lazy Days" was the 92nd release. In fact, if "Boxing Gloves" was released on August
24th (a very real possibility), then "Lazy Days" may have been delayed for a month or so. It was
definitely in theaters by October 2nd, though.
Copyrighted August 26, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP641. Renewed
September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176911. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2024.
All-talking two-reeler, sound on disc only. (In actuality, there is a lot of silent footage in this film.)
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Lazy
Days".'
the crew:
- Produced by Robert F. McGowan for
Hal Roach
- This is how Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, and designates it as "A
Robert McGowan Production."
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd and F. E. Hershey
- This credit appears in the film.
- Film Editor: Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Story Editor: H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Recording engineer: Elmer Raguse
- 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. This
film features an animated bee sting.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
- cutting - Possibly Lloyd Campbell.
- writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall, Harry Keaton and Carl
Harbaugh may have been among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze, Don
Sandstrom, Thomas Benton Roberts and Bob Saunders were probably involved in this capacity.
- animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been
among the animal trainers.
the kids:
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Lead role. He overcomes his laziness long enough to get his baby brother ready for a contest that never happens.
- Jannie "Mango" Hoskins as "Trellis"
- Supporting role. Farina repeatedly calls her "Honey." She waits on him both at the beginning
and the end of the film.
- James "Junior" Allen as "Thermos" aka "Junior"
- Supporting role. Farina bathes him in preparation for the contest. Farina calls him "Junior" at
one point, and seems to call him "Juney" right before that. He was 18 months old at this time.
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Supporting role. He's the one with the idea to enter the babies in the contest.
- Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary"
- Supporting role. She decides to dress Wheezer as a baby.
- Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"
- Supporting role. He resists Mary Ann's efforts to transform him into a baby.
- Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chub"
- Small part. Joe dresses him as a baby.
- Harry Spear as "Harry"
- Small part. He beats Mary Ann at checkers.
- Jean Darling as "Jean"
- Small part. She laments that she could have prayed for a goat instead of the baby she ended up with.
- other kids
- There are two additional babies, one belonging to Jean, and one belonging to Harry. Maltin & Bann
list Bobbie Burns, but I don't know which kid this is. Studio publicity states that ten babies were used for
the film, but if so, most of them never made it into the finished product.
the animals:
- Pete (no. 1) as "Petey"
- Supporting role. He's seen frequently during Farina's footage, but doesn't do too much other than rock the cradle.
- monkey 004
- Bit part. Listed as Elmer the Monkey by Maltin & Bann, but he looks a lot more like the earlier monkeys.
- cat 080
- Bit part. This is the tabby with the chicks on and around it.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film (but cut from the Cabin Fever print).
- other animals
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The goat Farina refers to as "Samson."
- (2.) The toad that squirts water, which is probably fake in the squirting shots.
- (3.) The mule, which Maltin & Bann list as Dinah the Mule, but which may be the one from "Uncle
Tom's Uncle" (no. 50).
- (4.) The rooster that Farina is four times bigger than.
- (5.) The three puppies seen early in the film.
- (6.) The two kittens drinking milk, which are later used in the cradle-rocking scene.
- (7.) The three chicks on and around the tabby cat.
- (8.) The numerous ducks and ducklings walking into the pond.
- (9.) Various chickens in the yard.
- bugwatch
- The bee that repeatedly pesters Farina is a real one in the closeup shot, but a fake one otherwise. There
are also several flies buzzing around.
the adults:
- adults
- Bit parts.
- (1.) The voice of the organ grinder.
- (2.) The woman crossing the tracks and almost messing up the shot.
the music:
- "Turkey In The Straw" by John Renfro Davis
- This was originally an fiddle instrumental called "Natchez Under The Hill". It was published
with lyrics in 1834 as "Old Zip Coon." In this film, it's played on Jannie's music box.
- other music
- The only remaining music in this film is the sound made by the accordion while it's attached to the
cradle-rocking contraption.
