Janet Burston Movies
- 1944
Our Gang member Froggy (Billy Laughlin) is in love with pretty ballet student Marilyn (Valerie Lee), but she is dedicated to her art. To win Marilyn's affections, Froggy tries to pass himself off as a master terpsichorean, with the assistance of the other gang members -- and a complicated block-and-tackle system. The pas de deux between youthful ballet dancers Valerie Lee and Bobby Browning is the only memorable aspect of this hackneyed one-reeler. Though not the final Our Gang comedy to be filmed, Dancing Romeo was the last to be released, on April 29, 1944. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1944
In this wartime comedy, a spoiled socialite attempts to endure army life after marrying a lieutenant. The constant traveling and inadequate quarters are almost more than she can bear. That she cannot get along with the other soldier's wives makes matters worse. When her husband's unit is placed on alert, she tries to get her father to help him get assigned a permanent position stateside. The couple then has a misunderstanding when he falsely believes that she is with child. Finally the woman begins to understand the nature of true patriotism and begins supporting her husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Frank Latimore, (more)
- 1944
MGM's Our Gang series had fallen into such disrepute by 1944 that the studio released the series' valedictory offering, Tale of a Dog, as an "MGM Miniature." This one begins as black youngsters Buckwheat (Billie Thomas) and Big Shot (Cordell Hickman) decide to give their dog Smallpox to the Our Gang kids as a present. Overhearing this, the gang misunderstands, thinking that "smallpox" is the dreaded contagious disease rather than a pooch. Within minutes, the kids manage to spread rumors about an impending smallpox epidemic, and before long the entire city -- and the Board of Health -- is in a state of panic. It is hard to determine which scene in this film is worse: the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" curtain speech delivered by the mayor or the appalling racial humor when Buckwheat's mom (Willa Pearl Curtis) misinterprets the doctor's instructions to "isolate" her son. Then there's the closing gag, in which Smallpox the dog speaks in an exaggerated Negro dialect. First shown on April 15, 1944, Tale of a Dog was the final Our Gang one-reeler to be filmed, but not the last to be released; that dubious honor went to the equally unfunny Dancing Romeo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1944
Inspired by the success of his favorite comedian Red Skelton, Our Gang member Froggy (Billy Laughlin) decides to become a radio star. Armed with a tattered joke book and a vast array of "funny" props, Froggy and the other gang members begin searching for a suitable radio sponsor, starting in the waiting room of a dentist's office. Eventually, the kids abandon comedy in favor of Shakespearean drama, with even less success. This Our Gang one-reeler has so little going for it that the viewer is advised to forget the plot and concentrate on the talented supporting cast, including such veteran performers as Brandon Hurst, Chester Clute, Morris Ankrum, Jack "Tiny" Lipson, and Joe Yule Sr. (father of Mickey Rooney). Radio Bugs was originally released on April 1, 1944. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billy "Froggy" Laughlin, (more)
- 1943
Arguably the least entertaining of all the MGM Our Gang mini-musicals, Calling All Kids finds the gang invading a local radio station to perform a revue honoring the U.S. military. Amidst such dubious highlights as a "recruting office" sketch featuring the less-than-dynamic duo of Mickey (Robert Blake and Froggy (Billy Laughlin), and a closing ensemble piece with lyrics that rhyme "Taxes" with "Axis," the film features an extended celebrity-impression routine, with Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas imitating Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and other kids posing as Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Carmen Miranda, and Virginia O'Brien. Calling All Kids was originally released on April 24, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1943
Our Gang member Janet Burston believes that her family is neglecting her, so she decides to run away from home. The other gang members try to help Janet get adopted (or "adapted") by a more agreeable family, choosing a kindly elderly couple (Sarah Padden and Harry C. Bradley) for the honor. But when the old couple discover that Janet is a runaway, they decide to teach her a lesson by creating a home atmosphere so unpleasant and demanding that she'll be begging to return to her own kinfolk. The only noteworthy aspect of this Our Gang copy is the supporting-cast presence of British actress Elspeth Dudgeon, who previously played the centenarian patriarch of the eccentric Femm family in the 1932 horror classic The Old Dark House. The one-reel Family Troubles was originally released on April 3, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1943
The "three smart guys" in this one-reel MGM Our Gang comedy are Mickey (Robert Blake), Froggy (Billy Laughlin), and Buckwheat (Billie Thomas), who devise a scheme to play hooky from school and go fishing. But upon arriving at the river bank, the kids make the acquaintance of a friendly hobo (Edward Fielding), who advises them that they'll never hook the "fish" of success unless they return to school. Duly chastened, the boys rush off to the schoolhouse just in time for the first bell. Three Smart Guys was originally released on October 23, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1943
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
