"Bargain Day" is not among the better shorts from the early Our Gang talking pictures. It's not bad--but really lacks a story and has far too many sad stereotypical references to make it a film to recommend. It also just happens to be Jackie Cooper's last film for Hal Roach Studios.
The film begins with Stymie and Wheezer going door-to-door trying to sell things. Finally, they come to a home of a wealthy family that is neglectful and has left their little girl all alone (a common 1920s-1930s cliché). She's happy to invite them inside and soon, out of the blue, the older members of the troop arrive. Unfortunately, a burglar alarm in the home is triggered and the cops arrive--who, fortunately, take it all good-naturedly. There really ISN'T much more to the film than this--nor are there that many laughs. Sadly, some of the laughs they were going for were the racist stereotypes Stymie kept muttering about shooting craps--another VERY common derogatory stereotype about Blacks during this era. All in all, not a whole lot to recommend this one.
The film begins with Stymie and Wheezer going door-to-door trying to sell things. Finally, they come to a home of a wealthy family that is neglectful and has left their little girl all alone (a common 1920s-1930s cliché). She's happy to invite them inside and soon, out of the blue, the older members of the troop arrive. Unfortunately, a burglar alarm in the home is triggered and the cops arrive--who, fortunately, take it all good-naturedly. There really ISN'T much more to the film than this--nor are there that many laughs. Sadly, some of the laughs they were going for were the racist stereotypes Stymie kept muttering about shooting craps--another VERY common derogatory stereotype about Blacks during this era. All in all, not a whole lot to recommend this one.