Fightin' Fools
| Fightin' Fools | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Edward Cahn |
| Written by |
Hal Law Robert A. McGowan |
| Cinematography | Clyde De Vinna |
| Edited by | Leon Borgeau |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 8' 53" |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Fightin' Fools is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 195th Our Gang short (196th episode, 107th talking short, 108th talking episode, and 27th MGM produced episode) that was released.
Plot
The gang is swimming in their favorite swimming hole, except for Tubby, who is scared to jump in. He finally does and his great weight and size causes all the water to splash out of the swimming hole, leaving the gang dry. Meanwhile, bully "Slicker" and his friends tie knots in the Our Gang kids' clothes and when the gang finds them, a total war is declared. Commandeered by Spanky, Buckwheat, and Tubby, the gang staves off Slicker's "troops" with a barrage of fruit, vegetables, rotten eggs and Limburger cheese. For a while, it looks as though Slicker has gained the upper hand, but the gang successfully mounts an aerial counteroffensive.[1]
Notes
Though this film is not generally rated highly, it does have a few aspects that set it apart from other Our Gang films of the era. The cast is entirely made up of children, one of very few such instances at M-G-M. It is also one of the few Our Gang shorts since the mid-1930's to be filmed almost entirely out of doors. Finally there is a strong emphasis on sight gags, though they occur at a relatively low density compared to earlier films. Nonetheless these things taken together make this perhaps the closest the M-G-M era ever came to the feel of the McGowan era Our Gang. There is evidence within the film that this may be a conscious effort. The war takes place on "McGowan's Lot."
Cast
The Gang
- Mickey Gubitosi (later known as Robert Blake) as Mickey
- Billy Laughlin as Froggy
- George McFarland as Spanky
- Billie Thomas as Buckwheat
- Leonard Landy as Leonard
- Joe Strauch, Jr. as Tubby
Additional cast
- Freddie Walburn as Slicker
- Hugh "Dewey" Binyon as Member of Slicker's gang
- Vincent Graeff as Member of Slicker's gang
- Tommy Tobin as Member of Slicker's gang
See also
References
- ↑ "New York Times: Fightin'-Fools". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-10-08.