Cradle Robbers

Cradle Robbers
Cradle Robbers
	Intertitle
Directed by	Robert F. McGowan
Written by	Hal Roach; H. M. Walker
Produced by	Hal Roach
Starring	Mickey Daniels; Jackie Condon; Ernie Morrison; Mary Kornman; Joe Cobb; Allen Hoskins; Dick Henchen; Pal the Dog; Lassie Lou Ahern; Peggy Ahern; Jannie Hoskins; Lyle Tayo
Cinematography	Blake Wagner
Edited by	T. J. Crizer
Distributed by	Pathé Exchange
Release date	June 1, 1924;
Running time	20 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Silent; English intertitles

Cradle Robbers is a 1924 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan.^[1]^[2] It was the 26th Our Gang short subject to be released.^[3]

Synopsis

The boys cannot go fishing because they have to take care of their baby brothers and sisters. After trying unsuccessfully to sell their babies to some traveling gypsies, Mary shows up and tells them that her little sister just won a prize at the baby show.

The boys decide to enter their babies in the show, only to discover that all the prizes are gone except the one for the fattest baby. Mickey comes up with the idea to enter Joe as a baby. After Joe escapes, the gang decides to make their own baby show. When the parents discover their babies are missing they assume that the gypsies stole them. When the gang finds out that their parents are after them, they hide in the gypsy wagon, which drives off. As the police and parents chase the wagon down the street, the babies start falling off the wagon and the parents stop and pick them up as they continue running.

The adults finally catch up with the wagon, the gypsy is arrested, and the kids reunited with their parents.

Production notes

Cradle Robbers marked the final appearance of Ernie Morrison as "Sunshine Sammy." It also marked the first appearance of Peggy Ahern.

The early scene of gang entertaining their younger siblings with fishing poles was reworked in 1933's Forgotten Babies.

When the silent Pathé ‘’Our Gang’’ comedies were syndicated for television as "The Mischief Makers" in 1960, Cradle Robbers was retitled The Baby Show. Two-thirds of the original film was included.

Cast

The Gang

Joe Cobb — Joe
Jackie Condon — Jackie
Mickey Daniels — Mickey
Allen Hoskins — Farina
Mary Kornman — Mary
Ernie Morrison — Sunshine Sammy
Dick Henchen — Dick
Sonny Loy — Sing Joy
Pal the Dog — Himself

Additional cast

Lassie Lou Ahern — little girl in attic
Peggy Ahern — girl at baby show
Jannie Hoskins — Ernie and Farina's sister
Gabe Saienz — boy at baby show
Allan Cavan – police officer/baby show official
Beth Darlington – woman with bald boyfriend
William Gillespie – officer chasing Joe/Gypsy
Helen Gilmore – Jackie's mother
Clara Guiol – baby show official
Lyle Tayo – angry mother
Dorothy Vernon – angry mother

References

^ "Silent Era: Cradle Robbers". silentera. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
^ Hal Erickson (2011). "New York Times: Cradle Robbers". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
^ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0. Retrieved March 3, 2024.

External links

Cradle Robbers at IMDb

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[silentera-1] "Silent Era: Cradle Robbers". silentera. Retrieved September 13, 2008.

[NY_Times-2] Hal Erickson (2011). "New York Times: Cradle Robbers". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2008.

[3] Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0. Retrieved March 3, 2024.

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