Sunday Calm

film no. 19

availability:

This film is not officially available. I have, however, been able to view a 9.5mm print from the UK, albeit incomplete. None of the titles are original, but it looks like most of the film is there. I've also viewed a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, which includes the latter half of the film.

technical details:

Production A-19.

Prep work May 3, 1923.

Filmed May 4 to 29, July 3 to 14, and October 2, 1923. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Released December 16, 1923. It was the 20th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted December 24, 1923, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU19759. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Silent two-reeler.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Sunday Calm".'

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Probably credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara and Clarence Morehouse: Maltin & Bann only list McGowan, and the film probably reflects this, but without his middle initial. According to Rob Stone's list, McNamara directed on May 28th and 29th, while Morehouse (who is listed only by the last name Moorehouse) directed on October 2nd. McGowan is confirmed only for the July dates.
Photographed by Harry W. Gerstad: This credit derives from the weekly studio payroll summaries, which indicate that Gerstad was the regular Our Gang cameraman during this period.
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
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Mickey Daniels: Featured role. His first name is indicated in the 9.5mm print. His big moment is the phonograph prank.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Supporting role. The nickname is indicated in the 9.5mm print. His big moment is being woken up by the hog.
Jackie Condon: Supporting role. He's one of the "Tucker" boys, at least in the 9.5mm print. The original name is "Tuttle," as per Maltin & Bann. He's does mostly ensemble acting, but is the one who makes it possible for Ernie and Farina to join in, and also is responsible for the detached wheel.
Joe Cobb: Supporting role. Another of the "Tucker" boys in the 9.5mm print. He does mostly ensemble acting, but is given a solo moment during the toad-catching sequence.
Jack Davis: Supporting role. Another "Tucker" boy in the 9.5mm print. He does mostly ensemble acting in this one.
Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison: Supporting role. His first name is indicated in the 9.5mm print. He and Farina stowaway on the journey, but otherwise, he does mostly ensemble acting.
girl 015: Supporting role. She's Mickey's little sister. She's used minimally in this film, but is still one of the main players. Previously seen in "Lodge Night" (no. 15) and "July Days" (no. 18).

the animals:

dog 003: Small part. He eats the limburger.
other animals: Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The bear cub that disrupts the picnic, but turns out to be tame.
(2.) The horse pulling the wagon. Possibly could be one of the horses from "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).
(3.) A hog that wakes Farina up and chases him.
(4.) Several toads (at least three) appear, and according to Maltin & Bann, turtles and field mice are also present.

the adults:

Helen Gilmore as "Mrs. McTeeter": Supporting role. She's the mother of Mickey, and is the victim of the phonograph prank.
Richard Daniels as "Mr. Tuttle": Supporting role. He's the father of Jack, Joe and Jackie. The 9.5mm print uses the name "Tucker" instead of "Tuttle."
Clara Guiol as "Mrs. Tuttle": Supporting role. She's given minimal footage on her own in this film. She's the first one to notice the rain.
other adults: Supporting role and bit part.
(1.) "Mr. McTeeter," who's the first to notice the bear.
(2.) The bear trainer, who appears briefly.

miscellaneous:

33 days of shooting went into the making of this film. The 1923 studio datebook indicates that the Our Gang unit was 'preparing' for this film on May 3rd with director Tom McNamara. This was the day after Robert McGowan had finished initial shooting for "July Days" (no. 18). Actual shooting for "Sunday Calm" began on May 4th and continued under McNamara until May 26th. After the usual Sunday off, the Our Gang unit put in two more shooting dates on May 28th and 29th, but this time under assistant director Clarence Morehouse. Apparently, neither McNamara nor McGowan were available for these two dates. May 29th was considered the 'finish' date. No shooting took place on May 6th, 13th, 20th or 27th, which were all Sundays, nor on the 30th, which was Memorial Day. McGowan spent a day shooting retakes for "July Days" on the 31st, and then directed the unit through "No Noise" (no. 20) and retakes for "Stage Fright" (no. 17). On July 3rd, the day after retakes were finished for this last film, McGowan began working on "Sunday Calm" again, continuing until the film was considered 'finished' on July 14th. No shooting took place on July 8th or 15th, which were both Sundays, nor on July 4th, which was Independence Day. The Our Gang unit actually had a few days off before McGowan started the next film on the 18th, which was "Derby Day" (no. 21). Work started and finished not only for this film, but also for "Tire Trouble" (no. 22) and "Big Business" (no. 23), and Mark Goldaine had just begun directing "The Buccaneers" (no. 24) before "Sunday Calm" was finally completed. On Oct 2nd, shooting was divided between Goldaine's "The Buccaneers," and Morehouse's "Sunday Calm."

The datebook also gives information about what the weather was like on the various shooting dates. During the initial shooting in May, the weather was almost always described as 'clear.' However, it's described as 'foggy' from May 16th to 19th, and 'foggy AM' on the 15th. No description is given for the 13th, 20th, 27th or 30th. For the July dates, the weather was 'clear' on each date except the 11th, when it was 'foggy.' No description is given for the two Sundays or for the holiday. For the final date in October, the weather was again 'clear.'

This film was the second of six in the fourth 'series' of Our Gang films.

There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

Joe's reading the Los Angeles Sunday Times comic section at the start of the film. Jack also has some newspaper comics.

Copyright Jan. 21, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 4/25.
2006 updates: 1/9, 6/12, 8/20, 9/5.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 11/16.
2008 updates: 3/31, 4/27, 4/29.

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