Dad for a Day (1939) — Our Gang / Little Rascals
Overview
- Type: One-reel comedy short (~11 minutes)
- Series: Our Gang (184th entry overall)
- Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Edward L. Cahn
- Writers: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan
- Release Date: October 21, 1939
- Genre: Sentimental comedy, family-themed ensemble
Cast
- Robert Blake (credited as Mickey Gubitosi) as Mickey Baker
- George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
- Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
- Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
- Leonard Landy as Leonard
- Louis Jean Heydt as Bill Henry — the gas station owner
- Peggy Shannon as Mary Baker — Mickey’s mother
- Arthur Q. Bryan as Spanky’s father
- Tom Herbert, Milton Parsons, Mary Treen, and others in supporting roles
Plot Summary
As the town prepares for its annual Fathers and Sons Day Picnic, the gang realizes their friend Mickey doesn’t have a father to attend with him. Mickey’s widowed mother runs a lunch counter next to a gas station owned by the shy and kind-hearted Bill Henry. The gang persuades Mr. Henry to be Mickey’s “dad for a day.” At the picnic, Mr. Henry wins every competition and bonds with Mickey. By the end of the day, he finally gathers the courage to propose to Mickey’s mother — something he’s wanted to do for years.
Style & Legacy
- A heartfelt MGM-era Our Gang short, emphasizing emotional warmth over slapstick
- Features Robert Blake’s early dramatic performance as Mickey
- Noted for its community spirit, fatherhood themes, and gentle humor
- Directed by Edward L. Cahn, known for balancing sentiment and ensemble pacing
- Reflects Depression-era values of kindness, surrogate family, and resilience
Streaming Availability
You can watch Dad for a Day (1939) in full on YouTube:
Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film – Pay to View
It may also appear in Little Rascals DVD collections or MGM family film anthologies.
Dad’s Day (1929) — Edgar Kennedy
Overview
- Type: Two-reel domestic comedy short (~20 minutes)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Hal Roach
- Story by: Leo McCarey
- Release Date: September 7, 1929
- Genre: Family farce, beach slapstick
- Language: Early sound (talkie)
Cast
- Edgar Kennedy as Michael Kennedy — the beleaguered father
- Eddie Dunn as Jimmie — the obnoxious boyfriend
- Irma Harrison as Irma Kennedy — the daughter
- Ben Hall as Benny Kennedy — the son
- May Milloy as Mrs. Kennedy — the domineering wife
- Gertrude Messinger as Gertie — beachgoer (credited as Gertie Messinger)
- Uncredited appearances by Charlie Hall, Chet Brandenburg, Eleanor Fredericks, Jack Roach, Rolfe Sedan, and Renee Whitney
Plot Summary
Michael Kennedy, a middle-aged father, tries to enjoy a peaceful Sunday at home but is constantly interrupted by his ungrateful family. Fed up, he escapes to the beach for some solitude. His family follows — including his daughter’s obnoxious boyfriend Jimmie, who torments Michael by switching bathing suits and stealing his clothes from the public lockers. The short builds to a series of slapstick confrontations, mistaken identities, and wardrobe mishaps, culminating in Michael’s failed attempt to reclaim his dignity.
Style & Legacy
- A classic Hal Roach domestic farce, showcasing Edgar Kennedy’s slow-burn reactions and physical comedy
- Features early sound-era pacing, blending silent-style slapstick with talkie dialogue
- Noted for its beach setting, family dysfunction, and pre-Code irreverence
- Part of Roach’s transitional shorts as sound cinema emerged
- Rarely screened today, but praised for its ensemble timing and Kennedy’s performance
Streaming Availability
You can watch Dad’s Day (1929) in full on the Internet Archive:
Watch on Internet Archive – Not Available
It may also appear in Hal Roach retrospectives or Edgar Kennedy DVD collections.
