Young Sherlocks

film no. 3

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies (Volume 1) (VHS) from Nostalgia Family Video

This is a TV print entitled "Young Sherlock" and is from the series Those Lovable Scallawags With Their Gangs. The series opening title cards appear in addition to the episode title card. The picture quality isn't particularly good, and most of the first few minutes of the film have been removed. There are also a lot of shorter bits of footage missing. The print totals 13:06, with 12:41 of it original footage. About two-thirds of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #1 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This is also the TV print, and is almost identical to the Nostalgia Family Video version, except that the original footage totals 12:38. This version has been included on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang - Volume #1 (1922-1923) (DVD-R) from Grapevine Video

Released early March 2006. This is also the TV print, but with a remade opening title.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 11 (VHS) from Video Classics

This is virtually identical to the Grapevine version.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 9 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is essentially the same as the Grapevine version.

Our Gang (CD-ROM) from Rom-Man Technologies

Copyright 1994 by Onscreen Entertainment, Inc. This print is missing the opening title card (but retains the one with the crew credits), so the eBay seller referred to it as "The Prospectors," which derives from one of the first text-titles. Since it's a CD-ROM, there are fewer frames per second, and the resolution is limited, but the quality of the print is superior to the TV print. The opening sequence with Ernie Morrison and Farina Hoskins is included, but the final Freetown sequence is missing (as are a few shorter bits elsewhere). The print totals 17:11, with 17:08 of it original. Roughly three quarters of the original film is included. Watching this version in conjunction with the TV print would result in a nearly complete print.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by Charles Parrott

Better known as Charley Chase. This credit appears in the film. Parrott was director-general of all of the studio's output during this period.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara

This credit appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

• general manager - Warren Doane
• assistant general manager - L. A. French
• secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
• construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
• purchasing superintendent - John L. Murphy
• still photographer - Gene Kornman
• transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

• photography - Len Powers was added to the company payroll on Apr. 19th. He was the earliest known photographer for the series, and may have worked on the subsequent shooting dates.
• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period, but Richard Currier and Bert Jordan were also in the editorial department.
• titles - Tom McNamara probably illustrated the title cards.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have contributed gags.
• property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

main players

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison as "Ernie"

Lead role. Maltin & Bann indicate that Ernie went by the familiar "Sunshine Sammy" moniker, but there's clearly a point in the film where the name "Ernie" is used. If the other name was used at all, it must have been cut from these prints. Ernie ultimately is the star of this short, appearing throughout and driving the story.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie" aka "Mickey"

Featured role. Jackie also is featured extensively in this short. An early title card introduces him as "Jackie," but in the Freetown sequence, a banner hanging over the town identifies him as "Mickey."

Peggy Cartwright as "Mary Jane" aka "Peggy Cartwright"

Featured role. Peggy gets plenty of footage in this film, being the kidnapped girl. A title card reveals her character's name to be "Mary Jane," but the chalkboard in the kidnappers' hideout lists 'Peggy Cartwright' among the kidnap victims.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. Maltin & Bann provide us with the nickname, but neither of these prints do. He appears at the beginning of the film and again during the Freetown sequence, but not during the major portion of the film.

the Jesse James Juniors

On the wall of the J.J.J.'s secret hideout are the names of the club members, numbered one through five. I don't which character name goes with which kid. The number one member is "Dare Devil Sweeny," who is also named elsewhere on the wall as the "Grand Nite." No. 2 is "Feerless Fred," no. 3 is "Bludy Jones," no. 4 is "Fiting Dick," and no. 5 is "Meen Mike." I'm not positive about the words 'bludy' and 'fiting,' as my sources are the video and a small reproduction of a photo in a booklet.

Jack Davis

Small part. Maltin & Bann list him as Jackie Davis. He's the J.J.J. member seen entering the hideout before Ernie arrives. Otherwise, he's purely incidental to the action. Close inspection reveals that he's already standing inside the hideout as the door's being opened for him. This was his series debut.

Mickey Daniels

Small part. He's given virtually nothing to do other than to sit and listen to Ernie's tall tale.

boy 003

Small part. This boy appeared several times over the next few years, but is purely an ensemble player here.

other boys

Small parts. There are two remaining boys in the club, neither of whom are recognizable to me from other films.

other kids

Walter Wilkinson

Extra. It looks like he's among the kids in Freetown, and can be seen as they all walk up to Farina's baby buggy.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. There are probably forty or fifty kids in the Freetown sequence, mostly in longshot, and even when not, they're difficult to connect with kids seen in other films. The boys and girls number about equally, and there are probably about ten babies and toddlers.

questionable listings

Mary Kornman is listed by Maltin & Bann, but if she's in the film, then she's either in footage missing from these prints, or she's one of the many Freetown kids. If the latter is the case, I don't see how she could be positively identified without the aid of promotional photos.

the animals:

Dinah the Mule as "Dinah"

Featured role. One of Dinah's biggest roles in the series, she's right there with the boys during the rescue sequence, even donning a disguise like they do.

pony 001 as "Gee Whiz"

Featured role. This is Peggy's pony, and is given a lot to do during the kidnapping sequence, making this the biggest role a pony ever had in this series.

dog 001 as "Buster"

Supporting role. He appears early in the film, but doesn't appear again until the Freetown sequence, where he rescues Farina from being carried away by some balloons.