- music from alternate prints
- "Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
- This is played during both the opening and closing of the film, and in both prints. However, judging by
the use of music in other films from this period, I'm guessing that it was not an original part of the film, and was
probably taken from the opening of "Teacher's Pet" (no. 101).
the locations:
- Media Park
- Located between Washington Boulevard, Venice Boulevard and Canfield Avenue in Culver City. Leon Smith
identifies this location in his book Hollywood Goes On Location. This is consistent with the final scene of Farina
leaning against a tree, which was located near some tracks. If these were streetcar tracks, then Media Park fits the
description well.
miscellaneous:
10 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after shooting finished for "Boxing Gloves"
(no. 91), the 'start' date arrived for "Lazy Days" on June 10th. Shooting continued until the
'finish' date of June 20th. No shooting took place on June 9th and 16th, which were both Sundays. Robert F.
McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming
"Bouncing Babies" (no. 93).
The notice for the baby contest announces that "The Hon. Benjamin Shipman has consented to act as chief
judge." He was currently the business manager at the Roach studio.
The press release for this film mentions The Hal Roach Studio Cafeteria, otherwise known as the Hal Roach Cafe. Surely,
this is the place that later became known as the Our Gang Cafe.
This film was removed from King World's TV package in the early 70s.
In the category of unseen characters: Jannie's little sister is named "Linoleum."
availability:
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 20
(VHS) from Cabin Fever and
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume
Four (3 LD set) from Cabin Fever
- Released 1995. This is a nearly complete print, missing only the MGM lion at the beginning. The titles
are original, and the picture quality is excellent. The film lasts 20:00. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
- The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection
(8 DVD set) from Genius Products
- Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version, except that it's badly cropped.
- The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 1
(VHS) from Spotlite Video
- Released Nov. 1987. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, but with the company name blacked out. It
was also included as part of a 6 VHS boxed set. The opening title is remade, but the original crew credits are included,
but cropped in such a way that the 'Our Gang' name is not shown. The end title is taken from either "Spooky
Hooky" (no. 149) or "Hearts Are Thumps" (no. 153). The picture quality is good. The
original footage totals 19:53.
- The Little Rascals Book XX (VHS) from
Blackhawk Video
- This is the Blackhawk print.
- Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 2
Pack (2 VHS set) from Brentwood Video
- Released Nov. 2000. This was also included within a 10 VHS set entitled
Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 10
Pack.
- Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- This is also available in a 2 DVD set with another same-named DVD. This is the Blackhawk print with
the company name blacked out.
- Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- This is the other DVD with this name, and includes a documentary entitled Hollywood Hall Of Fame,
with 22 clips from this film. The 1st lasts 0:10, and shows the dog-powered rocker. The 2nd lasts 0:07, and
shows Farina with the magical baby carriage. The 3rd lasts 0:08, and shows Joe talking. The 4th lasts 0:01, and
shows the gang in the yard. The 5th lasts 0:01, and shows Joe taking a look. The 6th lasts 0:01, and shows Chubby
as a baby. The 7th lasts 0:02, and shows Joe talking to the gang. The 8th lasts 0:01, and shows Farina sitting.
The 9th lasts 0:01, and shows Joe instructing the gang. The 10th lasts 0:03, and shows the game of checkers. The
11th lasts 0:02, and shows the Mule. The 12th lasts 0:02, and shows the monkey. The 13th lasts 0:04, and shows
the goat. The 14th lasts 0:08, and shows various animals. The 15th lasts 0:01, and shows Jannie, Pete and the
watermelon. The 16th lasts 0:03, and shows the cute baby. The 17th lasts 0:36, and shows Joe instructing the gang.
The 18th lasts 0:06, and shows the gang returning from the show. The 19th lasts 0:15, and shows Farina bathing the
baby. The 20th lasts 0:30, and shows Mary and Wheezer. The 21st lasts 0:09, and shows Farina and Jannie. And the
22nd lasts 0:01, and shows Joe instructing the gang.
- Hal Roach's Rascals 3-Tape Set (3 VHS set)
- Released Feb. 2000. Contains the same print as the DVD as well as the Hollywood Hall Of Fame
documentary.
- TV Time Comedy 100 TV Episodes (10 DVD set)
from TV Time
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.