A Tough Winter

A Tough Winter is a 1930 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan.[1] It was the 99th (11th talking) Our Gang short that was released.

A Tough Winter
Directed byRobert F. McGowan
Produced byRobert F. McGowan
Hal Roach
Written byRobert A. McGowan
H. M. Walker
StarringAllen Hoskins
Mary Ann Jackson
Bobby Hutchins
Jackie Cooper
Norman Chaney
Pete the Pup
Music byRay Henderson
Marvin Hatley
CinematographyArt Lloyd
Edited byRichard C. Currier
Distributed byMGM
Release date
  • June 21, 1930 (1930-06-21)
Running time
20' 22"
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

More a vehicle for black comedian Stepin Fetchit, the gang go to Wheezer's and Mary Ann's house to have a taffy pull. But they get the ingredients mixed up and make a huge mess. They attempt to clean up and ask Stepin to help, but he crosses wires, plumbing and gas lines. As a result, light bulbs pop, water sprays from gas heaters, a phone acts as a vacuum cleaner and music plays from the icebox.

Stepin Fetchit was actually signed to a one year contract with Hal Roach Studios to appear with the gang in 9 episodes from the 1930-31 season. He was originally written into the scripts for episodes like Pups Is Pups, Helping Grandma, Little Daddy, for example. But for some unknown reason, it was canceled and the Our Gang Series continued on without him.

Cast

The Gang

Additional cast

Production notes

The first Pete the Pup was poisoned by an unknown assailant after this film. Because of perceived racism toward African Americans, A Tough Winter was eliminated from the syndicated Little Rascals television package in 1971. Also Beverly Parish was signed for two years to be on Our Gang films to replace Jean Darling who was dismissed 6 months before but she died suddenly a week and a half after this episode was filmed. Shirley Jean Rickett wound up replacing her several episodes later though she lasted only half a season as well. This was the last episode to feature an Orchestral Music Scoring and the last to feature the theme song That Old Gang Of Mine on the credits. The film also was the first to feature a couple of Leroy Shield jazz type pieces which would become a big part of Our Gang episodes right after on their next film.

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See also

References

  1. McKinley, Jesse. "New York Times: A Tough Winter". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-09-19.


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