. . . tiny tots, they cannot go wrong with this "Our Gang" FISH HOOKY episode. Government flunky "Mickey Daniels" is depicted here alternately lying to and threatening his constituents. (Sound like any president we know?) He crushes the spirits of these wee innocents by predicting that they'll soon be wearing iron balls chained to both ankles as they're forced to sledge hammer away at rock boulders every day. Their future bread and water diet, Mickey warns, will be broken only by being force-fed spinach on Sundays, and they'll just have another sledge hammer to "enjoy" come Christmas. When he gets tired of all of his prevaricating, Mickey spends the rest of his afternoon making sure that these diminutive school kids get absolutely nothing out of their taxpayer-supported field trip. Mickey distracts them from accomplishing their assigned tasks at every turn, seemingly for his sheer sadistic thrill of doing so. This miscreant's dogged pursuit of instituting Purgatory here on Earth for the chosen cherubs chafing under his thumb is broken only by a few time-outs to make inappropriate overtures toward a female subordinate. Were it not for this workplace harassment, the Little Rascals would not be able to savor a moment of peace at all.
8 Reviews
If someone's looking for a "How to" guide on tormenting . . .
pixrox111 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The Greatest of all Our Gang Films (in my opinion)
Damonfordham17 July 2006
To me, this is the greatest of all Little Rascals/Our Gang Films. Here, the 1920s Our Gang kids, Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb, and Allen "Farina" Hoskins mix it up with their 1930s successors Stymie, Spanky, Wheezer, Dorothy, Dickie Moore, Uh-huh, and (of course) Pete.
In this tale, Truant officer Mickey and schoolteacher Mary Kornman (still sweethearts after all these years) try to foil teenaged Joe and Farina's plans to mislead the smaller fry into playing hookey. The would-be truants find out that Mary and Mickey are taking the kids that went to school to an amusement park (the old Santa Monica pier) and...well see it and figure it out.
There are lots of laughs in this film, particularly when toddler Spanky spills the beans to Mickey about his older friends skipping school (and smacking Mickey for doing his trademark Woody-woodpeckerish laugh). Mickey chasing Stymie through the amusement park is also very well-photographed (with panoramic views of the park) and laughs to boot. Farina and Joe's phony notes to Mary Kornman to excuse the kids (Deer Teecher-Pleese Esckuse Wheezer-he caught a skunk) are also real knee-slappers.
But overall, it's also great for Our Gang fans to see the rascals as they were (the 1920s group) and as they were to become (with Spanky and Stymie) along with a good story that ties them all together as an ensemble. This was done again in "Reunion in Rhythm" (1937), but not nearly as well. Long live the rascals!
In this tale, Truant officer Mickey and schoolteacher Mary Kornman (still sweethearts after all these years) try to foil teenaged Joe and Farina's plans to mislead the smaller fry into playing hookey. The would-be truants find out that Mary and Mickey are taking the kids that went to school to an amusement park (the old Santa Monica pier) and...well see it and figure it out.
There are lots of laughs in this film, particularly when toddler Spanky spills the beans to Mickey about his older friends skipping school (and smacking Mickey for doing his trademark Woody-woodpeckerish laugh). Mickey chasing Stymie through the amusement park is also very well-photographed (with panoramic views of the park) and laughs to boot. Farina and Joe's phony notes to Mary Kornman to excuse the kids (Deer Teecher-Pleese Esckuse Wheezer-he caught a skunk) are also real knee-slappers.
But overall, it's also great for Our Gang fans to see the rascals as they were (the 1920s group) and as they were to become (with Spanky and Stymie) along with a good story that ties them all together as an ensemble. This was done again in "Reunion in Rhythm" (1937), but not nearly as well. Long live the rascals!
