Hal Roach Starting with “L”

A Lad An’ A Lamp (1932) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~17 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (119th entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Robert F. McGowan
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
  • Release Date: December 17, 1932
  • Genre: Fantasy farce, genie parody
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Matthew “Stymie” Beard as Stymie
  • George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
  • Dickie Moore as Dick
  • Bobbie “Cotton” Beard as Cotton
  • Donald Haines as Toughie
  • Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins as Wheezer
  • Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy
  • Pete the Pup as himself
  • Supporting cast includes Dickie Jackson, Georgie Billings, John Collum (“Uh-huh”), Bobby DeWar, Henry Hanna, and Jiggs the Chimpanzee

Plot Summary

Inspired by the tale of Aladdin, the gang gathers every lamp they can find — kerosene, electric, and gas — hoping to summon a genie. A series of coincidences convinces them they’ve succeeded: a fruit vendor rolls a watermelon to Stymie after a wish, and a magician from a nearby vaudeville show plays along. Spanky wishes for Cotton to turn into a monkey, and when a chimpanzee appears, the gang believes the transformation is real. Chaos ensues as they try to reverse the “spell,” leading to a chase, a diner invasion, and a near-shooting by police who mistake the monkey for a threat.

Style & Legacy

  • Features early fantasy elements in the Our Gang series, blending childhood imagination with slapstick
  • Noted for its chimpanzee gags, lamp-rubbing montage, and Stymie’s watermelon wish
  • Includes racial and ethnic humor now considered inappropriate; the short was later withdrawn from TV syndication due to these portrayals
  • Still studied for its ensemble timing, early sound-era pacing, and childlike magical realism

Streaming Availability

You can watch A Lad An’ A Lamp (1932) in full on these platforms:

  • Internet Archive – Full Short Film #114 in listing
  • YouTube – Not Available

It may also appear in Little Rascals DVD collections or Hal Roach retrospectives.

Ladies Last (1930) — The Boy Friends Series

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
  • Series: The Boy Friends (3rd entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: George Stevens
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Release Date: 1930
  • Genre: Teen romance farce, dance boycott comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • David Sharpe as Dave
  • Grady Sutton as Alabam
  • Mickey Daniels as Mickey
  • Gertrude Messinger as Gertie
  • Mary Kornman as Mary
  • Dorothy Granger as Dorothy
  • Supporting uncredited cast includes Eddie Bush, Blaine Comer, Richard Cramer, Paul Gibbons, Dick Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy, Helen McGowan, L.J. O’Connor, Bill Seckler, Leo Willis

Plot Summary

The boys are excited about an upcoming dance until the girls insist they wear tuxedos. Outraged, Mickey, Dave, and Alabam launch a “boycott” against the girls — refusing to attend the event and vowing to avoid romance. But the girls fight back with clever tactics to make the boys jealous, including flirting with other guys and staging dramatic scenes. The tension builds until the boys cave in, don tuxedos, and rush to the dance. Meanwhile, a pair of crooks infiltrate the party, adding a layer of slapstick chaos to the romantic showdown.

Style & Legacy

  • A playful reversal of Lysistrata, with boys refusing romance over fashion demands
  • Features early sound-era pacing, ensemble timing, and beach-to-ballroom transitions
  • Directed by George Stevens, who would later helm classics like Shane and Giant
  • Noted for its overhead beach shots, crook subplot, and teenage relationship satire
  • Part of Hal Roach’s attempt to age up the Our Gang formula for teen audiences

Streaming Availability – Internet Archive

Laughing Gravy (1931) — Laurel & Hardy

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: James W. Horne
  • Writers: H.M. Walker, Stan Laurel (uncredited)
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Music: Leroy Shield
  • Release Date: April 1931
  • Genre: Domestic slapstick, pet farce
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Stan Laurel as Stan
  • Oliver Hardy as Ollie
  • Charlie Hall as The Landlord
  • Harry Bernard as The Policeman
  • Charles Dorety as The Drunk (uncredited)
  • Laughing Gravy as Laughing Gravy — the dog (uncredited)

Plot Summary

On a snowy winter night, Stan and Ollie try to hide their beloved dog, Laughing Gravy, from their grumpy landlord, who enforces a strict “no pets” policy. The dog’s barking repeatedly alerts the landlord, leading to a series of slapstick attempts to sneak the pup back inside. Ollie ends up locked out, falls into a frozen rain barrel, and destroys the chimney trying to re-enter. Just as they’re about to be evicted, Stan receives a letter stating he’s inherited $1,000 — but only if he severs ties with Ollie. Stan ultimately tears up the letter, choosing friendship and his dog over money. In a final twist, the building is quarantined for two months, trapping everyone inside — and driving the landlord to despair.

