Cradle Robbers is a 1924 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan.[1][2] It was the 26th Our Gang short subject to be released.[3]

Cradle Robbers
Intertitle
Directed byRobert F. McGowan
Written byHal Roach
H. M. Walker
Produced byHal Roach
StarringMickey Daniels
Jackie Condon
Ernie Morrison
Mary Kornman
Joe Cobb
Allen Hoskins
Dick Henchen
Pal the Dog
Lassie Lou Ahern
Peggy Ahern
Jannie Hoskins
Lyle Tayo
CinematographyBlake Wagner
Edited byT. J. Crizer
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • June 1, 1924 (1924-06-01)
Running time
20 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English intertitles

Synopsis

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The boys cannot go fishing because they have to take care of their baby brothers and sisters. After trying unsuccessfully to sell their babies to some traveling gypsies, Mary shows up and tells them that her little sister just won a prize at the baby show.

The boys decide to enter their babies in the show, only to discover that all the prizes are gone except the one for the fattest baby. Mickey comes up with the idea to enter Joe as a baby. After Joe escapes, the gang decides to make their own baby show. When the parents discover their babies are missing they assume that the gypsies stole them. When the gang finds out that their parents are after them, they hide in the gypsy wagon, which drives off. As the police and parents chase the wagon down the street, the babies start falling off the wagon and the parents stop and pick them up as they continue running.

The adults finally catch up with the wagon, the gypsy is arrested, and the kids reunited with their parents.

Production notes

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Cradle Robbers marked the final appearance of Ernie Morrison as "Sunshine Sammy." It also marked the first appearance of Peggy Ahern.

The early scene of gang entertaining their younger siblings with fishing poles was reworked in 1933's Forgotten Babies.

When the silent Pathé ‘’Our Gang’’ comedies were syndicated for television as "The Mischief Makers" in 1960, Cradle Robbers was retitled The Baby Show. Two-thirds of the original film was included.

Cast

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The Gang

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Additional cast

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References

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  1. ^ "Silent Era: Cradle Robbers". silentera. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  2. ^ Hal Erickson (2011). "New York Times: Cradle Robbers". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
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