Showed how the Little Rascals felt about school
petersgrgm1 December 2008
Fish Hooky was a stellar illustration of how the Little Rascals felt about school. Several Our Gang shorts had the kids playing hooky, or attempting to do so. In this one, it was almost the end of the school year, and Our Gang alumna Mary Kornman portrayed their teacher, who sought to reward them by treating them to a picnic at the beach. Unfortunately, some of the kids were anxious for school to be out, so Farnia and Joe, more former Our Gang members, portraying children old enough not to be required to attend school, submitted false absence notes to Miss Kornman for Wheezer, Stymie, Dickie, and Uh-huh. Spanky told them of the picnic, so they changed their minds too late, missing the bus. Mickey Daniels (ANOTHER ex-Little Rascal) portrayed the truant officer, who warned them of possible sentence to reform school, describing it as more like STATE PEN! He drove them to the beach, revealing his badge, so they led him on chase. Finally, he brought them to Miss Kornman, begging that they NOT be sent to reform school. Mickey agreed to let them go this time, but warned NOT to let it happen again! So, they learned their lesson, missing out on part of the fun, which was appropriate punishment, but eventually being able to enjoy this lovely picnic. It shows how the kids were not fond of school, and that playing hooky can cause unexpected consequences.
Sweet and Tender
Carolina Pumart12 November 1999
This is one of my favorite Our Gang´s comedies. The children from the past,Mickey and Mary became now the truant officer and the teacher, and they have to show the new children a lesson. Not to hooky. Dickie, Stymie, Wheezer and the others chose a bad day to play fish hooky. The rest of the class has gone to the beach for a pic-nic. And every thing is free !!
Truanting fun with the Our Gang team
Leofwine_draca23 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
FISH HOOKY is a fun, fast-paced little Our Gang short which features the team members playing truant from school in order to have some fun at the local amusement park. However, a truant officer happens to be in the vicinity and gives chase.
This effort is notable for featuring some of the Our Gang team from the 1920s returning in adult roles, particularly Mickey Daniels who plays the truant officer. The bit where he chases Stymie is great fun and brings to mind the wacky antics of the Keystone Cops.
This effort is notable for featuring some of the Our Gang team from the 1920s returning in adult roles, particularly Mickey Daniels who plays the truant officer. The bit where he chases Stymie is great fun and brings to mind the wacky antics of the Keystone Cops.
It's reunion time!
planktonrules12 December 2011
This is a highly rated Our Gang comedy--one fans of the series MUST see. I say that because it's like a reunion episode and four of the old stars of the shorts are back for guest appearances. First, Joe Cobb (who has lost a few pounds and looks much better) and Farina Hoskins appear after a couple year absence from the films. They tell the kids that it's great that they don't have to go to school any more and encourage them to play hooky. Unfortunately, little Spanky tells their new teacher--who is played by Mary Kornman--and she used to be in the Our Gang films as a child. Standing there at the time is Mickey Daniels who is now the new Truant Officer.
What the truant boys don't know is that the entire class is taking the day off to go to the amusement park--and it's all free! She and Mickey decide to play a trick on the boys and Mickey spends much of their day chasing them. I particularly liked his description to the boys of what reform school is like--with little kids wearing balls and chains and chipping rocks with picks! It all ends well---with a great line by Spanky.
This is my vote for one of the best, if not the best, of the Our Gang comedies. It not only reunites some of the old grown up kids but it's so darn funny--with many great moments.
What the truant boys don't know is that the entire class is taking the day off to go to the amusement park--and it's all free! She and Mickey decide to play a trick on the boys and Mickey spends much of their day chasing them. I particularly liked his description to the boys of what reform school is like--with little kids wearing balls and chains and chipping rocks with picks! It all ends well---with a great line by Spanky.
This is my vote for one of the best, if not the best, of the Our Gang comedies. It not only reunites some of the old grown up kids but it's so darn funny--with many great moments.
"I'll lock you all up in REFORM school!"
MartianOctocretr56 November 2009
Absolutely hilarious installment of the classic Little Rascals series.
The classic children's comedies that spanned 20 years from the early 20's all the way to world War II, had different kids appear as others became too mature for the roles. This episode was a novelty that assembled some of the cast who had appeared in early episodes, with the kids who had replaced them by the early 30's. Now teens and adults, the older kids play foils for the younger kids, and the results make this one of the three best episodes of the Rascals.