Style & Legacy

  • A remake of Laurel & Hardy’s 1929 silent short Angora Love
  • The dog’s name “Laughing Gravy” is slang for liquor — a nod to Prohibition-era humor
  • Features classic Laurel & Hardy slapstick, snowy visuals, and tight apartment gags
  • Released in multiple versions:
    • Two-reel version (~20 min) — standard U.S. release
    • Three-reel version (~30 min) — extended foreign release
    • Colorized version — later restoration with alternate ending

Streaming Availability

You can watch Laughing Gravy (1931) in full on YouTube:

Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film

Watch on Internet Archive #22 on the List

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930) — Laurel & Hardy

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: James Parrott
  • Writers: H.M. Walker, Stan Laurel (uncredited)
  • Cinematography: George Stevens
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Music: Leroy Shield
  • Release Date: August 16, 1930
  • Genre: Horror parody, mystery farce
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Stan Laurel as Stan
  • Oliver Hardy as Ollie
  • Dell Henderson as The Lawyer
  • Fred Kelsey as Detective
  • Frank Austin as Butler
  • Supporting cast includes Baldwin Cooke, Charlie Hall, and others in uncredited roles

Plot Summary

Stan and Ollie learn that a wealthy relative, Ebenezer Laurel, has died under mysterious circumstances. Hoping to claim an inheritance, they arrive at a spooky mansion on a stormy night. The house is filled with suspicious characters, eerie sounds, and a string of disappearances. As the guests are picked off one by one, Stan and Ollie bumble through the investigation, terrified by bats, trapdoors, and ghostly apparitions. The short ends with a surreal twist: Stan wakes up in bed, revealing the entire ordeal was a dream — but not before Ollie is dragged under the bed by a mysterious hand.

Style & Legacy

  • A parody of early sound-era horror films like The Cat and the Canary and The Bat
  • Features classic Laurel & Hardy slapstick, stormy mansion tropes, and dream-sequence framing
  • Noted for its atmospheric lighting, bat gag, and surreal ending
  • One of the duo’s earliest sound shorts to experiment with horror-comedy fusion
  • Frequently cited as a precursor to later genre mashups like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Streaming Availability

You can watch The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930) in full on these platforms:

YouTube – Full Short Film

Lazy Days (1929) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (89th entry overall)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Robert F. McGowan
  • Writer: Robert A. McGowan
  • Cinematography: F.E. Hershey, Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Release Date: August 24, 1929
  • Genre: Domestic farce, baby contest comedy
  • Language: English (early sound)

Cast

  • Allen “Farina” Hoskins as Farina
  • Jannie Hoskins as Trellis — Farina’s girlfriend
  • Junior Allen as Thermos — Farina’s baby brother
  • Joe Cobb as Joe
  • Mary Ann Jackson as Mary Ann
  • Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins as Wheezer
  • Norman “Chubby” Chaney as Chubby
  • Harry Spear as Harry
  • Jean Darling as Jean
  • Pete the Pup as himself

Plot Summary

Farina spends the day lounging in a hammock while Trellis waits on him and Thermos crawls around unattended. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang prepares their younger siblings for a baby contest with a $50 prize. Joe tries to pass off Chubby — clearly not a baby — as an infant. Farina eventually decides to enter Thermos in the contest, but the stroller falls apart en route. After giving up and taking a nap, Farina learns the contest was held a month ago. The short ends with Farina’s laziness costing him the prize.

Style & Legacy

  • One of the earliest Our Gang sound shorts, blending silent-era slapstick with dialogue
  • Features Farina’s exaggerated lethargy, Chubby’s baby disguise, and stroller gags
  • Noted for its racial caricatures, particularly the portrayal of Farina as stereotypically lazy — a depiction that led to the film’s removal from TV syndication in the 1970s
  • Historically significant for its transitional sound design and ensemble coordination
  • Filmed on location in Culver City, California

Cultural Note

Due to its racially insensitive content, Lazy Days was withdrawn from the syndicated Little Rascals television package in 1971. It remains controversial and is often omitted from modern retrospectives, though it has appeared in home video releases and archival collections.

