Uncle Tom's Uncle

film no. 50

availability:

That Old "Our Gang" Of Mine (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1992. This copy is a home movie print from Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago, entitled "Uncle Tom's Uncle." The picture quality is good. The print totals 31:10, with 31:05 of it original footage. The print is projected at a slower speed, but it's still apparent that almost all of the original film is included.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 6 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies VI (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This copy is essentially the same as Video Yesteryear's. The picture quality is fairly poor, and there's a little bit of footage missing. The print comes from Niles Film Products in South Bend, Indiana. The print totals 23:03, with 22:58 of it original footage.

Our Gang Volume #12 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is a home movie print from Blackhawk. There is a bit of footage shown here that isn't in the Exclusive version, but there is also some missing from this version. The print totals 20:31, with 18:49 of it original footage. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang Classics (VHS) from Jef Films

Released 1997. This is the Exclusive version, but with a Jef Films copyright shown at the bottom of the screen.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 7 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy is identical to Grapevine's.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by F. Richard Jones

Probably credited in the film as supervising director.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Assistant Director: Charles Oelze

According to Rob Stone's notes.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit probably appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

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.

Props by Don Sandstrom

According to Rob Stone's list.

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
• laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• editing - Bert Jordan, William Terhune and Lloyd Campbell were among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates and James Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll, Leo Samwell, Sherbourne Shields and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

the performers

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. He plays Uncle Tom in the gang's production, but is repeatedly interrupted by his mom.

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"

Featured role. He plays Simon Legree, and is the one in charge.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He plays Topsy in the performance.

Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bonedust"

Supporting role. He starts off as the dim-witted curtain puller, but is later part of the show.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Supporting role. She plays Little Eva.

Johnny Downs

Supporting role. He plays Marks, the lawyer.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He also has a part in the play.

Nancy McKee as "Nancy"

Supporting role. She's the other female lead besides Mary.

other performers

Bit part. The one remaining performer is the girl in blackface during the whipping scene.

kids behind the scenes

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He's basically a stage hand, getting more footage than the other backstage kids.

Jannie Hoskins

Supporting role. She's in the loft throwing eggs at the actors.

boy 031b

Bit part. He plays French horn in the orchestra, and also appears at the beginning of the film.

boy 032a

Bit part. He's the blonde boy shown at the beginning of the film.

David Durand

Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. Perhaps he's the piano player.

other kids

Bit parts. There are a few other kids working behind the scenes, including a door man and the boy riding the mule. There's also a cashier who looks like she might be Yvonne Armstrong, as shown in a contemporary casting directory.

the audience

boy 003

Supporting role. He's the tough kid that tries to break up the show.

Billy Naylor

Bit part. I'm pretty sure this is the Jewish stereotype in the audience.

Peggy Eames

Bit part. There's a closeup of her laughing when Joe takes the stage without his makeup.

boy 011a

Bit part. He sits next to boy 003. I'm pretty sure this is the same kid from "A Pleasant Journey" (no. 11).

boy 021

Extra. He sits behind boy 003.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. There are perhaps forty kids in the audience. Maltin & Bann list Bobby Green among them, but I don't yet know what he looks like.

questionable listings

Maltin & Bann list Scooter Lowry, Bobby Mallon, Jackie Hanes and Billy Butts, none of whom seem to be in the film.

the animals:

Pal

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's Joe's dog.

Buster

Small part. This is the dog that crosses the ice with Farina. Appeared as "Magnolia" in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51).

dog 034

Bit part. The dog from "The Big Town" (no. 34).

dog 003

Bit part. Appears to be the same dog featured in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).

dog 043

Bit part. Presumably the same dachshund that appeared in "Better Movies" (no. 43).

other animals

Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The goat that plays "Buchanan," who provides the explosion at the end of the film.
(2.) The mule, which Maltin & Bann identify as Dinah, but which seems to me to have larger nostrils.
(3.) The black cat that eats the dove.
(4.) The cat chased by Pal.
(5.) The piglet that plays Elsie.
(6.) The little dog seen backstage.
(7.) A large goose hanging around outside the barn.
(8.) A second piglet.
(9.) At least four chickens.
(10.) At least one pigeon serving as the dove.
(11.) A second goose hanging around with the large goose.

the adults:

woman 016 as Joe's mom

Supporting role. She appears repeatedly to wash Joe's face and put him to work.

other adults

Bit part. The only remaining adult is the mailman, who appears briefly blowing a whistle. We don't get a good look at him.

the locations:

Palms

Some of the footage taken on January 20th was shot in Palms. Other footage on that day was shot at the studio.

miscellaneous:

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