Mike Fright | |
---|---|
Directed by | Gus Meins |
Written by | Hal Roach |
Produced by | Hal Roach |
Cinematography | Kenneth Peach |
Edited by | Louis McManus |
Music by | Marvin Hatley Leroy Shield |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 17' 11" [2] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Mike Fright is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the (42nd talking episode) 130th [2] Our Gang short that was released.
When open auditions are announced for a radio variety program, the local station is besieged by aggressively over-coached "professional kids." Also auditioning is the International Silver String Submarine Band—which turns out to be the gang, equipped (or rather, armed) with home-made instruments.
They suffer through an endless parade of cute kiddie troupers, and accidentally knock over the microphone several times, which inadvertently blows tubes and bulbs in the control room, causing the hat worn by the sound man, played by vaudevillian Sid Walker, to be literally blown off his head, and making his hair stand on end. The gang then steal the show with a rendition of "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze."
Musical numbers include Jimmy had a Nickel (by Maurice Sigler), My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii , and My Wild Irish Rose (by Chauncey Olcott), which is cut short because the gang is distractingly eating lemons! [1]
Mike Fright was the first Our Gang short since Pups Is Pups to not contain the opening "Good Old Days" Our Gang theme song. Instead, it was replaced with the Leroy Shield incidental tune "Little Dancing Girl", which appeared as background music in many of the films and would be the music used for the first 4 minutes of this episode. Because the nature of this film was a talent show with a variety of musical selections, additional background music was not used, nor was it needed.
Thomas Ross Bond was an American actor, director, producer and writer. He was best known for his work as a child actor for two nonconsecutive periods in Our Gang comedies. Also, he is noted for being the first actor to appear onscreen as DC Comics character Jimmy Olsen, in the film serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950).
The Our Gang personnel page is a listing of the significant cast and crew from the Our Gang short subjects film series, originally created and produced by Hal Roach which ran in movie theaters from 1922 to 1944.
The following is a complete list of the 220 Our Gang short films produced by Hal Roach Studios and/or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer between 1922 and 1944, numbered by order of release along with production order.
Pups Is Pups is a two-reel comedy short subject, part of the Our Gang series. It was produced and directed by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach, and originally released to theaters by MGM in 1930. It was the 100th Our Gang short that was released, and the first in the 1930–1931 season.
Our Gang is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the producer of the Laurel and Hardy films, Our Gang shorts were produced from 1922 to 1944, spanning the silent film and early sound film periods of American cinema. Our Gang is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively natural way; Roach and original director Robert F. McGowan worked to film the unaffected, raw nuances apparent in regular children, rather than have them imitate adult acting styles. The series also broke new ground by portraying white and black children interacting as equals during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation in the United States.
Our Gang Follies of 1938 is a 1937 American musical short subject, the 161st short subject entry in Hal Roach's Our Gang series. Directed by Gordon Douglas as a sequel to 1935's Our Gang Follies of 1936, the two-reel short was released to theaters on December 18, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Barnum & Ringling, Inc. is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 74th Our Gang short that was released and the first to have a synchronized musical and sound-effects track. The short's title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which closed 89 years after the short was released.
Boxing Gloves is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Anthony Mack. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 9, 1929, it was the 90th Our Gang short to be released.
Hi'-Neighbor! is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 126th Our Gang short to be released and Meins' first series entry as director.
For Pete's Sake! is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 127th Our Gang short that was released.
The First Round-Up is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 128th Our Gang short that was released.
Washee Ironee is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by James Parrott. It was the 131st Our Gang short that was released.
Shrimps for a Day is a 1934 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 133rd Our Gang short that was released.
Anniversary Trouble is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 134th Our Gang short that was released.
Beginner's Luck is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 135th Our Gang short that was released. It was also the first short for seven-year-old Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer and his ten-year-old brother Harold Switzer to appear.
Teacher's Beau is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 136th Our Gang short that was released.
Sprucin' Up is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 137th Our Gang short that was released.
The Lucky Corner is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 143rd Our Gang short to be released.
Our Gang Follies of 1936 is a 1935 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 140th Our Gang short to be released and the first of several musical entries in the series.
The Pinch Singer is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer. It was the 142nd Our Gang short released.