Freddie Chapman Movies

In this western, Red Ryder tries to be a good example for a young man who idolizes his father, an outlaw. The boy wants to follow in his father's footsteps when the hero intervenes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

An interesting idea falls somewhat flat in this average Allan Lane Western, in which the young sister (Twinkle Watts) of a returning World War II veteran learns about the experiences of their grandfather just after the Civil War. Having served with Texas Cavalry, Jim Christie (Allan Lane) returns home to Corpus Christi only to be falsely accused of murdering a local commissioner. Escaping, our hero teams up with three desperadoes, Rocky (Tom London), Spade (Kenne Duncan), and Steve (Bob Wilke), and together they rob a stagecoach. But Jim takes umbrage to Spade's harassment of a female passenger and vows to go straight. That, however, is easier said than done and Jim's past is revealed by nasty saloon owner Wade Larkin (Roy Barcroft), whose reign of terror Jim has attempted to prevent. After beating Larkin at his own game, Jim is all set to give himself up to Marshal Dan Adams (Ed Cassidy) when the loyal Steve takes a shot at the lawman. The quick-thinking Jim takes the bullet instead and his heroism is awarded with a full pardon. After learning the story of Corpus Christi Jim, the modern day Captain James Christie (also Allan Lane) is made an honorary Captain of the Texas Rangers by the Governor of the State of Texas. Corpus Christi Bandits was the second to last entry in Allan Lane's initial Western series for Republic Pictures. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

In this western, brave Red Ryder and his sidekick save a murdered judge's son from going to jail by proving that someone else killed his father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

As the incumbent for the presidency of the "One for All and All for One Club," little Mickey (Robert Blake) is so certain he will win that he refuses to campaign. The situation changes radically when Mickey is challenged by political upstart Froggy (Billy Laughlin), who gains popular support with a steady stream of empty promises. But both candidates are in for an unpleasant surprise when Janet Burston appears as a write-in. The one-reel Our Gang comedy Election Daze was released on July 31, 1943, not long before the actual presidential campaign between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas E. Dewey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Venerable minstrel-show impresario Walter Wills makes his third and final Our Gang appearance in the one-reel comedy Doin' Their Bit. Hoping to entertain the military troops stationed in Greenpoint, Mr. Wills organizes the Our Gang kids into a junior USO troupe. In addition to performing a distressingly unfunny "boot camp" sketch (which attempts to garner laughs by making jokes about "dead Japs"), the gang participates in a brace of production numbers, slickly choreographed by Bud Murray. In the final analysis, the regular Our Gang members are virtually expendable: Most of the entertaining is done by a batallion of talented young dancers and singers. Doin' Their Bit was originally released on July 18, 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Another MGM Our Gang comedy that has next to nothing to do with Our Gang, the one-reel Helping Hands gets under way when Spanky McFarland receives a letter from his recently drafted older brother. Inspired by the letter's patriotic sentiments, Spanky and the gang organize a "home guard," prepared to do battle should the Nazis invade California. This attracts the attention of Army Major Sanford (Sam Flint), who informs the kids that they would be of even greater service to Uncle Sam by looking out for fire hazards, collecting scrap metal and paper, and encouraging their parents to buy war stamps and bonds. The humor level of this film can be gauged by the final gag, in which a group of diapered babies march down the street under the banner "Infantry." Helping Hands was originally released on September 27, 1941. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Our Gang member Mickey (Robert Blake) reads an article stating that one out of every four children born is Chinese, he begins to worry that his new baby brother will be Chinese as well. Spanky McFarland and the rest of the Gang put Mickey at ease by introducing him to the family of Spanky's new friend Lee Wong. Once he's learned that people are people no matter what their ethnic background, Mickey is mollified -- until he discovers that his much-anticipated "kid brother" is not only a girl, but twins to boot. Originally released on February 15, 1941, the one-reel Our Gang comedy Baby Blues might be regarded as patronizing and even offensive by contemporary viewers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the parents of little Eugene "Porky" Lee are threatened with eviction, the Our Gang kids decide to stage a circus to raise the rent money. Spanky McFarland doubles as ringmaster and acrobat, with Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as a singing trapeze artist, Darla Hood as a lion tamer, Billy "Buckwheat Thomas as the "Wild Man of Borneo," and Porky himself as "The Head Without a Body." Things come to a spectacular climax when the circus' animal attraction, a cranky mule, is "energized" by a bee sting. The one-reel Clown Princes was originally released on April 15,1939. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide