''Bouncing Babies'' is a 1929 ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

'' short

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

and released to theaters by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

, it was the 92nd ''Our Gang'' short to be released.

Plot

Wheezer is jealous of his baby brother, who gets all the attention from his family while Wheezer is ignored and expected to behave like a "big boy". After a failed attempt at making his own breakfast (and being spanked for doing so), Wheezer attempts to run away from home with Pete the Pup. After he happens upon Farina, they both find themselves on the receiving end of

Halloween Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. ...

pranks from the gang in their costumes. Farina tells Wheezer a tall tale about trading in an unwanted baby sibling for a goat and inspires Wheezer to try the same. However, when Wheezer arrives at the hospital with the baby carriage (which unknown to him holds Mary Ann's doll rather than the baby) in order to "change the baby for a goat," a nurse plays along, but also calls Wheezer's mother and informs her of what he has done. Wheezer's mother and his sister Mary Ann pretend to be distraught over the baby's disappearance. After seeing his mother crying, a remorseful Wheezer rushes back to the hospital to retrieve his brother, but the nurse informs him that it is too late. Wheezer returns home alone, and his mother tells him to pray for the baby to return. Wheezer then drops to his knees and begins praying, only for the baby to come out of hiding and knock him on the head.

Cast notes

''Bouncing Babies'' marks the last ''

'' comedy for Jean Darling and Harry Spear. Some sources list also list Joe Cobb as a cast member, but he does not appear onscreen.

Cast

The Gang

* Norman Chaney as Chubby *

Jean Darling Jean Darling (born Dorothy Jean LeVake; August 23, 1922 – September 4, 2015) was an American child actress who was a regular in the ''Our Gang'' short subjects series from 1927–29. Prior to her death, she was one of four surviving cast ...

as Jean *

Allen Hoskins Allen, Allen's or Allens may refer to: Buildings * Allen Arena, an indoor arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee * Allen Center, a skyscraper complex in downtown Houston, Texas * Allen Fieldhouse, an indoor sports arena on the Unive ...

as Farina * Bobby Hutchins as Wheezer * Mary Ann Jackson as Mary Ann *

Harry Spear Harry Sherman Bonner (December 16, 1921 – September 22, 2006),Harry S. Bonner, Social Security Death Index, SSN 557-26-4992 also known as Harry Spear, was an American child actor and vaudevillian. He was notable for appearing in the ''Our Gang'' ...

as Harry *

Pete the Pup Pete the Pup (original, 1924 – June 1930; second Pete, September 9, 1929 – January 28, 1946) was a character in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' comedies (later known as ''The Little Rascals'') during the 1930s, otherwise known as "Pete, the dog wi ...

as Himself

Additional cast

Jackie Cooper John Cooper Jr. (September 15, 1922 – May 3, 2011) was an American actor, television director, producer, and executive, known universally as Jackie Cooper. He was a child actor who made the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first ...

as Kid listening to Farina's story * Bobby Mallon as Kid listening to Farina's story * Dora Dean as Mrs. Dean, the mother * Eddie Dunn as Eddie, the father *

Lyle Tayo Lyle Tayo (born Lyle Minnie Shipman; January 19, 1889 – May 2, 1971), aka Lyle Barton, was an American film actress who appeared in more than 50 films between 1921 and 1948, appearing in many short comedies at the Hal Roach Studios, sever ...

as Nurse * Tommy Atkins as Wheezer's little brother (unconfirmed)

References

External links

* *
World Digital Library
{{Our Gang American black-and-white films American films about Halloween Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films 1929 comedy films Our Gang films 1929 short films 1920s American films