1931 - Paramount
Directed By Norman Taurog
SYNOPSIS
Skippy (Jackie Cooper) is a privledged young boy who would rather play in the nearby shanty town than with the kids in his neighborhood. There, he meets Sooky (Robert Coogan) and his beloved dog, Penny. When the dog catcher gets Penny, the two boys scramble to get the 3 dollars needed to get the dog a license and bail him out.
MY THOUGHTS
Skippy is based off of a now-forgotten comic strip that was popular at the time... and made a successful transition into 3 dimensions.
It's a film that sometimes feels like a feature-length Our Gang/Little Rascals short and sometimes like something a little deeper.
Jackie Cooper made this shortly after his time as a Little Rascal and shortly before his triumph in The Champ. This film netted him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. Compared to other young child actors before and since, Cooper gives a three-dimensional and real performance and is light-years ahead of any other kids. He was better in The Champ, but he's strong and likable here.
Compared to Robert Coogan, Cooper is the greatest actor of all time. Robert, younger brother of Jackie Coogan, is horrible. The kid clearly doesn't know any of his lines and has more 'dramatic pauses' than the most over-the-top William Shatner impression. When he does remember, the dialogue is mumbled or slurred.
The film is pleasant and good-natured until the kids finally get the money and return to the dog catcher only to find out the dog was put down. This is a big downer and most likely sent audiences reaching for their hankies. Skippy was nominated for best picture and screenplay, probably on the strength of that scene.... making it very memorable to audiences.
Norman Taurog won the film's only Oscar, for Best Director. Taurog had a long career... starting with some silent comedy shorts in the 20's and wound up his career making several of Elvis Presley's films. Skippy could have easily become very hammy and maudlin... but Taurog keeps everything in check.
It's some good innocent fun that's probably best for really young kids, before cynicism sets in. They may actually learn something about friendship and loyalty.
The film is not available on DVD.
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1 comment:
Correction: the "Skippy" film was not based on Percy Crosby's famous "Skippy" comic strip, but on his 1929 novel that became a classic. Also, the comic strip is not long forgotten, but has many old fans and a new generation of readers that want to see more. Perhaps you're not aware of Skippy's official website owned by Skippy, Inc. and the Percy Crosby heirs, and our ongoing battle against the peanut butter co. (now Unilever) that bought the stolen name.
Skippy, Inc. still owns the rights to the "Skippy" 1931 film and its sequel, "Sooky", and is currently working on a film adaptation of the novel. Jackie Cooper never had any rights to royalties or residuals from either film, but did a TV pilot ca. 1956 that did not air and was not with permission of Skippy, Inc. or Crosby estate. To date, Cooper has been uncooperative in revealing his knowledge about the "Skippy" peanut butter racket, and whether the infringer paid him to remain silent.
Joan Crosby Tibbetts
President, Skippy, Inc.
and
Administratrix, Percy Crosby Estate
www.Skippy.com
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