Spanky, Buckwheat, Mickey, Froggy, and Janet surround Rover
Production Notes[]
Length: One Reel
Producer: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Director: Herbrt Glazer
Photography: Jackson Rose
Editor: Leon Bourgeau
Titles:
Writer: Robert A. McGowan and Hal Law
Released: August 22, 1942
Studio: M-G-M
Main Cast[]
Supporting Cast[]
- Barbara Bedford - Studio Clerk
- Ben Hall - George the Propman
- Bert Le Baron - Grip
- Bobby Anderson - Batter
- Byron Shores - J. D. Broderick
- Clyde Demback - Fatty
- Freddie Chapman - Tony
- Hugh McCormick - Professor Ventriloko
- Stephen McNally - Bill Patterson
- William Finnegan (unconfirmed)
The Short[]
Plot: On his way to Mammoth Studios, a casting director gets a flat tire where the gang is playing sandlot baseball against the "Gas Housers" with their dog Rover standing in at second base, replacing Fatty who has made too many errors in the opinion of the rest of the team. The dog turns out to be a good catch, so the casting director gets the gang to bring it in to get a screen test. All the filming director needs is for Rover to bark on cue to wake up a sleeping character, but the dog remains silent. The gang acts out the scene for Rover, but no amount of coaxing can get the dog to bark and the gang departs the studio with their dog and no success. As they leave, Froggy gets even with a ventriloquist who appeared to make Rover talk earlier by throwing his trick voice to make Rover appear to answer the ventriloquist.
Quotes:
- "Oh, there's nothing to worry about. They haven't been up to bat - yet." -- Janet to J. D. Broderick as the gang is losing 11-0
- "I should have been borned a dog." - Fatty
Notes/Trivia:
- This short seems to rehash material seen before in Playin' Hookey.
- This short marks the first use of the name "Robert Blake" for Mickey Gubitosi, although he was still called 'Mickey" in the series.
- "Mammoth Studios" is also the name of the studio Jed Clampett acquired in the episode, "Jed Becomes A Movie Mogul," of The Beverly Hillbillies. It's probably just a coincidence.
- In the baseball game, Froggy is the pitcher, Spanky the catcher, Mickey the shortstop, Buckwheat the third baseman, and Janet is the "ofishal skorer."
- At the studio, Spanky, Janet, Froggy, Mickey, and Buckwheat declare themselves to be Rover's manager, secretary, trainer, bodyguard, and chauffeur, respectively.
- In acting the scene for Rover, Mickey plays Tim, the character Rover is supposed to belong to in the movie being filmed, Spanky plays Rover, Buckwheat plays Tim's father, Janet acts as fire, and Froggy directs. Froggy clearly addresses Buckwheat as "Bucky" while giving directions.
Sequence[]
- Previous Short: Doin' Their Bit
- Next Short: Mighty Lak A Goat