Streaming Availability

You can watch Lazy Days (1929) on these platforms:

Rumble – Full Short Film

Internet Archive – Full Short Film #6 on the List

Let’s Do Things (1931) — Pitts & Todd

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~27 minutes)
  • Series: Pitts and Todd (1st entry in the 17-film series)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Hal Roach
  • Writers: H.M. Walker (titles), Stan Laurel (uncredited gag work)
  • Release Date: 1931
  • Genre: Social farce, double-date comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • ZaSu Pitts as ZaSu — the timid, awkward friend
  • Thelma Todd as Thelma — the confident, glamorous counterpart
  • George Byron as one of the suitors
  • Charlie Hall as the other suitor
  • Maurice Black as the nightclub manager
  • Supporting cast includes Billy Bletcher and Harry Bernard in uncredited roles

Plot Summary

Thelma and ZaSu are invited on a double date with two bumbling men. Thelma is eager to go out and have fun, while ZaSu is nervous and socially awkward. Their night at a nightclub devolves into chaos: spilled drinks, wardrobe malfunctions, and a disastrous dance number. The suitors try to impress the ladies but only make things worse. The short ends with a slapstick chase and a ruined evening, but plenty of laughs.

Style & Legacy

  • The first official entry in the Pitts and Todd series, designed as a female counterpart to Laurel & Hardy
  • Features ZaSu Pitts’ trademark dithering and Thelma Todd’s confident foil
  • Noted for its nightclub setting, physical comedy, and pre-Code flirtation
  • The longest entry in the series at 27 minutes
  • Helped establish the duo’s popularity, leading to 16 more shorts through 1933

Streaming Availability

You can watch Let’s Do Things (1931) in full on these platforms:

It may also appear in Hal Roach comedy anthologies or Pitts & Todd DVD collections.

Life Hesitates at 40 (1936) — Charley Chase

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~15 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Directors: Charley Chase & Harold Law
  • Cinematography: Francis Corby
  • Editor: William H. Ziegler
  • Sound: Warren B. Delaplain
  • Release Date: January 18, 1936
  • Genre: Surreal romantic farce, time-freeze comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Charley Chase as Charley — a man plagued by strange time-freezing episodes
  • Joyce Compton as Joyce — the woman he’s drawn to
  • James Finlayson as Dr. Finlayson — the psychiatrist
  • Brooks Benedict as Harold — Joyce’s fiancé
  • Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Boy at Soda Fountain
  • Supporting cast includes Harry Bernard, Edward Earle, Andrea Leeds, Gus Leonard, Lee Phelps, Jack Raymond

Plot Summary

Charley barges into the office of a psychiatrist, claiming he’s experiencing bizarre episodes where time freezes and people around him stop moving. In these suspended moments, he has conversations that others later forget. He recounts meeting a woman named Joyce during one such freeze, who invites him to visit her — but when he does, she denies ever meeting him. Her fiancé Harold gets involved, leading to a series of surreal flashbacks, romantic misunderstandings, and more time-stopping episodes. Eventually, Charley wins Joyce’s affection, only to lose it again in a final freeze-frame twist.

Style & Legacy

  • One of Charley Chase’s most avant-garde shorts, blending screwball comedy with surreal time manipulation
  • Features freeze-frame gags, psychological satire, and romantic reversals
  • Noted for its quiet verbal parrying, dreamlike pacing, and Chase’s mastery of comic timing
  • Often cited as a precursor to screwball comedy tropes, with Chase as a transitional figure between silent slapstick and verbal farce
  • Includes a rare appearance by Carl Switzer outside Our Gang, adding youthful charm

Streaming Availability

You can watch Life Hesitates at 40 (1936) in full on YouTube:

Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film

Watch on Internet Archive #178 on the List

Little Daddy (1931) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (105th entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Robert F. McGowan
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
  • Release Date: March 28, 1931
  • Genre: Domestic drama, orphanage farce
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Matthew “Stymie” Beard as Stymie
  • Allen “Farina” Hoskins as Farina — Stymie’s older brother and guardian
  • Norman “Chubby” Chaney as Chubby
  • Jackie Cooper as Jackie
  • Clifton “Bonedust” Young as Bonedust
  • Shirley Jean Rickert as Shirley
  • Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins, Dorothy DeBorba, Mary Ann Jackson, and others appear as gang members
  • June Marlowe as Miss Crabtree (uncredited)
  • Otto Fries as Orphanage Agent
  • George Reed as The Parson
  • Charley Chase (uncredited) as Chubby’s singing voice

