The little rascals: Birthday Blues
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Birthday surprise |
| Original title | Birthday blues |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1932 |
| length | 19 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Robert F. McGowan |
| script |
HM Walker , Robert F. McGowan |
| production |
Hal Roach , Robert F. McGowan |
| music | Leroy Shield |
| camera | Kind of Lloyd |
| cut | Richard C. Currier |
| occupation | |
| |
Birthday Blues (also known in Germany as Birthday Surprise ) is an American short film comedy by the Little Tramp directed by Robert F. McGowan .
action
Dickie and Spanky's mother is celebrating her birthday. To celebrate the day, she ordered a dress without asking her husband. When the dress is delivered, the father has the dress sent back - much to the regret of the crying mother, who also wanted to treat herself to something. Sadly, Dickie desperately wants to find a present for his mother, but first he needs money. With the help of his friend Stymie, Dickie finally got the idea of selling a cake with lots of surprises in it. But the baking of the cake turns out to be difficult because of the little experience of the children, they take instructions such as "beat eggs" or "put on the oven" literally. You mix different ingredients into the cake at will, so that at the end the oven blows up in the air. Then the children fill the cake with little surprises like hairbrushes, mousetraps or shoes. Many children come to the party, the plan initially seems to be successful. But the children who appeared are so dissatisfied with the unusual cake that they soon start a destructive cake battle.
In the meantime, Dickie has managed to sell his old bulky waste for two dollars. For the money he gets a dress for his mother that is older but still pretty. When the father returns home, the entire house is devastated. The angry father throws all the children out and hits Dickie on the buttocks first. But then the mother comes back and sees the dress. When she sees that Dickie wanted to help her, his parents quickly forgive him. The father now also changes his mind and regrets his previous behavior. On Sunday the family goes to church, and the mother in her beautiful dress impresses all churchgoers. But on the steps of the church, the ancient shoes that were added for free fall apart.
background
Three days after the film Free Wheeling was largely completed , filming began on July 30, 1932. In total, filming lasted only six days. Then the child actors had a four-week break before new films were made. Birthday Blues first appeared in American cinemas in November 1932 .
Kendall McComas had his last of eight appearances with the Little Rascals at Birthday Blues .
Reviews
The New York Times described the film as an "excellent mixture of roaring laughter and pathos".
Web links
- The Little Rascals: Birthday Blues in the Internet Movie Database (English)