Leonard Maltin

It took Maltin and Bann 20 years to put together this marvelous tribute to “Our Gang”. The time spent researching, collecting, organizing, and writing was well worth it for any fan of these wonderful short films of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. We get a full chronology and celebration of these comedies, along with an account of the lives and times of the actors and staff of Hal Roach studios.
From the introduction:
“Specifically, what this book offers is a complete, illustrated Our Gang filmography, with selected production credits, comprehensive cast listings and character roles, plot synopsis, gag highlights, critical evaluations, related esorterica, interviews, pertinent and impertinent anecdotes, tidbits, transitional material, and now and then some published contemporary reviews.”
They give us all that--And, How!
The book opens and closes with a series of fantastic photographs. In between, along with the abundance of information, you’ll find film stills corresponding to the episode being discussed. There are only a few of the 292 pages without a photo and caption.
The authors provide us with a nice write-up of every film from the silents of 1922-29, (88 films) through the talkies of 1929-44 (133 films). The synopsis of each film is very detailed and accurate, though I disagreed with some of the critiques. I’m usually turned off by “professional” film critiques, so they didn’t add anything to my otherwise utter enjoyment here, but if you like such reviews, they will only enhance your reading pleasure.
There’s a nice section of biographies of some of the main actors. They run from one-half to two pages each, and are fairly detailed.
Other interesting additions include a short history of Hal Roach studios, the genesis of the idea for the films, and a treasurer’s report of what the films cost and earned. Small sections on merchandising, the television revival, and the Our Gang Cafe are bonuses. There’s also a chapter on where to find the films, although this information is dated, so not so reliable. For those interested in seeing a lot of these gems once more, you can find some nice, affordable collections on Amazon. You can also watch quite a few for free on Tubi.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Our Gang, and would like to learn the history and behind-the-scenes stories. It’s a keeper for just the photos alone.
This is a review of the updated 1992 edition.
… (mais)