Plot Summary

Farina is left to care for his younger brother Stymie after their father is jailed. Living near a Black community church, Farina works odd jobs and borrows from the collection plate to feed them. When authorities discover the situation, they decide to place Stymie in an orphanage. Farina, heartbroken, plans a farewell party with candy and treats — but Stymie eats everything before the gang arrives. When the orphanage agent shows up, the gang unites to stop him. Miss Crabtree intervenes, and the situation is resolved with compassion.

Style & Legacy

  • One of the more emotionally grounded Our Gang shorts, blending comedy with social commentary
  • Features Farina’s dramatic performance, Stymie’s charm, and Chubby’s musical interlude
  • Noted for its portrayal of Black family dynamics, which led to its removal from TV syndication in 1971 due to perceived racial insensitivity
  • Includes a breakfast machine gag engineered by Charley Oelse
  • Marked the final appearance of Clifton Young (“Bonedust”) in the series
  • Considered a favorite by Matthew Beard himself

Streaming Availability

You can watch Little Daddy (1931) in full on: Internet Archive – Full Short Film – Internet Archive #20 on the List

Little Papa (1935) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~19 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (138th entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Gus Meins
  • Cinematography: Harry Forbes
  • Editor: Louis McManus
  • Music: Leroy Shield
  • Release Date: September 21, 1935
  • Genre: Domestic farce, babysitting comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
  • Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
  • Baby Patsy Dittemore as Baby — Spanky’s baby sister
  • Scotty Beckett as Scotty
  • Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
  • Dickie De Nuet as Dickie
  • Supporting cast includes Alvin Buckelew, Sidney Kibrick, Donald Proffitt, Ruth Hiatt (Mother), and Eva Lee Kuney (uncredited)

Plot Summary

Spanky is stuck babysitting his infant sister while the rest of the gang heads off to play football. Desperate to join them, he tries every trick to get the baby to sleep — from lullabies to rocking to feeding. Alfalfa joins in, and together they concoct increasingly absurd methods to quiet the baby. Just when they think they’ve succeeded, a loud pop from a football bladder wakes her up again. Their efforts backfire hilariously, and Spanky resigns himself to his “little papa” duties.

Style & Legacy

  • Marks the first appearance of Baby Patsy May (Dittemore) in the series
  • A classic example of Our Gang’s domestic comedy, blending childhood responsibility with slapstick chaos
  • Features early Alfalfa–Spanky chemistry, which would define the series’ later years
  • Noted for its bedtime gags, football subplot, and infant reactions
  • Reflects 1930s themes of sibling care and youthful independence

Streaming Availability

You can watch Little Papa (1935) in full on:

Youtube

The Little Ranger (1938) — Our Gang / MGM

Overview

  • Type: One-reel comedy short (~10 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (169th entry overall)
  • Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Gordon Douglas
  • Writers: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan
  • Cinematography: Robert Pittack
  • Music: David Snell
  • Release Date: August 6, 1938
  • Genre: Western parody, dream sequence comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
  • Darla Hood as Darla
  • Eugene “Porky” Lee as Porky
  • Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
  • Tommy Bond as Butch
  • Darwood Kaye as Waldo
  • Shirley Coates as Muggsy — the tomboy
  • Supporting cast includes Sidney Kibrick (Woim), Grace Bohanon, and members of Butch’s gang

Plot Summary

After Darla snubs Alfalfa, he accepts an invitation from tomboy Muggsy to go to the movies. While watching a cowboy film, Alfalfa falls asleep and dreams he’s a Wild West sheriff. In his fantasy, Porky and Buckwheat are his deputies, Darla is the damsel, and Butch is the outlaw. The dream unfolds with slapstick shootouts, horseback chases, and Alfalfa’s exaggerated heroics. When he wakes up, reality hits — and Darla still prefers Butch.

