Kelly the Second (1936) — MGM – Patsey Kelly
Overview
- Type: Feature-length comedy (~70 minutes)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Gus Meins
- Writers: Jefferson Moffitt, William Terhune, Jack Jevne
- Cinematography: Art Lloyd
- Editor: Jack Ogilvie
- Music: Marvin Hatley
- Release Date: August 21, 1936
- Genre: Romantic sports comedy
- Language: English
Cast
- Patsy Kelly as Molly Kelly — a feisty lunch-counter manager
- Guinn Williams as Cecil Callahan — a truck driver turned boxer
- Charley Chase as Doc Klum — Molly’s boss and Cecil’s manager
- Pert Kelton as Gloria — the gangster’s girlfriend
- Edward Brophy as Ike Arnold — a shady promoter
- Harold Huber as Spike — Ike’s henchman
- Maxie Rosenbloom as Butch Flynn — a boxer
- DeWitt C. Jennings as The Judge
- Syd Saylor as Dan — comic relief
- Uncredited appearances by Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, Charlie Hall, Max Davidson, Harry Bernard, and James C. Morton
Plot Summary
After a traffic accident leads to a brawl, Molly Kelly (Patsy Kelly) discovers that truck driver Cecil Callahan (Guinn Williams) has a natural talent for fighting. She convinces her boss Doc Klum (Charley Chase) to help turn Cecil into a professional boxer. Their plans are complicated when gangster Ike Arnold (Edward Brophy) muscles in as Cecil’s promoter. Meanwhile, Ike’s girlfriend Gloria (Pert Kelton) sets her sights on Cecil, sparking romantic tension. The film builds toward a climactic boxing match, with Molly’s loyalty and Cecil’s integrity tested in the ring and out.
Style & Legacy
- The title is a pun: “Second” refers to a boxer’s corner assistant, not lineage
- Marks Charley Chase’s final feature film and his last appearance for Hal Roach Studios after a 15-year run
- Features Patsy Kelly’s brassy delivery, Chase’s understated comic timing, and Maxie Rosenbloom’s real-life boxing presence
- Noted for its blend of sports tropes, romantic rivalry, and Roach ensemble comedy
- Includes a gag recycled from The Three Stooges’ Punch Drunks, where a character becomes enraged by a specific tune — here, “The Irish Washerwoman”
Streaming Availability
As of now, Kelly the Second (1936) is not freely available on YouTube or Internet Archive. However, it may be found through:
- Turner Classic Movies (TCM) listing
- IMDb – Film Overview
- Wikipedia – Production Details
The Kick-Off! (1931) — The Boy Friends Series
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
- Series: The Boy Friends (10th entry)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: George Stevens
- Writer: H.M. Walker
- Release Date: December 5, 1931
- Genre: Sports farce, gangster spoof
- Language: English
- Filming Location: Hal Roach Studios, Culver City, California
Cast
- Mickey Daniels as Mickey — the ticklish football hero
- Grady Sutton as Alabam — his teammate
- Gertrude Messinger as Gertie
- Mary Kornman as Mary — the love interest
- David Rollins as Dave Smith
- Harry Bernard as Coach Mulligan
- Supporting cast includes Frank Alexander, Betty Bolen, Chet & Ed Brandenburg, Edgar Dearing, Gordon Douglas, Budd Fine, Dick Gilbert, Charlie Hall, Ham Kinsey, Fred Kohler Jr., and others in uncredited roles
Plot Summary
Gangsters kidnap the football team’s coach to sabotage the big game. Mickey and Grady, two bumbling players, must step up to save the day. Mickey, who’s hilariously ticklish and partially bald thanks to the team mascot, is forced into action. Despite the chaos, he becomes the unlikely hero, scoring the winning touchdown and rescuing the coach. The short blends slapstick football gags with gangster antics and romantic subplots.
