The Big Show | |
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Directed by | Robert F. McGowan |
Written by | Hal Roach H. M. Walker |
Produced by | Hal Roach |
Starring | Joe Cobb Jackie Condon Mickey Daniels Jack Davis Allen Hoskins Mary Kornman Ernie Morrison Andy Samuel Dick Gilbert Billy Lord Lincoln Stedman |
Cinematography | Len Powers |
Distributed by | Pathé |
Release date |
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Running time | 20 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Big Show is the ninth Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series (later known as "The Little Rascals") was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944. [1]
After being chased away from the county fair, the gang decides to open their own junior version of the fair, complete with wild animal displays, rides, and animal stunts. To top it off, they give a live performance set inside a giant movie frame, and impersonate several popular film stars of the day.
When the television rights for the original silent Pathé Our Gang comedies were sold to National Telepix and other distributors, several episodes were retitled. This film was released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers in 1960 under the title "County Fair". About two-thirds of the original film was included.
The second half of the film features a sequence with a handful of the "Our Gang" kids impersonating various popular movie stars of the day. Hal Roach had the idea for this scene after auditioning newcomer Andy Samuel. Andy decided to show Roach his impersonation of Charlie Chaplin; he also does his Chaplin impersonation in this film. In addition, Mickey Daniels imitates Douglas Fairbanks, Jack Davis imitates William S. Hart, Mary Kornman impersonates Mary Pickford, an unidentified kid impersonates Harold Lloyd, and Ernest Morrison imitates Uncle Tom (from the play Uncle Tom's Cabin ).
Richard Daniels Jr. known professionally as Mickey Daniels, was an American actor. Signed by Hal Roach in 1921, he was, along with Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon, Jackie Davis, Mary Kornman, and Ernie Morrison, a regular in the popular Our Gang comedies during the silent era of the series, between 1922 and 1926.
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.
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.
Dogs of War! is a 1923 silent short subject, the fourteenth entry in Hal Roach's Our Gang series. Directed by Robert F. McGowan, the two-reel short was released to theaters in July 1923 by Pathé Exchange. The short was filmed alongside Why Worry?, a feature comedy produced by Roach and starring Harold Lloyd, who makes a cameo appearance in Dogs of War as himself.
One Terrible Day is a 1922 American silent short film, the first entry in Hal Roach's Our Gang series to be released. Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara, the two-reel short was released to theaters on September 10, 1922 by Pathé.
The Champeen is the seventh Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
The Cobbler is the eighth Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
A Pleasant Journey is a 1923 silent short comedy film and the tenth Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
Boys to Board is the 11th Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
Giants vs. Yanks is the 12th Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
Lodge Night is the 15th Our Gang short subject comedy to be released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
July Days is the 16th entry in the Our Gang short subject comedy series. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
No Noise is the 17th entry in the Our Gang short subject comedy series. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
Stage Fright is the 18th entry in the Our Gang short subject comedy series. The series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.
Big Business is a 1924 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 22nd Our Gang short subject to be released.
Commencement Day is a 1924 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 25th Our Gang short subject to be released.
Fast Company is a 1924 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 32nd Our Gang short subject to be released.
Official Officers is a 1925 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 40th Our Gang short subject to be released.
Uncle Tom's Uncle is a 1926 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 50th Our Gang short subject to be released.