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1942
Future film star Stephen McNally (here billed as Horace McNally) appears in this Our Gang one-reeler as Bill Patterson, ace director at Mammoth Studios. On the say-so of studio casting director J.D. Broderick (Bryon Shores), Patterson agrees to give a screen test to the Our Gang kids' talented dog Rover. Alas, the petulant pooch does not take direction well, nor does he respond positively when the cameraman announces that he's "ready to shoot." Originally released on August 22, 1942, Rover's Big Chance could charitably be described as a one-joke film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Bobby Blake, (more)
- 1942
The Our Gang kids are upset that WWII is causing them deprivations and inconveniences. Organizing a fact-finding committee, Gang members Mickey (Robert Blake), Froggy (Billy Laughlin), Buckwheat (Billy Thomas), and Janet Burston try to determine what to do about the present national crisis. With the help of a convenient copy of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, the kids stage a play in which they cathartically come to grips with the sacrifices indigenous to the war effor, and provide patriotic solutions to the situation. The one-reel Our Gang propaganda piece Benjamin Franklin Jr. was originally released on January 30, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1942
Upset because, as a leap year baby, he only has a birthday every four years, Our Gang member Billy "Froggy" Laughlin bemoans the fact that he has never had a birthday party. The gang decides to throw a surprise party in Froggy's honor, but to keep him in the dark, they pretend to kick him out of the clubhouse. Vengefully, Froggy sneaks back and sets all sorts of booby-traps for the other gang members. But -- you guessed it -- when the party takes place, it is Froggy who bears the brunt of his pre-set pranks. Originally released on May 30, 1942, the one-reel Our Gang comedy Surprised Parties is but a pale shadow of the series' vintage entries of the '20s and '30s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Mickey Gubitosi, (more)
- 1942
Just as they did in the 1941 Our Gang comedy Ye Olde Minstrels, the gang prevails upon old-time minstrel impresario Walter Wills to help them stage a fund-raising musical show. Highlights include the ensemble number "When Grandma Wore a Bustle", the barbershop-quartet set piece "Songs of Long Ago", and the grand finale "Dances Old and New". Alas, the kids are unable to post the profits because gang member Mickey (Robert Blake) has allowed most of the audience to enter for free, but good old Walter Wills comes to the rescue once again. This one-reel entry was originally released on January 24, 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Mickey Gubitosi, (more)
- 1941
Dagwood Bumstead (Arthur Lake) is invited by his boss Mr. Dithers (Jonathan Hale) to accompany Dithers on an ocean cruise to South America. Dagwood's whole family comes along, including wife Blondie (Penny Singleton), son Baby Dumpling (Larry Simms) and Daisy the dog and her pups. Just before sailing, Dagwood is compelled to stay behind and watch over Dithers' business. Determined to rejoin his family, Dagwood dresses up in drag and joins the ship's all-girl orchestra. The ruse continues all the way to South America, where Dagwood must fume while Blondie is serenaded by dashing Tito Guizar. Blondie Goes Latin is the eighth in the Columbia series based on the comic strip by Chic Young. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, (more)
- 1940
The janitor of the Greenpoint department store is murdered during a robbery, and Our Gang members Mickey (Robert Blake), Froggy (Billy Laughlin), Buckwheat (Billie Thomas), and Janet Burston witness the crime. The thieves (Norman Willis and Dick Rich) take the boys hostage, but Janet escapes and heads for the police. Alas, no grownup will believe her story, so Janet enlists the aid of the other gang members to rescue the boys and capture the crooks. A surprisingly grim and depressing Our Gang" comedy, the one-reel Little Miss Pinkerton was originally released on September 18, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1940
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
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Mickey Gubitosi, (more)
- 1940
Of the many MGM Our Gang comedies focused on whiny child actor Robert Blake, the one-reel All About Hash is often cited as the worst of the bunch. It seems that little Mickey (Blake) is upset over the fact that his parents (Louis Jean Heydt and Peggy Shannon) spend every Monday night arguing. The reason: Mickey's mom invariably serves hash from the Sunday-dinner leftovers, and Mickey's dad hates hash. To teach the two adults a lesson, the Our Gang kids stage a skit on a local radio program, ending with a heartfelt plea by Mickey to stop the quarrelling. All About Hash was originally released on March 30, 1940. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, (more)
- 1940
The Our Gang kids offer to help their pal Waldo (Darwood Kaye) attract customers to his lemonade stand. Redecorating their clubhouse as a lavish nightclub, the kids stage an elaborate floor show, with Darla Hood as the star vocalist. Unfortunately, their efforts attract only one patron -- a surly, stone-faced little kid with a Popeye-the-Sailor voice (Billy "Froggy" Laughlin, making his first Our Gang appearance). Originally released on October 5, 1940, the one-reel Waldo's Last Stand has since lapsed into the public domain, and as a result is the most easily accessible of the MGM Our Gang films (though certainly not the best of the batch!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, (more)
