Shivering Shakespeare
"The Rascals in a Riot of Roman Fun!"
Plot
The Our Gang kids are enlisted by Mrs. Kennedy, the wife of local policeman Kennedy the Cop, to perform in her amateur stage production titled 'The Gladiator's Dilemma,' a fractured adaptation of the epic Quo Vadis. The performance quickly descends into chaos as the children struggle with their lines, miss their cues, and grapple with unwieldy costumes, including a two-man bull and a makeshift elephant. Tensions boil over when a group of neighborhood bullies in the audience begins heckling the cast and pelting them with food, leading to a full-scale riot. The film culminates in a massive, meticulously choreographed pie fight that involves the entire audience and cast, eventually ending with the kids turning their ammunition on the overbearing director herself.
About the Production
The film was produced under the working title 'The Gladiator's Dilemma.' It was the 95th entry in the Our Gang series and one of the early 'all-talking' shorts. Interestingly, while credited to Anthony Mack, this was actually a pseudonym for Robert A. McGowan, the nephew of the series' senior director Robert F. McGowan. The production utilized the Western Electric Sound System, which was the industry standard at the time for high-quality audio recording.
Historical Background
Released in early 1930, the film arrived during the 'Early Talkie' era when Hollywood was still perfecting the synchronization of sound and motion. The Great Depression had just begun following the 1929 stock market crash, making low-cost, escapist comedies like 'Our Gang' vital for public morale. The film also reflects the era's fascination with 'high culture' parodies, as amateur dramatic leagues were a common social fixture in American neighborhoods during the early 20th century.
Why This Film Matters
As one of the first sound-era 'Our Gang' shorts, it helped cement the transition of the franchise from silent slapstick to dialogue-driven comedy. It is frequently cited by film historians for its elaborate pie fight, which served as a bridge between the silent era's physical comedy and the more structured 'chaos' of the 1930s. The series itself remains culturally significant for its rare-for-the-time depiction of Black and white children playing together as equals, though it still utilized contemporary racial stereotypes.
Making Of
The production of 'Shivering Shakespeare' was a logistical challenge due to the large number of child extras required for the audience scenes. The studio had to hire additional teachers, including Mrs. K. Morrison and Mrs. H. Harrison, to supervise the children on set and ensure compliance with California's strict child labor laws. The pie fight was particularly difficult to film because the 'all-talking' equipment of 1929 was bulky and sensitive to the mess; microphones had to be carefully hidden to avoid being splattered with custard. Additionally, the 'elephant' costume worn by Edgar Kennedy was a recycled prop from a previous Hal Roach production, modified to look more amateurish for the 'school play' setting.
Visual Style
Photographed by Art Lloyd and Harry Gerstad, the film uses a static camera style typical of early sound films to accommodate the 'icebox' soundproof booths. However, it breaks this rigidity during the finale with the innovative use of slow-motion to emphasize the impact of the pies hitting the actors' faces. The lighting is high-key, typical of Roach comedies, ensuring all the physical gags are clearly visible.
Innovations
The primary technical achievement is the integration of slow-motion photography into a sound film, which required precise synchronization to ensure the audio didn't drift during the speed-ramped visual sequences. It also showcased the studio's ability to manage large-scale physical comedy (the pie fight) within the constraints of early sound-on-disc and sound-on-film recording.
Music
The film features a live piano accompaniment by T. Marvin Hatley, who would later compose the famous 'Leaping Cuckoos' theme for Laurel and Hardy. The sound recording was handled by Elmer Raguse using the Western Electric system. Notable sound effects include the 'raspberry' noises blown by Wheezer and the thunder effects created by Edgar Kennedy backstage using a sheet of metal.
Famous Quotes
Mrs. Kennedy: 'I hope that I have adored you with the history of my efforts to bring to this city a palpitating consciousness of things artistic.'
Wheezer (backstage): [Blows a loud raspberry during the introduction]
Chubby (as Nero): 'I'll do it or bite the dust!'
Audience Member: 'Young lady, bring me one pie!'
Mrs. Kennedy: 'If you take that attitude toward the drama, you'll all grow up to be rowdies!'
Memorable Scenes
- The opening introduction where Wheezer repeatedly interrupts Mrs. Kennedy's pretentious speech with 'raspberries' from behind the curtain.
- Norman 'Chubby' Chaney as a nervous Nero, constantly lifting his toga to read lines he has written on his underwear.
- The 'elephant' reveal, where Edgar Kennedy's legs are clearly visible beneath a poorly constructed animal costume, terrifying a small child in the audience.
- The slow-motion pie impact sequence, where a pie hits Farina squarely in the face in extreme detail.
- The finale where the kids, led by Chubby, decide to stop fighting the bullies and instead pelt the bossy Mrs. Kennedy with chocolate pies.
Did You Know?
- The film features a rare use of slow-motion cinematography during the pie fight sequence, a technique seldom used in early sound comedies.
- Director Robert A. McGowan used the name 'Anthony Mack' to avoid confusion with his uncle, Robert F. McGowan, who produced the film.
- The play performed by the kids is a parody of the 1924 silent epic 'Quo Vadis.'
- Norman 'Chubby' Chaney had to have his script lines written on the inside of his Roman robe because he had difficulty memorizing the complex dialogue.
- The pie vendor in the film, often misidentified as Dorothy Coburn, was actually played by Clara Guiol.
- Edgar Kennedy, famous for his 'slow burn' comedy style, appears as Kennedy the Cop and performs inside a clumsy elephant costume.
- The film was copyrighted on December 17, 1929, but not released until January 1930.
- A young Edith Fellows appears in a small role as a screaming child frightened by the elephant costume.
- The pies used in the finale were real and cost 10 cents each according to the on-screen kiosk, which listed flavors like chocolate, banana cream, and mince.
- The film contains a brief instance of silent-era style footage, likely due to technical limitations during the transition to sound.
What Critics Said
At the time of release, critics praised the film for its energy and the novelty of hearing the children's voices, though some found the 'all-talking' format slightly clunky compared to the fluid action of the silent shorts. Modern critics often rate it as a middle-tier 'Our Gang' entry, noting that while the plot is thin, the climactic pie fight is a technical marvel of the period. It currently holds a respectable 6.8/10 rating among vintage film enthusiasts on various databases.
What Audiences Thought
Contemporary audiences, particularly children, responded enthusiastically to the slapstick violence and the relatable 'school play gone wrong' premise. The film was a staple of Saturday matinee screenings for decades. Today, it is remembered fondly by 'Little Rascals' fans as one of the quintessential 'messy' shorts of the Jackie Cooper/Chubby Chaney era.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Quo Vadis (1924)
- The Battle of the Century (1927)
- Shakespearean Theater
- Vaudeville slapstick
This Film Influenced
- The Little Rascals (1994)
- Bugsy Malone (1976)
- The Muppets (various stage-disaster tropes)
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Film Restoration
The film is well-preserved and has undergone a high-definition restoration by ClassicFlix as part of 'The Little Rascals: The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 1.' It is also in the public domain in the United States.