Helping Grandma

Helping Grandma (1931)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Our Gang short has the group helping out their adopted grandma who runs a small store. A group of chain stores might be willing to give her a good price for the property but a bad man is also there trying to rip her off. This isn't the best short from the gang but it's not the worst either. The movie doesn't contain too many laughs until the very end of the film but the final five minutes make it worth watching. I was surprised to see how well director McGowan handled the suspense as grandma comes closer and closer to signing a bad deal. McGowan edits back and forth to grandma and the good guys racing to get there and does a very good job with it. The highlight sees grandma punching a guy's lights out, which is always fun to see.

This Hal Roach comedy short, Helping Grandma, is the one hundred third in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" series and the fifteenth talkie. The gang work at Grandma's (Margaret Mann) store and help themselves to the goodies there. A local man is trying to buy that store. So are a couple of representatives from a chain. Which of them has a better deal? And will the kids still be allowed to hang there? I'll stop there and just say this was another funny film in the long-lasting series though there are some uncomfortable moments like when Stymie tastes some of the products like gasoline! Ms. Mann does get a bit melodramatic near the end but since it doesn't last too long, it's tolerable. Otherwise, Helping Grandma is mostly enjoyable for what it was. P.S. This marked the series debut of Shirley Jean Rickert.

This series went on for so long, and had so many changes that it forms a sort of kaleidoscope. No other comedy troupe varies so. As a result, there are some of these that will appeal, some that repel, others where you wonder why everyone wasted time. And a few that will stand out as gems. For many, this is one of those gems. But not for me. I like the ones from the Alfalfa/Buckwheat period. They seem more humane.

The form of these is always the same. There's a larger story, usually involving class or money. And within that are little jokes that have little or nothing to do with the wrapper. Both of these relate to the definition of the characters, who are sort of in between stereotypical film characters and stereotypical types we all knew from the playground.

This time the wrapper is about a cad trying to swindle Grandma out of the windfall purchase of her store, which is managed by the Gang. The jokes are written by Walker, a sort of phenomenon who could write dozens of movies a year for Roach, including some classics.

One of the interesting things to watch in these is what role the black kid plays. If you look at just about anything else from this period, you'll shudder when matters of race are raised. Mickey Roonie in particular offends.

In many Rascals shorts, the black kid is treated pretty much like anyone else, just as comically stupid but a solid member of the gang.

This one is different. There are two groups of kids, some of whom run the store and others merely visit. There is a black kid in each group. One of these is sort of the leader of the store gang in a model we'd find elsewhere. But the other takes a status completely different.

The joke is race neutral: a boy and girl buy candy and split it. The third boy (the black kid) gets none; when a pretty girl comes along and wants some, the boy takes some from the first girl for her. The third boy remains candyless. It would have worked with whatever white boy was at the bottom of the gang's pecking order.

But in this case, it is punctuated by the white kid repeatedly telling the black one that he wasn't going to get any, with the black kid saying "I knows." Its a bit heartrending.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

Grandma owns a general store and business isn't good. Considering her helpers are all the kids, I think I can understand why! Regardless, a great opportunity for her to sell out to a chain store is coming--but a nasty schmuck is trying to cheat her. This jerk has convinced her that no one wants the store and he's about to buy it out from under her for a pittance. Can the kids somehow help Grandma? Wheezer and Stymie were adorable little kids when "Helping Grandma" was made. However, they were also VERY young and could not read lines or act. In some cases, the directors were still able to get some decent performances from them. However, in this short, Wheezer in particular, is awful. He delivers his lines poorly and makes bizarre faces and is more of a distraction than anything else. As for the older kids, they really are minor characters here--so there's only so much they can do to make up for Wheezer's lack of skills. It's a shame as the story itself isn't bad.

An OUR GANG Comedy Short.

Jackie, Farina, Chubby & the rest of the Gang are HELPING GRANDMA run her little grocery store. After 55 years in business, there's a possibility that a chain store enterprise may buy her out at a good profit. But when a dishonest charlatan gets involved & attempts to cheat the old lady, it's time for serious action.

A good little film with both laughs & tears. Notice how the older Rascals vacate the whole midsection of the film, so as to showcase the younger generation. Highlight: Stymie's `smell test'. That's Margaret Mann playing Grandma.