REMASTERED • UNCUT • BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED
Now you can see The Little Rascals like never before! With restorations so glorious, it will be like watching these iconic shorts for the first time in The Little Rascals – The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1!
Hal Roach's Our Gang series is one of the longest running and most prolific in the field of short subjects with 220 one- and two-reel comedies released between 1922 and 1944. The secret to the longevity of the series, as well as its appeal to generations long after its conclusion, is mainly due to Roach’s choice to cast kids who came across as “natural” on the screen—scruffy underdogs that moviegoers could identify with or wish they could be—not glossy “showbiz professionals”.
After producing 88 silent Our Gang shorts, Roach transitioned to sound releasing 80 “talkies” in the series starting with Small Talk in 1929. It took time to fine-tune the adjustment from silent to sound, but soon the studio began firing on all cylinders producing classics like Shivering Shakespeare and The First Seven Years.
The Little Rascals – The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1 contains the first 11 Our Gang sound shorts produced by Roach at the dawn of the “talkie era": Small Talk to A Tough Winter—with each short newly scanned and restored from original Hal Roach 35mm film elements.
A must-have for any true Our Gang fan, Volume 1 features the talents of Jackie Cooper, Allen “Farina” Hoskins, Mary Ann Jackson, Bobby “Wheezer" Hutchins, Joe Cobb, Harry Spear and Norman “Chubby" Chaney.
SHORT SUBJECTS INCLUDED
1929: Small Talk, Railroadin', Lazy Days, Boxing Gloves, Bouncing Babies and Moan & Groan, Inc.
1930: Shivering Shakespeare, The First Seven Years, When the Wind Blows, Bear Shooters and A Tough Winter
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BONUS FEATURES
• Restoration Comparison (04:33)
• Zenobia Trailer (03:52)
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FILM SUMMARIES
SMALL TALK – Released May 18th, 1929
Wheezer is adopted out of an orphanage and the gang cause mayhem at his new home when they pay him an unexpected visit.
RAILROADIN' – Released June 15th, 1929
While spending their day playing in the railyards, Joe, Harry and Farina find themselves in a speeding locomotive without knowing how to stop it. Production notes: This was Norman "Chubby" Chaney's first Our Gang appearance.
LAZY DAYS – Released August 15th, 1929
Farina's lethargy gets the better of him while the rest of the gang hope to cash in at a local baby contest.
BOXING GLOVES – Released September 9th, 1929
Struggling boxing promoters Farina and Harry look to pack the house of their "3rd Ward Athalete Club" when they tap Joe and Chubby to challenge each other in a match. Production notes: This was Jackie Cooper's first Our Gang appearance and Joe Cobb's last regular Our Gang appearance.
BOUNCING BABIES – Released October 12th, 1929
Wheezer is jealous of the attention being given to his new baby brother and tries to remedy the situation by trading him in for a goat at the local hospital. Proudction notes: This was Harry Spear and Jean Darling's last Our Gang appearance.
MOAN & GROAN, INC. – Released December 7th, 1929
The gang hunt for treasure at an adandoned house without realizing that it's occupied by a lunatic. Production notes: This short features Edgar Kennedy in his first of four straight Our Gang appearances as well as Max Davidson in his only appearance.
SHIVERING SHAKESPEARE – Released January 25th, 1930
Ostensibly forced to perform in a local stage play, the gang end up in the middle of a pie fight initiated by disgruntled boys who were left on the sidelines after not making the cut.
THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS – Released March 1st, 1930
Jackie falls for Mary Ann, but at her bidding, he must duel "Speck" in order to win her hand.
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS – Released April 5th, 1930
On a dark and windy night, Jackie gets locked out of his house while Farina is scared of anything that moves.
BEAR SHOOTERS – Released May 17th, 1930
The gang plan a camping trip to shoot bears but unknowingly pitch their tents next to bootleggers who attempt to scare them away.
A TOUGH WINTER – Released June 21st, 1930
Stepin Fetchit allows the gang to come in from the cold and later attempts to help Mary Ann clean up her house after a "taffy pull" goes awry. |
Overview
