''Derby Day'' is a 1923

short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...

silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Robert F. McGowan Robert Francis McGowan (July 11, 1882 – January 27, 1955) was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the ''Our Gang'' short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933. Career Before moving to Los Angeles, ...

. It was the 19th ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') 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 ...

'' short subject released.

Plot

As the gang are selling lemonade across the street from the racetrack, they meet up with

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

, whose rich father owns one of the horses. She gets them into the track, and they are sufficiently impressed to start up their own junior version.

Critical reception

Upon its original 1923 release, ''Derby Day'' was well received by critics. ''

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

'' reviewer Roger Ferri commented, "Hal Roach's company of clever juvenile comedians makes Zev, Morich, and

Man o' War Man o' War (March 29, 1917 – November 1, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of all time. Several sports publications, including ''The Blood-Horse'', ''Sports Illustrated'', ESPN, and ...

look like 'also rans' in ''Derby Day'', about the funniest thing this mob has done for cinematographic entertainment. With the air topped with turf gossip this travesty on horse racing comes at an opportune time. . . . For originality, ''Derby Day'' can't be beat—you can't touch it. It's in a class by itself. . . . description of the theme does the comedy no justice—it's got to be seen, and once your audience see it they won't forget it." Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). ''The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang'', pp. 27-28. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.

Production notes

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 television syndication as "Mischief Makers" in 1960 under the title ''Little Jockeys''. Two-thirds of the original film was included. ''Derby Day'' was the last ''

''comedy for Jack Davis. The Film Detective streaming site has a different title card, which is indicating the title of the film as ''Derby Days''.

Cast

The Gang

Joe Cobb Joe Frank Cobb (November 7, 1916 – May 21, 2002) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the ''Our Gang'' comedies from 1922 to 1929. Early life and career Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Novemb ...

— Joe *

Jackie Condon John Michael Condon (March 25, 1918 – October 13, 1977) credited as Jackie Condon was an American child actor who was a regular in the '' Our Gang'' short series as an original cast member from 1922 until 1929, during the Hal Roach produc ...

— Jackie *

Mickey Daniels Richard Daniels Jr. (October 11, 1914 – August 20, 1970) 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 r ...

— Mickey * Jack Davis — Jack *

Allen Hoskins Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Univer ...

— Farina *

Mary Kornman Mary Kornman (born Mary Agnes Evans, December 27, 1915 – June 1, 1973) was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the ''Our Gang'' series during the Pathé silent era. ''Our Gang'' She was born as Mary Agnes Evans, the ...

— Mary *

Ernest Morrison Ernest Fredric Morrison (December 20, 1912 – July 24, 1989) was an American child actor, comedian, vaudevillian and dancer who also performed under the stage name Sunshine Sammy Morrison and was the only black member of the ''East Side Ki ...

— Sunshine Sammy * Sonny Loy — Sing Joy * Dinah the Mule — Herself

Additional cast

Charles A. Bachman Charles A. Bachman (July 12, 1882 - May 14, 1966), born Chester Arthur Bachman, was an American film comedy actor. He appeared in 29 films between 1923 and 1940 for the Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel ...

— police officer *

Richard Daniels Richard Daniels (23 January 1864 – 27 January 1939), was a Welsh-born American film actor. He appeared in 27 films between 1922 and 1926. He was born in Gwubach, Wales and died in Los Angeles, California four days after his 75th birthday ...

— trainer *

William Gillespie William or Bill Gillespie may refer to: * William Gillespie (actor) (1894–1938), Scottish actor * William Gillespie (New Zealand politician) (1893–1961), New Zealand politician of the National Party * William Ernest Gillespie (1912–1967), A ...

— Mary's father *

Wallace Howe Wallace Howe (March 4, 1878 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts – November 23, 1957 in Los Angeles, California), born Orlando Wallace Howe, was an American film actor. He appeared in 104 films between 1918 and 1936, including many films with Harold Llo ...

— gate attendant

References

External links

* 1923 films American silent short films American black-and-white films 1923 comedy films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films Our Gang films Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker 1923 short films 1920s American films Silent American comedy films 1920s English-language films {{short-silent-comedy-film-stub