Auto Antics is a 1939 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 182nd Our Gang short to be released.[1]
| Auto Antics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Edward Cahn |
| Written by | Hal A. Law Robert A. McGowan |
| Produced by | Jack Chertok for MGM |
| Starring | Darla Hood Eugene Lee George McFarland Carl Switzer Billie Thomas Mickey Gubitosi Leonard Landy Tommy Bond Sidney Kibrick |
| Cinematography | Harold Marzorati |
| Edited by | Roy Brickner |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release date |
|
Running time | 10:05 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editBanners proclaim "Greenpoint's Proudest Day! - Mammoth Celebration Dedicating Our New Sewer System", featuring the Kidmobile Race with a first prize of five dollars. Our Gang's hopes to win the race are nearly dashed when town bully Butch (Tommy Bond) arranges for the gang's pet dog Whiskers to be picked up by the dog pound. But instead of demoralizing the gang, the impoundment of Whiskers merely gives them a stronger reason to win the race and claim the prize, with which they will pay the dog's license fee. There is no shortage of dirty tricks on the part of Butch and his henchman Woim (Sidney Kibrick), who try everything to wreck the Gang's chances and their homemade "auto."[2]
Cast
editThe Gang
edit- Darla Hood as Darla
- Eugene Lee as Porky
- George McFarland as Spanky
- Carl Switzer as Alfalfa
- Billie Thomas as Buckwheat
- Mickey Gubitosi as Mickey
- Leonard Landy as Leonard
Additional cast
edit- Tommy Bond as Butch
- Sidney Kibrick as Woim
- Baldwin Cooke as Luke
- Major James H. McNamara as Mayor of Greenpoint
- Joe Whitehead as Dogcatcher
Notes
editAuto Antics features the final appearance of Eugene "Porky" Lee, who was dismissed from the series after growing significantly taller (to the point that he became taller than George "Spanky" McFarland) during Our Gang's first year at MGM.[3] Robert Blake, who had just replaced Gary Jasgar as the tag-along toddler,[4] assumed the role vacated by Porky at the beginning of Our Gang's 1939–40 season of shorts.[3]
Darla Hood became ill during the filming of Auto Antics. One shot features the kids hanging on to the back of the dogcatchers' truck as it starts down the road. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was, according to Hood in a later interview, "in one of his little moods" and ruined every take of that shot. At the end of the thirty-second take, Hood passed out from the exhaust fumes and had to be escorted to the hospital.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. p.204 ISBN 0-517-58325-9
- ^ Hal Erickson (2011). "New York Times: Auto-Antics". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ a b Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. p.272 ISBN 0-517-58325-9
- ^ Demoss, Robert (5 November 2005). "Joy Scouts film no. 181". The Lucky Corner. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. p. 204 ISBN 0-517-58325-9
External links
edit- Auto Antics at IMDb
- Auto Antics at the TCM Movie Database
- Auto Antics at AllMovie
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