The Old Wallop

Several times a year I have to begin one of these reviews by noting that the movie I am reviewing, despite insistence by some noted authority to the contrary, is available, has been available for some time and with any luck will be available for the foreseeable future. In this particular case, you can look at this one on YouTube, with a fine score compiled from Leroy Shield cues. A copy of the movie turned up in the 1970s on a French show-at-home version (in a 9.5 mm. format), missing the first minute and the English language titles. However, since Roach filed a cutting continuity with the Library of Congress for copyright purposes, a fan found it perfectly feasible to recreate the original titles and make the result available. So go take a look, even though people are still going to insist that there ain't no such animal as The Old Wallop.

It's a typically fine example of Our Gang from the period. In this one, Wheezer has a leading role. He is still a baby at this point, but he likes to hit people on the nose, and his folks encourage him to do so. This takes up the first half. The second half involves the Gang wandering off (as they frequently did) and climbing atop a construction site while the builders have gone to lunch (which happened less frequently, but still...). This sort of thrill comedy was a well-run standard at Roach, and it's fine to see the kids get in on the gag.