Style & Legacy

  • The first Our Gang short produced entirely by MGM after Hal Roach sold the series
  • Features Alfalfa’s signature crooning, Western spoof tropes, and dream logic gags
  • Noted for its cinematic parody, ensemble timing, and transitional tone as MGM took over
  • Marks a shift toward more polished production and moral-centered storytelling
  • A fan favorite for its blend of fantasy and rivalry

Streaming Availability

You can watch The Little Ranger (1938) in full on:

  • YouTube – Full Short Film – Must Pay to watch
  • Internet Archive – Not Available
  • Vimeo – Streaming Version

Little Sinner (1935) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~17 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (139th entry overall)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Gus Meins
  • Cinematography: Francis Corby
  • Editor: Louis McManus
  • Music: Leroy Shield
  • Release Date: October 26, 1935
  • Genre: Moral farce, outdoor adventure
  • Language: English

Cast

  • George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
  • Eugene “Porky” Lee as Porky — his younger brother
  • Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
  • Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
  • Sidney Kibrick, Donald Proffitt, Jerry Tucker, and others appear as gang members
  • Clarence Wilson as the cantankerous property owner
  • Ray Turner and The Etude Chorus as baptism participants

Plot Summary

Spanky is eager to try out his new fishing rod and decides to skip Sunday school, despite warnings from his friends. He sneaks off with Porky and Buckwheat in tow. Their adventure quickly turns chaotic: they’re chased off private property, wander into the woods, and stumble upon a riverside baptism ceremony. Just as a solar eclipse begins, confusion erupts — the kids and worshippers scare each other, triggering a frantic chase. Spanky ultimately returns to church, humbled and wiser.

Style & Legacy

  • Marks the first appearance of Eugene “Porky” Lee in the series
  • Features early Alfalfa–Spanky–Buckwheat chemistry, which would define the series’ golden era
  • Noted for its eclipse sequence, baptismal parody, and moral framing
  • Withdrawn from TV syndication in 1971 due to racial stereotyping in the depiction of Black worshippers; later reinstated in edited form, and eventually restored for AMC and MeTV showings in the 2000s
  • Reflects 1930s themes of childhood rebellion, religious morality, and outdoor mischief

Streaming Availability

You can watch Little Sinner (1935) in full on:

The Live Ghost (1934) — Laurel & Hardy

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Charley Rogers
  • Writers: Stan Laurel, Stanley Rauh, Charley Rogers
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Louis McManus
  • Music: Marvin Hatley, Irving Berlin, LeRoy Shield
  • Release Date: December 8, 1934
  • Genre: Maritime slapstick, horror parody
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Stan Laurel as Stan
  • Oliver Hardy as Ollie
  • Walter Long as The Captain
  • Mae Busch as Maisie — the floozie
  • Arthur Housman as The Drunk “Ghost” Sailor
  • Supporting uncredited cast includes Harry Bernard, Leo Willis, John Power, and Charlie Hall

Plot Summary

A gruff sea captain struggles to recruit sailors for his ship, which is rumored to be haunted. Stan and Ollie, out fishing, are roped into helping him shanghai a crew from a local tavern. They unwittingly become part of the crew themselves. Once aboard, the captain warns that anyone who says the word “ghost” will have their head twisted around. Chaos ensues when the drunken sailor (Arthur Housman) is mistaken for a ghost and tossed overboard, only to return covered in white paint. Stan and Ollie scream “We just saw a ghost!” — and the captain keeps his word in a hilariously literal way.

Style & Legacy

  • A standout Laurel & Hardy horror-comedy hybrid, blending spooky atmosphere with classic slapstick
  • Features Arthur Housman’s iconic drunk routine, Mae Busch’s vamp role, and Walter Long’s menacing captain
  • Noted for its foggy shipboard setting, neck-twisting gag, and sailor shanghaiing sequence
  • Preserved in multiple archives including the Library of Congress and UCLA Film & Television Archive
  • Frequently cited as one of the duo’s best short subjects for its pacing and genre fusion

Streaming Availability

You can watch The Live Ghost (1934) in full on YouTube:

Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film

Internet Archive #157 on the List

Looser Than Loose (1930) — Charley Chase

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: James W. Horne
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Release Date: November 15, 1930
  • Genre: Romantic farce, party comedy
  • Language: English (early sound)