Dirty Work (1933) — Laurel & Hardy
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~19 minutes)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Lloyd French
- Writer: H.M. Walker
- Release Date: November 25, 1933
- Genre: Mad scientist farce, slapstick chaos
- Language: English
- Pre-Code Era: Yes
Cast
- Stan Laurel as Stan — the clueless assistant chimney sweep
- Oliver Hardy as Ollie — the pompous lead chimney sweep
- Lucien Littlefield as Professor Noodle — the eccentric scientist
- Sam Adams as Jessup — the butler
- Jiggs the Chimp as the de-evolved Ollie
Plot Summary
Stan and Ollie are hired to clean the chimney at the home of Professor Noodle, a mad scientist obsessed with reversing the aging process. Their arrival triggers a cascade of slapstick disasters: Ollie falls through the skylight, Stan nearly shoots him with a rifle while trying to fix the chimney, and the living room is trashed. Meanwhile, Noodle demonstrates his rejuvenation formula by turning a duck into a duckling. When Stan and Ollie meddle with the potion, Ollie falls into the vat and is transformed into a chimpanzee — derby hat and all. The short ends with Stan staring at the chimp and Ollie (now speechless) repeating his earlier line: “I have nothing to say.”
Style & Legacy
- A classic Laurel & Hardy “workplace gone wrong” short, echoing themes from Hog Wild and Busy Bodies
- Features early sci-fi parody, rare for the duo’s shorts
- Noted for its chimney slapstick, mad scientist tropes, and chimp transformation finale
- Frequently cited as one of their most surreal endings, blending physical comedy with absurdity
- Included in many Laurel & Hardy retrospectives and “essential” collections
Streaming Availability
You can watch Dirty Work (1933) in full on Internet Archive #17 on the List
Watch on YouTube
It may also appear in Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection or Hal Roach DVD sets.
Divot Diggers (1936) — Our Gang / Little Rascals
Overview
- Type: One-reel comedy short (~14 minutes)
- Series: Our Gang (142nd entry overall)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Director: Robert F. McGowan
- Writers: Jack Jevne (story), H.M. Walker (titles)
- Release Date: February 8, 1936
- Genre: Golf farce, ensemble slapstick
- Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
- Language: English
- Notable Fact: Robert F. McGowan’s final directorial entry in the series
Cast
- George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
- Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
- Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
- Eugene “Porky” Lee as Porky
- Darla Hood as Darla (in her second appearance, with blonde hair)
- Patsy May as Baby Patsy
- Harold Switzer as Harold
- Pete the Pup as Himself
- Jiggs the Chimpanzee as the gang’s pet chimp
- Supporting cast includes Leonard Kibrick, Billy Bletcher, Tom Dugan, Jack Hatfield, and David Thursby
Plot Summary
At a posh California golf course, the gang plays their own chaotic version of golf using sticks, tin cans, and a pet chimpanzee. When the regular caddies go on strike, the desperate caddy master hires the kids as replacements. Their antics — including Alfalfa’s disastrous club handling, Buckwheat’s jungle act, and Spanky’s sales pitch — drive the adult golfers to madness. The climax involves the gang accidentally commandeering a lawn-mowing tractor, tearing up the course and sending the golfers fleeing.
Style & Legacy
- A classic Hal Roach ensemble farce, blending child-led mischief with adult frustration
- Features early Darla Hood, still blonde from her concurrent role in The Bohemian Girl
- Noted for its golf course setting, chimpanzee gags, and tractor finale
- Includes several original Leroy Shield compositions, such as “Hot and Dry” and “Up in Room 4”
- Marks the end of Robert F. McGowan’s directorial run, closing a foundational era of Our Gang
Streaming Availability
You can watch Divot Diggers (1936) in full on Internet Archive #57 on the List
Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film
It may also appear in Little Rascals DVD collections or Hal Roach retrospectives.
