The First Round-Up

This Hal Roach comedy short, The First Round-Up, is the one hundred twenty-eighth in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" series and the fortieth talkie. The gang wants to go camping. Wally gets permission from his father who assures the mother that they'll be back in about an hour. Spanky and Scotty are excluded but they arrive first since they hitchhiked. They're also the only ones to bring food which the rest of the gang grabs when they're finally allowed some. Then night comes...This was one of the more subtly humorous of the Our Gang shorts with not much exciting happening till the end. Buckwheat is here for the second time in the series but she's played by Willie Mae Taylor in this one while the eventual one, Billie Thomas, is also making his second appearance. Unlike most of these early talkies, the score is used sparingly here to good effect. Oh, and there's some amusing animation by Roy Seawright. So on that note, The First Round-Up is recommended.

An OUR GANG Comedy Short. When the older Rascals go on a camping trip, inspired by their Western heroes, they refuse to allow the little Kids to come along. Arriving footsore at their destination, Cherry Creek, they find they've brought no food. The big jar of jelly brought by the little Kids -who beat them there by hitchhiking - is the cause of a mad scramble. Strange noises, wild critters, glowing eyes, fleas & a terrific lightning storm ensure all the Rascals won't forget THE FIRST ROUND-UP.

A typically hilarious entry in the Hal Roach series. Spanky & Stymie, as always, are first rate. This was one of the early films in which Buckwheat was played by a little girl, although Billie Thomas does make an appearance as an unnamed toddler.