Series: Our Gang Director: Robert F. McGowan Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Editor: Stars: Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb, Allen Hoskins, Mary Kornman, Johnny Downs, Jackie Condon Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 28 June 1925 Length: 2 reels Production No.: A-40 Filming dates: February 16-27, 1925 Rating: 5/10

Official Officers

The gang are playing baseball in the rubbish-filled street (actually the Hal Roach Back Lot) but are having to constantly get out of the way of traffic. Along comes a policeman that nobody likes, "Hard-Broiled" McManus (Jack Gavin), who helps himself to some fruit from a grocer. The vendor complains to Inspector Malone, who happens to wander by. The gang, in their infinite wisdom come up with the ingenious idea to close off the street so that they can continue their baseball game without interruptions. They put up a "Street Closed" sign and erect boards to block the traffic from moving. Their game resumes with Joe hitting a ball onto the head of a complaining motorist until mean cop McManus steps in to break up their fun and orders the boys to dismantle the barricades and then to get off the streets. The gang find a quiet spot and continue their game with Mickey hitting a ball right through a shop window. The owner complains to the cop, who charges after Mickey and Johnny, but they go up some stairs and kick a barrel down which lands on McManus' head. He promptly ends up smashing through a window himself before giving chase to the gang. Whilst hiding from the cop, the gang encounter four boys who start a fight with them, throwing vegetables across the street at one another. This continues until Officer McManus gets whacked by a flying onion (well it looks like an onion when played in slow motion!) McManus rounds up the gang and is about to call it in on the phone when Malone comes along and shows some sympathy for the kids. Another cop, Officer Mac, comes by and immediately makes an impression on the kids. He spots a crying boy (Jackie Hanes) sitting on some steps and starts pulling funny faces followed by some silly dancing at an attempt to calm him down.

The trick works and Mary embraces the cop before calling the others over. The kids take turns in putting on the policeman's cap before the kindly officer decides to appoint them members of the Junior Squad. The gang ride their 'police patrol' wagon into town and then split up into territories: Joe is assigned to patrol the banana district, whilst Farina is sent to Powder-puff Loop. Joe introduces himself to the grocer, who tells him to help himself to some bananas. Joe stuffs a banana into his fat face before taking advantage of the generous offer, by eating several more when the grocer goes on a delivery. Farina stumbles into a rough neighborhood where a group of negro men armed with guns and machetes frighten him into leaving. Joe's greed intensifies as he returns to the grocer to have even more bananas, but this time the grocer has them on a rope which he pulls up into the air every time Joe makes a grab for them. Mary arrests a girl, Jackie gets a boy for speeding, and Farina drags his crying sister Jannie off to the wagon and then to a makeshift jail cell. Joe continues to stuff his face with bananas (the grocer must have an unlimited supply of them?) when he smuggles himself into a buggy being pushed by a woman who stops off at the grocers. Farina has trouble trying to keep his sister in the cell when she keeps getting out through the bars. Mickey accosts officer McManus who tells him he is no longer a cop on account of the gang getting him fired. But when McManus shoves Mickey onto the ground the rest of the kids to gang up on him. The fight is broken up by officer Mac, who gets clobbered from behind by McManus. The gang call over two dogs who chase McManus down to an abandoned barn where they attack him. Farina arrives to add his baton to McManus' head whilst the dogs rip his trousers off. The film ends with the rest of the gang catching up to the action before Officer Mac intervenes and helps McManus to his feet.

Favourite bit Joe Cobb's obsession with bananas!

Trivia • This was the 40th film in the series to be released. • Copyrighted May 18, 1925, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU21471. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain. • Premiered June 10, 1925 in New York City. • Hmmm, that cop is rather a bit friendly with Mary Kornman, don't you think? Firstly he sits her on his knee and then later even kisses her on the cheek. My opinion • Well if you enjoy looking at the Hal Roach Back Lot then you'll love this film! As for the plot, it's the usual... the kids having fun, dressing up as police officers and Joe eating more bananas than is humanly possible. There is a scene at the end where McManus catches his jacket on a circular saw which looks very uncomfortable.

	Mickey Daniels Mickey
	Joe Cobb Joe
	Allen Hoskins Farina
	Mary Kornman Mary
	Johnny Downs Johnny
	Jackie Condon Jackie
	Gabe Saienz Rival kid
	Elmo Billings Kid hit with tomato
	Jackie Hanes Crying kid
	Peggy Ahern Girl arrested for spooning
	Jannie Hoskins Baby
	Jack Gavin Hard-Broiled McManus
	Charley Young Tony, the fruit vendor
	Dick Gilbert Traffic cop
	George Rowe Cross-eyed motorist
	James Finlayson Angry motorist
	Chet Brandenburg Construction worker
	Tony Campanaro Vendor in wagon
	Todd Roark Kid

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

INTERTITLES (click image to enlarge)

GLASS SLIDE (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON THE BACK LOT (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: The Little Rascals: The Life And Times Of Our Gang by Leonard Maltin & Richard W. Bann (book) http://theluckycorner.com/rps/040.html (Robert Demoss/The Lucky Corner) This page was last updated on: 28 June 2023