''Young Sherlocks'' is a 1922 American silent

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

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 ...

, the fourth entry in

Hal Roach Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. 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 and screenwriter, ...

's ''

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 ...

'' series. 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, ...

and Tom McNamara, the two-reel short was released to theaters in November 1922 by

Pathé Pathé SAS (; styled as PATHÉ!) is a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé Cinémas and television networks across Europe. It is the name of a network of Fren ...

Plot

The film begins with Ernie using his ingenuity to overcome his poverty and find a way to feed his little sister Farina and his steed, Dinah the mule. He encounters Jackie, who is selling newspapers, and learns about a kidnapper who is at large. Ernie then stumbles into a secret meeting of several young boys, including Mickey Daniels and Jack Davis, who call themselves the JJJs (Jesse James Juniors). They tell him that he is unwelcome in their meeting unless he can tell them what good deed he has ever done. He responds by spinning a long, and very unbelievable, tall tale of how he, Jackie, and Dinah rescued Peggy from the kidnappers. At the end of his story he claims that he used his reward money to buy a whole town, name it Free Town, and make himself Mayor and Jackie the Chief of Police. It is a beautiful town where all the children have plenty to eat, have nice clothes, and can have all the cake and candy they want. The story, and the film, ends with reality as Ernie’s mother finds him and hauls him and Farina back home.

Notes

* William Gillespie and

Dick Gilbert Richard "Fighting Dick" Gilbert (July 12, 1889 – May 6, 1960), was an American boxer and actor mainly associated with the Hal Roach Studios, where he appeared in numerous ''Our Gang'' and Laurel and Hardy comedies. He appeared in 52 films betwe ...

both play dual roles in this film. *When the television rights for the original silent Pathé ''

'' 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 Heroes''. About two-thirds of the original film was included. *The film was also released as an episode of the television series "Those Lovable Scallawags With Their Gangs" under the title ''Young Sherlock'' (no plural). Among the scenes cut from the latter TV print were most of the opening sequence with Sunshine Sammy and Farina; most of the inter-titles were left intact.

Cast

The Gang

Peggy Cartwright Peggy Cartwright (November 14, 1912 – June 12, 2001) was a Canadian silent film actress and for a short time a leading lady of the ''Our Gang'' comedy series during the silent film era. Early life and career Peggy Cartwright was a child actr ...

as Mary Jane *

Jackie Condon John Michael Condon (March 25, 1918 – October 13, 1977) credited as Jackie Condon was an American child actor who was a regular in the ''Our Gang'' short series as an original cast member from 1922 until 1929, during the Hal Roach produce ...

as Jackie a.k.a. Mickey *

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 ...

as Farina *

Ernie 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'' ...

as Ernie * Dinah the Mule as herself

Additional Cast

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 ...

as JJJ Member * Jack Davis as JJJ Member * Gabe Saienz as JJJ Member *

Dot Farley Dorothea "Dot" Farley (February 6, 1881 – May 2, 1971) was an American film actress who appeared in 280 motion pictures from 1910 to 1950. She was also known as Dorothy Farley. Biography Born in Chicago, Dorothea Farley was the daughter of ...

as Mary Jane's mother *

as A kidnapper / The motorist * William Gillespie as A kidnapper / The police officer * Florence Hoskins as Ernie and Farina's mother *

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 ...

as A kidnapper * Mark Jones as A kidnapper * Joseph Morrison as A bank employee * George Rowe as The Baker * Charles Stevenson as Giovanna de Bullochi * Charley Young as Mary Jane's father

Filming Locations

The scene where Ernie is walking alongside the mule and Farina in the side-box was filmed just east of Regent Street on Overland Avenue in the Palms neighborhood of

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

References

External links

* * {{Our Gang 1922 films Hal Roach Studios short films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan 1920s English-language films American black-and-white films 1922 comedy films Our Gang films Articles containing video clips 1922 short films 1920s American films Silent American comedy short films