Cast

  • Charley Chase as Charley — a well-meaning but flustered suitor
  • Thelma Todd as Thelma — Charley’s fiancée
  • Dorothy Granger as Maisie Johnson — a party girl
  • Dell Henderson as Mr. Henderson — Charley’s boss
  • Supporting cast includes Edgar Kennedy, Charlie Hall, Clara Guiol, Gordon Douglas, and Evelyn Burns

Plot Summary

Charley is about to get engaged to Thelma when his boss, Mr. Henderson, asks him to entertain some important clients — including a pair of flirtatious party girls. Thelma, suspicious of Charley’s intentions, decides to crash the party herself. When Henderson takes a liking to Thelma, mistaking her for one of the girls, Charley is caught in a web of misunderstandings. The evening spirals into chaos with jealous confrontations, mistaken identities, and classic Chase-style embarrassment.

Style & Legacy

  • A prime example of Charley Chase’s “comedy of humiliation”, where social situations escalate into absurdity
  • Features Thelma Todd’s sharp timing and Dorothy Granger’s breakout role
  • Noted for its pre-Code flirtation, nightclub setting, and ensemble pacing
  • Includes a cameo by Edgar Kennedy, marking his final appearance in a Chase short before moving to RKO
  • Often cited as a model for Chase’s sound-era rhythm and romantic entanglement plots

Streaming Availability

You can watch Looser Than Loose (1930) in full on:

Love Business (1931) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (104th entry overall, 16th talking episode)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Robert F. McGowan
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard C. Currier
  • Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
  • Release Date: February 14, 1931
  • Genre: Romantic farce, school comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Jackie Cooper as Jackie Cooper
  • Norman “Chubby” Chaney as Chubby
  • Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins as Wheezer
  • Mary Ann Jackson as Mary Ann Cooper
  • Matthew “Stymie” Beard as Stymie
  • Allen “Farina” Hoskins, Dorothy DeBorba, Donald Haines, Clifton “Bonedust” Young, and Shirley Jean Rickert also appear
  • June Marlowe as Miss Crabtree — the beloved teacher
  • Pete the Pup as himself

Plot Summary

Jackie is hopelessly smitten with his teacher, Miss Crabtree, and skips breakfast to rush off to school. Meanwhile, Miss Crabtree becomes a boarder at Jackie’s house, complicating his feelings. Chubby also has a crush on her and practices romantic poetry, which he later recites during a visit — hilariously sourced from Wheezer’s mother’s old love letters. Mary Ann confesses her own feelings for Chubby, leading to a rivalry she doesn’t quite understand. The dinner scene turns chaotic when mothballs accidentally flavor the soup, and a bedtime misunderstanding nearly earns Wheezer a spanking — until Pete the Pup intervenes.

Style & Legacy

  • A fan-favorite entry in the Miss Crabtree cycle, blending childhood romance with domestic comedy
  • Features Jackie Cooper’s emotional range, Chubby’s poetic antics, and Wheezer’s innocent meddling
  • Noted for its pre-Code flirtation, schoolyard humor, and family dynamics
  • Some scenes were edited from TV syndication in the 1970s due to racial stereotyping, but restored in later home video releases
  • Often cited as one of the most charming and emotionally resonant Our Gang shorts

Streaming Availability

You can watch Love Business (1931) in full on YouTube:

Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film

Watch on Internet Archive #19 on the List

Love Fever (1931) — The Boy Friends

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Series: The Boy Friends (6th entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Robert F. McGowan
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Cinematography: Art Lloyd
  • Editor: Richard Currier
  • Release Date: April 11, 1931
  • Genre: Romantic farce, mistaken identity comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Mickey Daniels as Mickey
  • Grady Sutton as Alabam
  • David Sharpe as Dave
  • Thelma Todd as herself — the glamorous actress
  • Mary Kornman as Mary
  • Gertrude Messinger as Gertie
  • Dorothy Granger as Dorothy
  • Edgar Kennedy as Thelma’s final “rescuer”
  • Supporting cast includes Eddie Dunn (theatrical agent), Gordon Douglas (chauffeur), Jerry Mandy (manhole worker), and the Crane sisters (title announcers)

Plot Summary

Mickey, Alabam, and Dave are heartbroken after being dumped by their girlfriends. Wandering the streets, they overhear actress Thelma Todd rehearsing a dramatic death scene in her apartment. Mistaking it for a real emergency, each boy rushes in to “rescue” her — and promptly falls in love. Thelma, amused, plays along with their affections. Meanwhile, the jealous ex-girlfriends overhear the romantic chaos and reclaim their suitors. The short ends with Edgar Kennedy arriving as yet another rescuer, adding one final twist to the farce.

