Percy Crosby's cartoon "Skippy", premiered in "Life" magazine in 1923 and became an instant success. It featured the doings of Skippy Skinner, a little boy living in the city, who was equally at home stealing apples, playing baseball or just trying to understand the world of adults. At one point, Crosby was earning over $2,000 a week - the strip was a phenomenal success and there were Skippy dolls, toys and comic books. Australia also had it's own version, "Fatty Finn", which was turned into a movie that is still fascinating with it's glimpses of Australian suburban life in the 20s. MGM found an ideal "Skippy" in Jackie Cooper (who claimed he only got the part because his uncle was the director). Regardless, he was perfect in the role and even looked like the character.
Skippy would rather hang around in Shantytown "a beautiful place", much to the disgust of his father - a pompous doctor who is head of the local council. With his friend, snivelling Sidney - "say I can get away with murder at my place because I'm nervous and strung high", he makes the accquaintance of Sooky (Robert Coogan) a child so poor that even the Shantytown kids shun him. "Gee, it's elegant over here - alleys, goats and dumps". Skippy meets Sooky's mother (sad faced Helen Jerome Eddy) and Penny, his "thoroughbred" dog of mixed breeds. Their arch enemy is Harley Nubbins, whose father is the local dog catcher - of course the inevitable happens and Penny is caught. Skippy and Sooky then have to find a way to raise the $3 needed for a dog license. From selling old bottles, running errands to selling lemonade - nothing works, finally they decide to put on a show. Ordinarily things would end happily but in this movie, this is the time when you reach for the tissues. The movie ends on an extremely positive note and I really liked the way it explored the relationship between father and son, how the father sheds his stuffiness and comes to an understanding about his son and his problems and instantly goes about trying to help him.
Robert Coogan was Jackie's little brother but, unfortunately, he didn't inherit the talent - even though he was very cute as Sooky. He made a follow up, "Sooky", in 1931 and a couple of others and then resurfaced in the 40s. Mitzi Green was mightily talented but you would have to seek out her other movies to see her at her best. In this one she was definitely a minor character, Skippy's neighbour Eloise, who recites poems at the drop of a hat ("Ode to a Dead Dog") and has theatrical ambitions. Jackie Searl had more to do as Sidney, Skippy's sidekick and did what he did best - playing an obnoxious little tattle tale. This is a beautiful little trip down memory lane to a time when children were allowed to be children.
Highly Recommended.
Skippy would rather hang around in Shantytown "a beautiful place", much to the disgust of his father - a pompous doctor who is head of the local council. With his friend, snivelling Sidney - "say I can get away with murder at my place because I'm nervous and strung high", he makes the accquaintance of Sooky (Robert Coogan) a child so poor that even the Shantytown kids shun him. "Gee, it's elegant over here - alleys, goats and dumps". Skippy meets Sooky's mother (sad faced Helen Jerome Eddy) and Penny, his "thoroughbred" dog of mixed breeds. Their arch enemy is Harley Nubbins, whose father is the local dog catcher - of course the inevitable happens and Penny is caught. Skippy and Sooky then have to find a way to raise the $3 needed for a dog license. From selling old bottles, running errands to selling lemonade - nothing works, finally they decide to put on a show. Ordinarily things would end happily but in this movie, this is the time when you reach for the tissues. The movie ends on an extremely positive note and I really liked the way it explored the relationship between father and son, how the father sheds his stuffiness and comes to an understanding about his son and his problems and instantly goes about trying to help him.
Robert Coogan was Jackie's little brother but, unfortunately, he didn't inherit the talent - even though he was very cute as Sooky. He made a follow up, "Sooky", in 1931 and a couple of others and then resurfaced in the 40s. Mitzi Green was mightily talented but you would have to seek out her other movies to see her at her best. In this one she was definitely a minor character, Skippy's neighbour Eloise, who recites poems at the drop of a hat ("Ode to a Dead Dog") and has theatrical ambitions. Jackie Searl had more to do as Sidney, Skippy's sidekick and did what he did best - playing an obnoxious little tattle tale. This is a beautiful little trip down memory lane to a time when children were allowed to be children.
Highly Recommended.