Circus Fever

film no. 35

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 4 (VHS) from Video Classics and
Our Gang Comedies IV (VHS) from The Picture Palace: This copy is a home movie print by Pathé with original inter-titles. The opening title reads "Pathé presents His Rascals in Circus Fever." The print totals 23:44, with 23:30 of it original footage.

technical details:

Production A-35.

Filmed October 20 to 25, and November 1 to 4, 1924. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted January 19, 1925, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU21047. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released February 8, 1925. It was the 35th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

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

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1026, "Spring Fever," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17331.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Robert F. McGowan: This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: This credit probably appears in the film.
Edited by Thomas J. Crizer: This credit probably appears in the film. In an inside joke, the circus is called "Crizer's Colossal Circus."
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.
Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro: He was Pal's trainer.
Teacher: Fern Carter
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 as "Mickey": Featured role. Below his bedroom window on the outside wall, his name is spelled "Micky." As usual, he's the guy with all the bright ideas.
Joe Cobb as"Joe" aka "Joey": Featured role. He gets quite a lot of footage trying to keep from waking up.
Jackie Condon: Supporting role. He joins along with Mickey and Joe on their quest to see the circus.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina": Supporting role. He's a "she" in this film. He and Gene are quarantined, and he provides some comedy relief when the doctor comes to visit.
Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson as "Gene": Supporting role. He isn't given too much to do, other than be present in the scenes with Farina.
Mary Kornman as "Mary": Small part. She doesn't appear too much in this print, but she's the one that informs the boys that the kids are getting free tickets to the circus.
boy 035: Small part. He's the younger sibling of Mickey (who has to give him a bath) and Jackie.
David Durand: Small part. This is another younger sibling of Mickey and Jackie.
Johnny Downs: Small part. He's shown riding Mary around on his bike. This was his series debut.
other kids: Bit parts and extras. Quite a few kids are shown walking to school and into the school building. Maltin & Bann list Peggy Ahern (as Peggy Ahearn) and Ivadell Carter (as Wadell Carter), but they're not identifiable in this print.

the animals:

Pal: Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He gets some pretty good footage trying to wake up Joe.
other animals: Bit parts. Three kittens are shown at the beginning of the film, one of whom gets drenched by Mickey.

the adults:

Helen Gilmore as Mickey and Jackie's mom: Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's given a fair amount of footage in this one.
woman 035 as Joe's mom: Supporting role. She appears about as often as Gilmore. She later appeared in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51) and "Spanky" (no. 113).
Joseph Morrison as "Dr. Royal Fitzhugh Sorghum": Supporting role. He has an extended scene examining Farina and Gene.
Charley Young as "Doctor Pipp": Small part. He visits Mickey and Jackie and determines that they're not sick.
other adults: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Gene and Farina's mother, who could just as easily be a man, and is definitely a white person in blackface.
(2.) The painter shown briefly shooing the boys away after they've painted the spots on their faces.
(3.) Quite a few people shown in the background while Morrison is driving down the street.

the locations:

other locations: There are many locations that are illegible. Beyond the brick wall with the poster on it is a sign that says "Oak."

miscellaneous:

8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Roughly two and a half weeks after shooting finished for "The Big Town" (no. 34), the 'start' date arrived for "Circus Fever" on Oct. 20th. Shooting continued until Oct. 25th. After a few days, shooting began on "Dog Days" (no. 36). Filming was divided between the two films on Nov. 1st, and was devoted exclusively to "Circus Fever" on Nov. 4th, which turned out to be the last day of filming for that short. After this, filming continued for "Dog Days." No shooting took place on Sundays.

Doctor Pipp: "We must teach these little rascals a lesson - So they'll never dare play sick again -"

Even though the flyer advertising the circus calls it "Crizer's Colossal Circus," the poster on the fence is for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. The poster is weathered, since the June 2 date was already months into the past.

Mickey and Joe communicate with each other using a 'tube phone' that stretches between their respective bedrooms. At each end is a drawing on the wall which conceals the phone. At Joe's end is a drawing of a horse, which was later seen in "The Fourth Alarm!" (no. 53).

There were 33 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

©Feb. 6, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 3/16, 4/25.
2006 updates: 1/9, 6/12, 7/5, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 11/25.
2008 updates: 2/21, 3/31, 7/6.
2009 updates: 5/17, 5/18, 7/23, 7/26.

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