dog 003

Bit part. He appears very briefly as Peggy's dog in the scene where she's kidnapped. He had a much bigger role in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The goat that plays "Bossy." She provides milk for Farina.
(2.) A cow seen during the Freetown sequence, and probably the same one seen in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).
(3.) A cat that's chased away by dog 001, and possibly the cat seen in "Our Gang" (no. 1).
(4.) A 'kid' that suckles on Bossy. Possibly seen again in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).
(5.) A hog being suckled by six piglets.
(6.) A chicken with eight or nine chicks following it. It might be the same chicken that attacks Ernie after he tries to steal an egg.
(7.) Four puppies apparently belonging to dog 001.

the adults:

Charles Stevenson as "Giovanna de Bullochi," leader of the kidnappers, and also as the police officer

Featured role. He has the biggest role among the adults in this film as the leader of the gang of kidnappers. Maltin & Bann state that he also appears early in the film as a police officer. My copy of the film makes it almost impossible to identify this character, but I'm nevertheless under the impression that it's somebody else, maybe even possibly William Gillespie, who is otherwise in the film.

Charley Young as Mary Jane's rich father

Supporting role. He appears briefly a couple of times during the film.

William Gillespie as a member of the gang of kidnappers

Supporting role. He appears in a large moustache and wears a light-colored hat with a hatband. He seems to be the number two man in the gang, and is given more to do than any of them other than Stevenson.

Dick Gilbert as the motorist and also as a member of the gang of kidnappers

Supporting role. He's seen as a member of the kidnapper's gang, tying Peggy to a tree in his biggest scene. Early in the film, he appears as the motorist who gives Jackie a tip.

Dot Farley as Mary Jane's mother

Small part. She appears alongside Young, hugging Peggy quite a lot when they're reunited.

George Rowe as the baker

Small part. He appears briefly early in the film.

Florence Hoskins as Ernie and Farina's mother

Small part. This is mostly a guess, but a careful study of the video frames gives me a strong feeling that this character is played by Farina's real-life mother, who is otherwise seen much more clearly in "The Smile Wins" (no. 66).

Mark Jones as a member of the gang of kidnappers

Small part. He's the short guy with the round face, and does mainly ensemble acting. Maltin & Bann list Roy Brooks, but as in other films, it's likely to be Jones. Brooks doesn't look like this.

Wallace Howe as a member of the gang of kidnappers

Small part. He's the one driving the getaway car, but otherwise does ensemble work. It seems as though both Howe and Ed Brandenburg were listed for this single character in Maltin & Bann's cast listing, as none of the other kidnappers resemble either one of them.

Joseph Morrison as a bank employee

Bit part. He's seen loading bags of ransom money into the car owned by Peggy's parents. He's seen only in longshot, but Maltin & Bann say it's him.

other adults

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The kidnapper with the moustache and plaid cap. He's given mostly ensemble work in this film, with his biggest scene being the one in which he steps outside after hearing a gunshot.
(2.) The green grocer who sells the apple to Peggy.
(3.) The guy leading the cow through Freetown.
(4.) The attendant getting rid of the flies in Dinah's stall in Freetown.
(5.) The balloon man in Freetown.
(6.) The chauffeur (who we never get a good look at).
(7.) The bank manager (who's seen only in longshot).
(8.) The gas station attendant (whose face is never seen).
(9.) Somebody walking inside Oscar's Luncheon.

the locations:

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles

The northeast corner of this intersection shows up in a lot of silent Our Gang films. Stevenson (while playing the cop) walks to this corner while he's looking for Jackie. The brick building is the People's Water Company of Palms, located at 3392 Motor Avenue. This building may also be in the background as Mary Jane's parents are racing to the hideout.

the cellar entrance

This looks pretty similar to the entrance that Red Mike goes into in "A Quiet Street" (no. 5). If they're the same, then some changes have been made between the two films, particularly when it comes to surrounding objects. The sign painted on the entrance might suggest that this is a studio set.

Oscar's Luncheon

This is shown as Ernie first meets Peggy. At the bottom of the building, it reads 'XLNT Tamales & Chili.' Oscar's sells cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and cold drinks, including Coca-Cola. To the left of Oscar's is a garage with a sign that says 'Repair Garage.' To the right is a sign that says 'Beverly Club.'

First National Bank of Culver City

This is shown in the scene where Mary Jane's parents are getting the ransom money. It was located at 9434 Washington Boulevard.

billboard

The car speeds past a billboard that reads 'References Required Harry H. Culver & Co. Culver City.'

Arnaz Ranch

Perhaps this was used for the gangster's hideout, with the eucalyptus-lined road nearby looking like Robertson Blvd, later used in "School's Out" (no. 102).

C. Moore - Occulist

Since this serves a purpose in the story, I'm guessing the studio created this shop.

Mary Jane's yard

The location where Mary Jane is playing with her dog and pony, and gets kidnapped, is similar to the maid location in "Saturday Morning" (no. 6). I'm not sure if it's the same place, but it could possibly be.

Hal E. Roach Studios

The bakery location looks entirely like the New York street set at the Roach studio. I'm guessing that the Freetown sequence was also shot on the Roach backlot, but it doesn't have that familiarly distinctive look, so maybe not.

the props:

Puffed Wheat box

This is what Jackie hides in to escape the cop.

miscellaneous:

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