''Rover's Big Chance'' is a 1942 ''
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 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
Herbert Glazer. It was the 208th ''Our Gang'' short to be released.
Plot
On the say-so of studio casting director J.D. Broderick, Patterson agrees to give a screen test to the Our Gang kids' talented dog Rover. Unfortunately, the petulant pooch does not take direction well, nor does he respond positively when the cameraman announces that he is ready to start filming.
Cast
The Gang
*
Bobby Blake
Bobby Blake (born Edgar Gaines; August 11, 1957) is a Baptist elder who acted in gay pornography until his retirement in 2000.
Biography
Blake appeared in over 100 releases.. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
Bobby Blake was a long time partner with ...
as Mickey
*
Janet Burston
Janet Elizabeth Burston (January 11, 1935 – March 3, 1998) was an American child actress who was the final leading lady in the ''Our Gang'' short subjects series, replacing Darla Hood in 1942.
Career
Burston began her film career in the Ou ...
as Janet
*
Billy Laughlin
William Robert Laughlin (July 5, 1932 – August 31, 1948) was an American child actor. He is best known for playing the character Froggy in the ''Our Gang'' short films from 1940 to 1944, the films′ final years of production.
Early life
...
as Froggy
*
George McFarland
George Robert Philips McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' short ...
as Spanky
*
Billie Thomas
Billie may refer to:
People
*Billie (given name), the given name
Other
* ''Billie'' (1965 film), a 1965 film starring Patty Duke
* ''Billie'' (2019 film), a documentary about Billie Holiday
* ''Billie'' (musical), 1928 Broadway musical by ...
as Buckwheat
Additional cast
* Horace
Stephen McNally
Stephen McNally (born Horace Vincent McNally; July 29, 1911 – June 4, 1994) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in many Westerns and action films. His dark features often cast him as hard-hearted characters, crimina ...
as Wm. "Bill" Patterson
* Freddie Chapman as Tony
* Clyde Demback as Fatty
*
Bobby Anderson as Baseball player
* Billy Finnegan as Baseball player
* Bert Le Baron as Grip
*
Barbara Bedford as Studio clerk
*
Ben Hall as George
* Hugh McCormick as Professor Ventriloko
* Byron Shores as J.D. Broderick
Production notes
By the time of ''Rover's Big Chance'', Mickey Gubitosi had legally changed his name to
Robert "Bobby" Blake. He retained the name "Mickey" for the remainder of the series.
''Rover's Big Chance'' was the second MGM ''Our Gang'' short to lose money upon its initial release, losing nearly $1,800 after post-production costs were calculated.
Future film star
Stephen McNally
Stephen McNally (born Horace Vincent McNally; July 29, 1911 – June 4, 1994) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in many Westerns and action films. His dark features often cast him as hard-hearted characters, crimina ...
appears in this ''Our Gang'' episode as Bill Patterson, ace director at Mammoth Studios.
See also
*
''Our Gang'' filmography
References
External links
*
*
1942 films
1942 comedy films
American black-and-white films
Films directed by Herbert Glazer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films
Our Gang films
1942 short films
1940s American films
1940s English-language films
English-language short films
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