''Derby Day'' is a 1923 short silent

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Robert F. McGowan Robert Francis McGowan (July 11, 1882 – January 27, 1955) was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the ''Our Gang'' short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933. Career Before moving to Los Angeles, ...

. It was the 19th ''

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, who also pr ...

'' short subject to be released.

Plot

As the gang are selling lemonade across the street from the racetrack, they meet up with

Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religion * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...

, whose rich father owns one of the horses. She gets them into the track, and they are sufficiently impressed to start up their own junior version.

Critical reception

Upon its original 1923 release, ''Derby Day'' was well received by critics. ''

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founde ...

'' reviewer Roger Ferri commented, "Hal Roach's company of clever juvenile comedians makes Zev, Morich, and

Man o' War Man o' War was a thoroughbred racehorse considered an all-time great. Man o' War (or capitalization variations thereof) may also refer to: Animals * Portuguese man o' war, a floating marine animal found in the Atlantic that resembles a jellyfish ...

look like 'also rans' in ''Derby Day'', about the funniest thing this mob has done for cinematographic entertainment. With the air topped with turf gossip this travesty on horse racing comes at an opportune time. . . . For originality, ''Derby Day'' can't be beat—you can't touch it. It's in a class by itself. . . . description of the theme does the comedy no justice—it's got to be seen, and once your audience see it they won't forget it." Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). ''The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang'', pp. 27-28. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.

Production notes

When the television rights for the original silent Pathé ''Our Gang'' comedies were sold to National Telepix and other distributors, several episodes were retitled. This film was released into television syndication as "Mischief Makers" in 1960 under the title ''Little Jockeys''. Two-thirds of the original film was included. ''Derby Day'' was the last ''

'' comedy for Jack Davis. The Film Detective streaming site has a different title card, which is indicating the title of the film as ''Derby Days''.

Cast

The Gang

Joe Cobb Joe Frank Cobb (November 7, 1916 – May 21, 2002) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the ''Our Gang'' comedies from 1922 to 1929. Early life and career Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Novemb ...

— Joe * Jackie Condon — Jackie *

Mickey Daniels Richard Daniels Jr. (October 11, 1914 – August 20, 1970) known professionally as Mickey Daniels, was an American actor. Signed by Hal Roach in 1921, he was, along with Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon, Jackie Davis, Mary Kornman, and Ernie Morrison, a ...

— Mickey * Jack Davis — Jack *

Allen Hoskins Allen Clayton Hoskins (August 9, 1920 – July 26, 1980) was an American child actor, who portrayed the character of Farina in 105 ''Our Gang'' short films from 1922 to 1931. Acting career 1920–1936 ''Our Gang'' Stardom Born in Bosto ...

— Farina *

Mary Kornman Mary Kornman (born Mary Agnes Evans, December 27, 1915 – June 1, 1973) was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the ''Our Gang'' series during the Pathé silent era. ''Our Gang'' She was born as Mary Agnes Evans, and ...

— Mary *

Ernest Morrison Ernest Fredric Morrison (December 20, 1912 – July 24, 1989) was an American child actor, comedian, vaudevillian, and dancer who also performed under the stage-name Sunshine Sammy Morrison. He was the only black member of the ''East Side Kids'' ...

— Sunshine Sammy * Sonny Loy — Sing Joy * Dinah the Mule — Herself

Additional cast

* Charles A. Bachman — police officer *

Richard Daniels Richard Daniels Sr. (23 January 1864 – 27 January 1939), was a Welsh-born American film actor. He appeared in 27 films between 1922 and 1926. He was born in Gwubach, Wales and died in Los Angeles, California four days after his 75th birth ...

— trainer * William Gillespie — Mary's father *

Wallace Howe Wallace Howe (March 4, 1878, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts – November 23, 1957, in Los Angeles, California), born Orlando Wallace Howe, was an American film actor. He appeared in 104 films between 1918 and 1936, including many films with Harold L ...

— gate attendant

References

External links

* 1923 films American silent short films American black-and-white films 1923 comedy films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films Our Gang films Films with screenplays by H. M. Walker 1923 short films 1920s American films Silent American comedy films 1920s English-language films Sports short films English-language short films {{short-silent-comedy-film-stub