Style & Legacy

  • A playful showcase for Thelma Todd’s comedic charm, blending romantic confusion with theatrical parody
  • Features early sound-era pacing, ensemble timing, and pre-Code flirtation
  • Noted for its apartment setting, death-scene gag, and boyfriend-girlfriend reversals
  • Directed by Our Gang veteran Robert F. McGowan — his only entry in The Boy Friends series
  • Includes Gordon Douglas’s first appearance in the series before becoming a director himself

Streaming Availability

As of now, Love Fever (1931) is not freely available in full on YouTube or Internet Archive. However, production details and cast listings are available on:

Internet Archive – #8 on the List

Love Pains (1932) — The Boy Friends

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
  • Series: The Boy Friends (12th entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: James W. Horne
  • Writer: H.M. Walker
  • Cinematography: Jack Stevens
  • Editor: Richard Currier
  • Release Date: February 13, 1932
  • Genre: Romantic farce, teen jealousy comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Mickey Daniels as Mickey
  • Mary Kornman as Mary
  • Dorothy Ward as Dorothy — her only appearance in the series
  • Grady Sutton as Alabam
  • David Rollins as Dave — the new heartthrob
  • Supporting cast includes:
    • Edward Dillon as Mr. Dillon
    • Blanche Payson as Mrs. Kornman
    • Harry Bernard as Policeman
    • Charlie Hall as Party Guest
    • Gordon Douglas as Rowdy Singer
    • Marvin Hatley as Piano Player
    • Ruth Hiatt and Shirley Jean Rickert in cameo roles

Plot Summary

A new boy named Dave moves into town and instantly becomes the center of attention, especially among the girls. Mickey and Alabam, feeling rejected, try to win back Mary and Dorothy’s affections. Their attempts include awkward serenades, party mishaps, and a series of jealous blunders. The short culminates in a chaotic party scene where romantic rivalries boil over, and Mickey’s efforts to impress backfire spectacularly.

Style & Legacy

  • A classic entry in the Boy Friends series, showcasing teenage romantic confusion and ensemble timing
  • Features Mary Kornman’s post–Our Gang maturity, Mickey Daniels’ slapstick charm, and Grady Sutton’s deadpan delivery
  • Noted for its party setting, musical interludes, and pre-Code flirtation
  • Marks the final appearance of David Rollins in the series
  • The only episode to feature Dorothy Ward, replacing Gertrude Messinger for this installment

Streaming Availability

As of now, Love Pains (1932) is not freely available in full on YouTube or Internet Archive. However, production details and cast listings are available on:

Internet Archive – #9 in the list

Lucky Beginners (1935) — Hal Roach Studios / MGM

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~20 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Gordon Douglas
  • Cinematography: George Webber
  • Editor: Leo Zochling
  • Sound: Joe Kane
  • Release Date: August 3, 1935
  • Genre: Variety farce, amateur talent showcase
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Eddie Foy Jr. as Host and Emcee
  • Ted Claire as Talent Contest Director
  • John Lutz as Tarzan Goldberg (trapeze act)
  • Harry O’Donovan, Ted Press, Charles Murray, Alan Janz, Leon Schindler, Beverly Burkes, Junior Smythe, Elsie & Georgia Jones, and The Cabin Kids appear in various skits
  • Uncredited performers include impersonators, singers, dancers, and novelty acts

Plot Summary

Presented as a mock talent show organized by the New York Daily Mirror, the film features Eddie Foy Jr. introducing a parade of amateur performers. Acts include animal impersonations, tap dancing, comic strip readings, spoon-playing singers, and a trapeze artist who remains suspended throughout the film. Ted Claire plays the stern director who “gongs” underwhelming acts. The show spirals into absurdity with increasingly bizarre performances, culminating in a chaotic finale with no declared winner — just Tarzan Goldberg still dangling from the ceiling.

Style & Legacy

  • A rare ensemble showcase from Hal Roach Studios, blending vaudeville parody with slapstick
  • Features Eddie Foy Jr.’s emcee charisma and Ted Claire’s deadpan timing
  • Noted for its episodic structure, ethnic impersonations, and pre-Code eccentricity
  • Includes several racially insensitive portrayals, typical of the era, which may be considered offensive today
  • Directed by Gordon Douglas, who would later helm features like Them! and Rio Conchos

Streaming Availability As of now, Lucky Beginners (1935) is not freely available in full on YouTube or Internet Archive.