Doctor’s Orders (1930) — The Boy Friends
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
- Series: The Boy Friends (first entry)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Arch Heath
- Writer: H.M. Walker
- Release Date: September 13, 1930
- Genre: Teen romance farce, slapstick deception
- Language: English (early sound)
Cast
- Mickey Daniels as Mickey — the scheming teen
- Grady Sutton as Alabam — Mickey’s lovesick friend
- Mary Kornman as Mary — the object of affection
- Gertrude Messinger as Gertie — Mary’s friend
- David Sharpe as Dave — the fake doctor
- Dorothy Granger as Dorothy — the maid
- Edgar Kennedy as Uncle Ed — the skeptical guardian
- Supporting cast includes Betty Mae Crane, Beverly Crane, Tiny Sandford, and Jack Hill
Plot Summary
Mickey and Alabam are high school boys hopelessly in love with Mary and Gertie. To win their sympathy, they stage a fake car accident — parking Mickey’s car in a tree outside the girls’ house. David Sharpe plays a disguised “doctor” who insists the boys be taken inside to recover. The girls, charmed but suspicious, agree. Uncle Ed (Edgar Kennedy) grows wary of the boys’ antics and sets out to expose their ruse. Chaos ensues as Dave switches disguises, administers fake medicine, and even dons a nurse’s uniform to keep the act going. The farce escalates with foot baths, mistaken identities, and a final chase through the house.
Style & Legacy
- Launches the Boy Friends series, a Hal Roach spinoff featuring grown-up Our Gang alumni
- Features early sound-era pacing, blending silent-style slapstick with talkie dialogue
- Noted for its preposterous romantic schemes, costume gags, and Edgar Kennedy’s slow-burn reactions
- Marks a transition for Mary Kornman and Mickey Daniels, moving from child roles to teen ensemble comedy
- Often cited as a rough but energetic debut for the series, with inventive setups and broad humor
Streaming Availability
You can watch Doctor’s Orders (1930) in full on Internet Archive #5 on the List
Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film It may also appear in Hal Roach comedy compilations or Boy Friends DVD collections.
Dogs Is Dogs (1931) — Our Gang / Little Rascals
Overview
- Type: One-reel comedy short (~21 minutes)
- Series: Our Gang (110th entry overall)
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Director: Robert F. McGowan
- Writer: H.M. Walker
- Cinematography: Art Lloyd
- Editor: Richard C. Currier
- Music: Leroy Shield, Marvin Hatley
- Release Date: November 21, 1931
- Genre: Domestic drama, animal comedy
- Language: English
Cast
- Sherwood Bailey as Spud (the spoiled stepson)
- Matthew “Stymie” Beard as Stymie
- Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy
- Bobby “Wheezer” Hutchins as Wheezer
- Dickie Jackson as Dickie
- Blanche Payson as the cruel stepmother
- Billy Gilbert as Mr. Brown (neighbor with a shotgun)
- Pete the Pup as Pete
- Nero the Dog as Spud’s pedigreed pet
- Lyle Tayo as Wheezer’s aunt (uncredited)
- Harry Bernard, Baldwin Cooke in supporting roles
Plot Summary
Wheezer and Dorothy live under the thumb of a wicked stepmother who dotes on her biological son, Spud, and his pedigreed dog Nero. Wheezer’s beloved dog Pete is treated like trash and threatened with the pound. Stymie, hungry and clever, visits and cons Spud into cooking ham and eggs by claiming “they can talk.” The gang feasts while Spud sulks. Later, Spud falls into a well and is teased before being rescued — only to be dropped back in when he threatens to tattle. When Nero kills a neighbor’s chickens, Spud blames Pete, prompting Mr. Brown to try and shoot him. Pete is taken to the pound, but a wealthy aunt arrives just in time to rescue the kids and the dog, kicking the stepmother out and reuniting the family.
Style & Legacy
- A darkly emotional Our Gang entry, blending slapstick with real pathos
- Features Stymie’s iconic “ham and eggs can talk” gag, one of the series’ most quoted lines
- Noted for its realistic child abuse depiction, which was later censored in TV syndication
- Includes Pete the Pup’s tearful close-up, a rare emotional beat for a dog character
- Frequently ranked among the most memorable and dramatic Our Gang shorts
- Reflects Depression-era themes of poverty, injustice, and hope
Streaming Availability
You can watch Dogs Is Dogs (1931) in full on the Internet Archive #25 on the List
Watch on Youtube
It may also appear in Little Rascals DVD collections or Hal Roach retrospectives.