Chubby and Farina tempt the kids into playing hooky from school to go fishing. Part of the conspiracy is to write phony sick notes from their parents, but little do the fish hooky conspirators know that two former Rascals are now their teacher and truant officer, respectively. These two smell a rat when they read poorly spelled and barely legible excuse notes declaring illnesses such as "he has the flu and broke his arm to make it fancy." Also, the hooky-playing guys don't know their class was being taken on a surprise trip to an amusement park. The teacher and truant cop hatch a scheme to scare the wits out of the hooky players, which sets up the good-natured chaos this series was so well known for. The Alcatraz description of reform school is priceless, but it's only the beginning.
The mock pursuit throughout the amusement park was simply brilliant. The sight gags and one-liners are placed with precision, every joke works, and the actors play their parts to the hilt. The sped up footage of the truant officer chasing Stymie throughout the old Long Beach Pike is the funniest bit of all.
This is one of the best short-subject titles of all time.
The classic children's comedies that spanned 20 years from the early 20's all the way to world War II, had different kids appear as others became too mature for the roles. This episode was a novelty that assembled some of the cast who had appeared in early episodes, with the kids who had replaced them by the early 30's. Now teens and adults, the older kids play foils for the younger kids, and the results make this one of the three best episodes of the Rascals.
Chubby and Farina tempt the kids into playing hooky from school to go fishing. Part of the conspiracy is to write phony sick notes from their parents, but little do the fish hooky conspirators know that two former Rascals are now their teacher and truant officer, respectively. These two smell a rat when they read poorly spelled and barely legible excuse notes declaring illnesses such as "he has the flu and broke his arm to make it fancy." Also, the hooky-playing guys don't know their class was being taken on a surprise trip to an amusement park. The teacher and truant cop hatch a scheme to scare the wits out of the hooky players, which sets up the good-natured chaos this series was so well known for. The Alcatraz description of reform school is priceless, but it's only the beginning.
The mock pursuit throughout the amusement park was simply brilliant. The sight gags and one-liners are placed with precision, every joke works, and the actors play their parts to the hilt. The sped up footage of the truant officer chasing Stymie throughout the old Long Beach Pike is the funniest bit of all.
This is one of the best short-subject titles of all time.
Fish Hooky marked a nice reunion of former Our Gangers Mary Kornman, Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb, and Allen "Farina" Hoskins
tavm2 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This Hal Roach comedy short, Fish Hooky, is the one hundred twentieth in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" series and the thirty-second talkie. Dickie, Stymie, Wheezer, and Uh-Huh want to play hooky after former gang members Joe and Farina-who are going fishing-offer to fake notes to their teacher, Miss Mary Kornman, another former gang member. When Miss Kornman talks to her childhood boyfriend Mickey Daniels, who's now a truant officer, Spanky sees them in the yard and gives them the forged notes which he reveals as such, matter-of-factly. During what I've mentioned so far, the teacher revealed to her attending class that school is off and she's taking them to the amusement park for free. I'm sure you can figure out the rest...When I first watched this as a kid of the '70s, I wondered why there was such emphasis on the teacher and the truant officer. Then I read Leonard Maltin and Richard W. Bann's book "Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals" original 1977 edition and in the review of this short, they mentioned Daniels and Kornman having been in the silent series. Watching this series now in mostly chronological order, it's now a treat to see them, and Joe and Farina, and appreciate how well they've grown in stature after their time in the series ended. And seeing them having scenes with new members like Spanky, Dickie, and Stymie is such a treat here! Also loved the point-of-view shots from various rides and the undercranking when the chase scenes are done. All in all, Fish Hooky is such a nostalgic treat! P.S. While Joe, Mary, and Mickey will reunite in another Our Gang short, this marked the last appearance for both Allen "Farina" Hoskins and Donald Haines. Haines appeared in quite a few more pictures including one last one with former co-star Jackie Cooper and some "East Side Kids" pictures (with fellow former "Our Gang" member Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison) before joining the military during World War II. He'd die in battle on February 20, 1943. Hoskins appeared in several more movies, did vaudeville, made personal appearances with the gang through 1936, and joined the army during the war before ending up treating mentally deficient patients for the rest of his life. He died on July 26, 1980 leaving wife Franzy and six children. His sister Jannie-who appeared in quite a few Our Gangs herself-became a postal worker before retiring and dying on January 11, 1996 in San Francisco, California.
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