The Lucky Corner (1936) — Our Gang

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~16 minutes)
  • Series: Our Gang (143rd entry)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Gus Meins
  • Writers: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan
  • Cinematography: Hap Depew
  • Editor: Louis McManus
  • Music: Marvin Hatley
  • Release Date: March 14, 1936
  • Genre: Street business farce, rivalry comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
  • Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
  • Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
  • Scotty Beckett as Scotty
  • Leonard Kibrick as Leonard — the spoiled rival
  • Gloria Brown as Gloria
  • Harold Switzer as Harold
  • Supporting cast includes Alvin Buckelew, Marianne Edwards, Donald Proffitt, Merrill Strong, Pete the Pup, and William Wagner as Leonard’s father

Plot Summary

Scotty and his grandfather Gus run a modest lemonade stand on a busy street corner. Across the way, Leonard and his father operate a flashy lunch counter and resent the competition. Leonard, lazy and entitled, complains until his father has a policeman force Scotty off the corner. Buckwheat’s father offers a new spot near his shoeshine stand, and the gang rallies to help. Spanky organizes a parade and talent show to draw customers. Buckwheat accidentally uses starch instead of sugar in the lemonade, which Leonard steals — leading to a hilarious spit-take and police intervention. The gang triumphs when Leonard is publicly humiliated by a vibrating scalp massager hidden in his pants, timed to “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Style & Legacy

  • A sequel to For Pete’s Sake! (1934), featuring the same father-son villain duo
  • Features classic ensemble teamwork, street-level entrepreneurship, and Alfalfa’s off-key singing
  • Noted for its parade sequence, lemonade sabotage, and Leonard’s “snake dance” gag
  • Filmed in 1935 but released in 1936, after Scotty Beckett had left the series
  • Edited for TV syndication in 1971 due to racial sensitivity concerns; restored in later broadcasts on AMC and MeTV

Streaming Availability

You can watch The Lucky Corner (1936) in full on YouTube: Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film

Internet Archive #58 on the List

Luncheon at Twelve (1933) — Charley Chase

Overview

  • Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
  • Studio: Hal Roach Studios
  • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  • Director: Charley Chase
  • Writers: H.M. Walker (titles), Charley Chase (story)
  • Cinematography: George Stevens
  • Editor: Richard Currier
  • Release Date: December 5, 1933
  • Genre: Domestic farce, mistaken identity comedy
  • Language: English

Cast

  • Charley Chase as Charley — the well-meaning suitor turned accidental painter
  • Betty Mack as Betty Schmaltz — Charley’s fiancée
  • Gale Henry as Mrs. Greta Van Geldt — the eccentric hostess
  • Billy Gilbert as Mr. Schmaltz — Betty’s father
  • Jack Barty as Ash Collector
  • Supporting cast includes Charlie Hall, Harry Bernard, Baldwin Cooke, Billy Franey, Rolfe Sedan, and The Ranch Boys (Jimmie Adams, Frank Gage, Marvin Hatley)

Plot Summary

Charley tries to impress his fiancée Betty’s family by posing as an interior decorator. He’s mistaken for a house painter and ends up redecorating the home of Mrs. Van Geldt, a wealthy socialite. Chaos ensues when Charley overdresses for the job and clashes with Mr. Schmaltz, who’s hosting a luncheon at noon. Billy Gilbert’s character adds to the confusion with his exaggerated German accent and temper. The short builds to a slapstick climax involving paint, furniture, and a vibrating table — all while Charley tries to maintain his dignity.

Style & Legacy

  • A classic Charley Chase “comedy of embarrassment”, blending verbal wit with physical chaos
  • Features Billy Gilbert’s signature sneezing and blustering, and Gale Henry’s eccentric timing
  • Noted for its luncheon countdown, ash collector gag, and interior decorator mix-up
  • Remade as Tassels in the Air (1938) starring The Three Stooges
  • Includes musical interludes with “Oh, Desdemona” performed by Chase and Mack

Streaming Availability

You can watch Luncheon at Twelve (1933) in full on these platforms:

YouTube – Full Short Film