Dollar Dizzy (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: 1930
- Genre: Romantic farce, mistaken identity, hotel slapstick
- Language: English (early sound)
Cast
- Charley Chase as Charley — the newly rich bachelor
- Thelma Todd as Thelma — the heiress dodging fortune hunters
- Edgar Kennedy as Quimby — Charley’s lawyer
- James Finlayson as the hotel detective
- Dorothy Granger, Charlie Hall, Ida Schumacher, and Dell Henderson in supporting roles
- Betty Mae Crane and Beverly Crane provide spoken introductory titles
Plot Summary
Charley Chase inherits a fortune and checks into a luxury resort, hoping to enjoy his wealth in peace. Meanwhile, Thelma Todd — also rich — arrives at the same hotel to escape men chasing her for money. The hotel mistakenly books them into the same suite, sparking a series of misunderstandings. Charley tries to avoid gold diggers while Thelma fends off suitors. James Finlayson plays the bumbling hotel detective who suspects everyone of something. Edgar Kennedy appears briefly as Charley’s lawyer. The short builds to a chaotic climax involving mistaken identities, romantic confusion, and slapstick brawls in the hotel lobby.
Style & Legacy
- A classic Charley Chase romantic farce, blending verbal wit with physical comedy
- Features Thelma Todd’s comedic charm, paired with Chase’s timing
- Noted for its pre-Code flirtation, hotel setting, and ensemble slapstick
- Includes Laurel & Hardy regulars like Charlie Hall and James Finlayson
- Often compared to The Pip from Pittsburg (1931) for its romantic misdirection, though this short lacks a musical score
Streaming Availability
You can watch Dollar Dizzy (1930) in full on both platforms:
- Watch on YouTube – The Sprocket Vault
- Watch on Internet Archive #2 on the List – Part of Charley Chase 1930 Collection
It may also appear in Hal Roach DVD collections or Charley Chase retrospectives.
Done in Oil (1934) — Todd & Kelly
Overview
- Type: Two-reel comedy short (~18 minutes)
- Series: Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly
- Studio: Hal Roach Studios
- Director: Gus Meins
- Producer: Hal Roach
- Release Date: November 10, 1934
- Genre: Art world farce, identity spoof, slapstick
- Language: English
- Alternate Title: Duel in Oil
Cast
- Thelma Todd as Thelma — aspiring artist posing as “Madame La Todd”
- Patsy Kelly as Patsy — her chaotic sidekick “Fifi”
- Arthur Housman as Arthur — the drunken neighbor turned art promoter
- Eddie Conrad as 1st French Art Expert
- Leo White as 2nd French Art Expert
- Art Rowlands, Rolfe Sedan, and William Wagner as additional critics and guests
- Betty Mae Crane and Beverly Crane appear in uncredited roles
Plot Summary
Thelma Todd is an amateur painter struggling to pay rent. Her roommate Patsy Kelly poses stiffly as a model while Thelma works on a canvas. When their landlord threatens eviction, their drunken neighbor Arthur Housman offers to help — by promoting Thelma as a famous French artist “Madame La Todd.” Patsy becomes “Fifi,” her French maid. They host an art exhibit in their apartment, complete with fake accents, exaggerated cleavage, and absurd paintings. Chaos erupts when Patsy, disguised in blackface as their cook “Magnolia,” serves dinner to a trio of French art critics. The ruse unravels in a flurry of slapstick, paint, and drunken antics.
Style & Legacy
- A classic Todd–Kelly farce, blending identity confusion with risqué humor
- Features Arthur Housman’s trademark drunk routine, a staple of Hal Roach shorts
- Noted for its pre-Code irreverence, including exaggerated physical gags and racial caricatures (including blackface, now considered offensive)
- Includes satirical takes on the art world, gender roles, and social pretension
- Part of the Hal Roach “girl comedy” series, following the departure of Zasu Pitts
Streaming Availability
Watch on YouTube – Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly
It may also appear in Hal Roach comedy compilations or Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly DVD collections.