In an attempt to cash in on the success of his “Our Gang” comedies, Hal Roach inflicted this film on the world in 1940s. For several reasons, this series did not really go anywhere.
This was the first Hal Roach movie I’d ever seen in color. Perhaps this is so that the audience could better appreciate the scene in which one of the black children becomes so frightened in the haunted house that he turns white. I suppose it’s worth seeing this movie just for that bit simply because it’s so outrageous.
How’s THIS for demeaning? The two black children in this movie are referred to as “Dis N’ Dat” – apparently Roach was trying to channel the “Stymie” and “Buckwheat” characters from the “Our Gang” shorts. “Dis N’ Dat” did NOT become a new comedy team sensation. In fact none of the “main” child stars seem to have gone on to other show biz endeavors. My foggy memory does tell me that either Dis or Dat achieved some success as part of a doo wop group sometime in the 1950s.
One wonders if it was movies like this which ultimately forced character actor & co-star George Zucco into a sanitarium. He was probably better off in that place rather than continue to grind out schlock like this.
This was the first Hal Roach movie I’d ever seen in color. Perhaps this is so that the audience could better appreciate the scene in which one of the black children becomes so frightened in the haunted house that he turns white. I suppose it’s worth seeing this movie just for that bit simply because it’s so outrageous.
How’s THIS for demeaning? The two black children in this movie are referred to as “Dis N’ Dat” – apparently Roach was trying to channel the “Stymie” and “Buckwheat” characters from the “Our Gang” shorts. “Dis N’ Dat” did NOT become a new comedy team sensation. In fact none of the “main” child stars seem to have gone on to other show biz endeavors. My foggy memory does tell me that either Dis or Dat achieved some success as part of a doo wop group sometime in the 1950s.
One wonders if it was movies like this which ultimately forced character actor & co-star George Zucco into a sanitarium. He was probably better off in that place rather than continue to grind out schlock like this.
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