Style & Legacy
- Directed by George Stevens, who would later helm classics like Shane and Giant
- Features early football slapstick, kidnapping gags, and tickle-triggered heroics
- Noted for its ensemble timing, Roach-style pacing, and transitional sound-era energy
- A standout entry in the Boy Friends series, showcasing Mickey Daniels’ post-Our Gang career
- Reflects 1930s fascination with sports, crime, and youthful hijinks
Streaming Availability
The Kid From Borneo (1933) — Our Gang
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~18 minutes)
- Series: Our Gang (122nd entry)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Robert F. McGowan
- Writers: Carl Harbaugh, Hal Roach, H.M. Walker, Hal Yates
- Cinematography: Francis Corby
- Editor: William H. Terhune
- Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
- Release Date: April 15, 1933
- Genre: Sideshow farce, mistaken identity slapstick
- Language: English
Cast
- George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
- Matthew “Stymie” Beard as Stymie
- Dickie Moore as Dickie
- Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy
- Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins as Wheezer
- Tommy Bond as Tommy
- Dickie Jackson as Dickie J.
- John Lester Johnson as Bumbo — the “Wild Man from Borneo”
- Pete the Pup as himself
- Supporting cast includes Henry Hanna, Harry Bernard, Otto Fries, Dick Gilbert, May Wallace
Plot Summary
The kids are told that their Uncle George — the “black sheep” of the family — is in town, but their father forbids them from visiting him. Their mother secretly sends them to meet him at the sideshow he manages. When they arrive, they mistake Bumbo, a tribal-attired “Wild Man from Borneo,” for Uncle George. Bumbo, who has the mentality of a child, becomes obsessed with candy and chases the kids while shouting his iconic line: “Yum Yum, eat ’em up!” Chaos erupts as Bumbo invades their home, eats everything in sight (including a can opener), and terrifies the family. The short ends with Bumbo throwing the father out the window after a misunderstanding.
Style & Legacy
- One of the most infamous Our Gang shorts, known for its wild physical comedy and controversial racial portrayals
- Features Spanky’s early comic timing, Stymie’s deadpan delivery, and Bumbo’s booming chant
- Noted for its sideshow setting, food gags, and home invasion slapstick
- Frequently cited for its problematic depiction of Bumbo, now viewed through a critical lens
- Still studied for its pacing, ensemble coordination, and transitional sound-era energy
Streaming Availability
You can watch The Kid From Borneo (1933) in full here:
- Watch on YouTube – 4K Restoration
Watch on Internet Archive – Our Gang 1933 Collection (scroll to “The Kid From Borneo”)
The Knockout (1932) — Hal Roach Studios / The Boy Friends Series
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
- Series: The Boy Friends (12th entry)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Directors: Lloyd French, Robert A. McGowan
- Writer: H.M. Walker
- Release Date: March 5, 1932
- Genre: College farce, boxing comedy
- Language: English
Cast
- Mickey Daniels as Mickey — the bashful freshman
- Mary Kornman as Mary — his romantic interest
- Jacqueline Wells (later Julie Bishop) as Jackie
- Grady Sutton as Alabam — Mickey’s friend
- Eddie Morgan as Eddie
- Gordon Douglas as Slug — the sophomore boxing champ
- Supporting cast includes Harry Bernard (referee), Fred Kohler Jr. (freshman champ), Dick Gilbert, Betty Bolen, and others in uncredited roles
Plot Summary
Mickey Malarkey Daniels is a shy freshman at Elmira College who’s never kissed a girl or thrown a punch. When Mary gives him a surprise kiss, Mickey discovers he has a powerful right hook. After accidentally knocking out the school’s boxing champ, Mickey is forced to take his place in the big match against Slug Mulligan, the sophomore bruiser. With Mary cheering him on and Alabam offering comic support, Mickey faces off in the ring — with ticklish nerves and unexpected strength.
Style & Legacy
- A classic Boy Friends entry blending college hijinks with sports parody
- Features Mickey Daniels’ post–Our Gang evolution, Mary Kornman’s charm, and Jacqueline Wells’ early screen presence
- Noted for its boxing gags, romantic tension, and Goofy-like laughs from Alabam
- Directed by Lloyd French, who also worked with Laurel & Hardy
- Reflects 1930s college comedy tropes, including hazing, pep rallies, and athletic rivalries
Streaming Availability – Internet Archive