Fast Company

film no. 16

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies VII (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago, entitled "Speedy Action." It includes the original inter-titles (except for the very first one), but is missing several fragments and the last part of the film. The print totals 13:16, with 13:05 of it original footage. About two-thirds of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #3 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "The Big Switch". It's missing a lot of footage, but contains some at the end that's missing from the Video Classics copy. The prints totals 12:28, with 12:10 of it original footage. About two-thirds of the original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 8 (VHS) from Video Classics

This is the TV print, included on the copy sent to me in the spot that was supposed to be occupied by "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 3 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is the Mischief Makers print.

Jackie Remembers Our Gang - Memories from Little Rascals Family Theater (VHS/DVD)
from Jackie Taylor

A clip is shown on this tape lasting 2:46, with commentary from Jackie Taylor.

Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor

A clip is shown on this tape lasting 4:28. It derives from the home movie print, and Jackie Taylor and Johnny Downs provide commentary.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Charles Parrott and Robert F. McGowan

Maltin & Bann credit only McGowan, and the film probably reflects this, but without his middle initial. However, they also explain that McGowan was injured when a camera platform he was standing on collapsed, and that Parrott (better known as Charley Chase) directed the film initially. Parrott, however, had to go to New York on business, and the film was left in the can for at least a year, at which time McGowan proceeded to finish it.

Photographed by Harry W. Gerstad, Art Lloyd, and Robert Doran

This credit is based on the weekly payroll summaries of the Roach studio. During the 1923 shooting dates, Gerstad was the official cameraman of the Our Gang unit. During the 1924 shooting dates, Lloyd had just started to be listed as the official cameraman. Doran is also listed for the week ending June 21st. It's likely that Lloyd received sole credit.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably 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 in 1923
• still photographer - Gene Kornman in 1923, and Bud "Stax" Graves in 1924
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period, but Richard Currier and Bert Jordan were also in the editorial department.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Roy Seawright and Sherbourne Shields, the latter on the 1924 dates.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers. C. I. Norris and Cal Norris were providing monkeys for the Dippy Doo Dads series during this period, and may have provided the monkey seen in this film.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"

Lead role. He's essentially the center of the story line, and is featured more than any other kid, switching places with the rich boy to see what the inside of a hotel looks like.

Walter Wilkinson as "Little Rondamere"

Featured role. This obscure player from "The Champeen!" (no. 9) is given a rare starring role as the boy who switches places with Mickey. He subsequently joins the gang in their adventures. I'm presuming that his mother's name is on the telegram, making his character's last name "Von Swell."

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He's featured throughout most of the film to add comic punctuation. His big scene is the one with the hose.

Jack Davis

Supporting role. His last name is "McChicken," and Jackie is his little brother. He appears frequently throughout the short. Jack returned to the Gang after an absence of 10 months to take part in the retakes for this film.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. His last name is "McChicken," and Jack is his older brother. He mostly does ensemble acting in this film.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble acting in this one, but gets featured a bit in the early scene with his parents.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison as "Ernie"

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann give him the "Sunshine Sammy" moniker, but they also state that they haven't seen the film. He's known as "Ernie" in one of the prints that I've seen. Ernie returned to the Gang after an absence of four months to take part in the retakes for this film.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Small part. Maltin & Bann don't include her in the cast listing, but she's definitely in the film.

Lassie Lou Ahern

Small part. Maltin & Bann don't list her, but she signs photographs showing her with the gang in this movie. She's the little brown-haired girl running around the hotel with them.

Hal Eugene Roach, Jr.

Bit part. He's the one who turns on the hose to douse Farina. He was 6 years old at this time. Maltin & Bann reveal his presence in the updated version of their book, but only in the text portion. The cast listing hasn't been updated, and all of the kids in it are "presumed" to be in the film.

questionable listings

In the text portion for this film, Maltin & Bann also reveal that 4-year-old Margaret Roach was used. However, since Lassie Lou Ahern signs her name to photos showing the little brown-haired girl in the hotel sequence, I'm assuming that that's not Margaret. Besides, the story goes that both Margaret and her brother, Hal Jr., were featured in the scene shot at the Roach estate.

the animals:

monkey 004

Supporting role. This is a guess, as it might not be the same monkey. He's seen in the extended hotel sequence.

dog 001

Small part. He delivers the milk to Mickey's house.

mule 007

Small part. Previously appeared as "Featherfoot" in "The Big Show" (no. 7).

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The goat seen in Mickey's bedroom, which is presumably the same one pulling his cart. Possibly the same goat from "Giants Vs. Yanks" (no. 12).
(2.) Mickey's dog, who appears in the bedroom. The dog in the hotel lobby appears to be the same, though the implication is that it's a different dog.
(3.) A horse pulling the milk wagon.
(4.) A chicken in Mickey's bedroom.

bugwatch

A fly buzzes around Mickey's face as he tries to sleep.

the adults:

Helen Gilmore as the woman from the Traveler's Aid Society

Small part. Maltin & Bann don't list any adults for this film, but this is clearly her.

"Tonnage" Martin Wolfkeil as Joe's dad

Small part. I could be wrong, but it looks like him. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He gets clobbered by his wife. As he falls to the floor, all of the furniture bounces up.

woman 016 as Joe's mom

Small part. She does the clobbering.

woman 014 as the woman with the monkey

Small part. I'm guessing this is the same woman from "Dogs Of War!" (no. 14).

Roy Brooks as one of the desk clerks

Bit part. The guy Maltin & Bann usually list as Lincoln Stedman. He's one of the desk clerks.

Charles A. Bachman as the cop

Bit part. Just a guess, but I think this is who plays the cop.

Charley Young

Bit part. I think this is him falling out of the window.

Lyle Tayo

Bit part. Looks like her anymore, getting a torpedo blown up on her hat.

Del Henderson

Bit part. It sure looks like him, anyway, looking out over the lobby as the chaos ensues.

Charlie Hall as one of the bellboys

Bit part. Just a guess, but that's him carrying Farina out.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The fireworks salesman, who's shown with the man that looks like Del Henderson.
(2.) Mickey's grandfather, who sleeps with him.
(3.) Mary's mother, who trips with Helen Gilmore.
(4.) The woman that tells the cop that the gang climbed up the fire escape.
(5.) An additional desk clerk, who looks familiar, but I can't place the face.
(6.) The black maid, who gets spooked by Ernie. This might be a white man in blackface.
(7.) The woman who faints at the sight of Farina.
(8.) The receptionist at the Traveler's Aid Society. She hands the telegram to Gilmore.
(9.) The painter who kicks the kids out of the Cocoanut Grove room.
(10.) The doorman at the hotel.
(11.) The milkman, who we barely see at all. He works for Gordon's Dairy.
(12.) The train conductor, who we also don't get a good look at. He sits Rondamere on the bench.
(13.) Six bellboys, one of whom I mentioned as possibly being Charlie Hall.
(14.) Two smokers at the end of the film.
(15.) Several people around the train station.
(16.) Dozens of customers at the hotel.

the locations:

The Roach residence

Located in Berkeley Square.

hotel exteriors

I don't think the Culver Hotel had been built, but perhaps Culver City Hall was used.

Santa Fe Railroad Station

I'm pretty sure this is where Little Rondamere switches with Mickey.

miscellaneous:

The Lucky Corner Homepage