''Hook and Ladder'' is a 1932 ''

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 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 ...

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 116th (28th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released.

Synopsis

Answering the Fire Chief's request for volunteers, the Our Gang kids form their own firefighting squadron, replete with ersatz uniforms, a fire pole, a dog-and-cat-powered alarm, and a jerry-built fire engine that must be seen to be believed. After a few false alarms and delays, the kids are afforded the opportunity to put out a real fire, which they do with the expertise of veteran smoke-eaters.

Cast

The Gang

Sherwood Bailey Sherwood Bailey (August 6, 1923 – August 6, 1987) was an American child actor and civil engineer. His parents were nonprofessionals. He is most noted for appearing as Spud, the red-headed, freckle-faced bad boy and enemy of the gang in the '' ...

as Spud * Matthew Beard as Stymie * Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy *

Kendall McComas Kendall McComas (October 29, 1916 – October 15, 1981) was an American child actor. Career Born in Holton, Kansas, McComas first appeared in the '' Mickey McGuire'' short subjects series as a member of Mickey McGuire's gang and stayed throug ...

as Breezy *

George McFarland George McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in the ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' shorts were later syndicated ...

as Spanky * Dickie Moore as Dickie *

Buddy McDonald Thomas "Buddy"/"Bud" McDonald (October 1, 1922 – September 22, 2008) was an American child actor. He is perhaps best known as one of the ''Our Gang'' kids of the early sound period, and McDonald is prominently featured in the ''Our Gang'' shor ...

as Speck *

Harold Wertz Harold Wertz (August 3, 1927 – November 21, 1999) was an American child actor. Early years Wertz was born in Denison, Texas, and raised in Long Beach, California. He attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School, Woodrow Wilson High School ...

as Bouncy *

Pete the Pup Pete the Pup (original, 1924 – June 1930; second Pete, September 9, 1929 – January 28, 1946) was a character in Hal Roach's '' Our Gang'' comedies (later known as ''The Little Rascals'') during the 1930s, otherwise known as "Pete, the dog w ...

as Himself *

Laughing Gravy ''Laughing Gravy'' is a 1931 short film comedy starring Laurel and Hardy. It was directed by James W. Horne, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Synopsis On a snowy winter night, Laurel and Hardy try to keep their p ...

as Dog in Dickie's car

Additional cast

Gene Morgan Gene Morgan (March 12, 1893 – August 13, 1940) was an American actor. He appeared in 111 films between 1926 and 1941. He was born in Racine, Wisconsin, United States, and died in Santa Monica, California. Selected filmography * ''Rogu ...

as Fireman * Don Sandstrom as Fire hazard bit

Notes and critique

''Hook and Ladder'' is a

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...

of the 1926 ''Our Gang'' comedy ''

The Fourth Alarm ''The Fourth Alarm'' is a 1926 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 53rd '' Our Gang'' short subject released. It was later reworked in '' Hook and Ladder'' in 1932. Notes This is Mary Kornman's final '' Our Gan ...

''; hand made carts the "Our Gang" kids ride on in this film are exactly the same ones used in ''The Fourth Alarm''. Gags from the 1922 "Our Gang" comedy ''

Fire Fighters A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...

'' are also re-used. An amusing running gag involving Spanky McFarland's worm medicine punctuates this lively series entry. ''Hook and Ladder'' employed the usual jazz based scoring about two thirds of the time. One third of the time the film reverted to an orchestral music scoring with several tunes from the 1930 ''

'' film '' When The Wind Blows''. Most of the orchestral scoring was employed during the scenes where the gang was fighting a real fire. This marked Dickie Moore's first appearance. He would be a lead character but would only remain for a season. This was also

's and

's last appearances on the series. It is also the final time an ''Our Gang'' title card says: '' 'Our Gang' Comedies: Hal Roach presents His Rascals in...''

References

External links

* * {{tcmdb title, 823330, Hook and Ladder 1932 films American black-and-white films Films about firefighting Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films 1932 comedy films Our Gang films Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker 1930s American films