Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (1938)

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Al Martin (screenplay) &
David Boehm (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 December 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The "Tom Sawyer" Kid in another great fun, thrill and adventure show!

Plot:

Trouble-prone Billy Peck and his gang descend on a traveling circus that has just hit town, and before long their antics are causing the circus owner all kinds of problems. |

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Gang | Sequel | Foot Race | Boy Dressed As Girl

Cast

Tommy Kelly	...	Bill Peck
Ann Gillis	...	Fleurette de Cava
Edgar Kennedy	...	Arthur Bailey
Benita Hume	...	Myrna Daro
Billy Gilbert	...	Bud Boggs
Grant Mitchell	...	Henry Peck
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. Henry Peck
George 'Spanky' McFarland	...	Pee Wee (as Spanky McFarland)
Louise Beavers	...	Cassey
William Demarest	...	Daro
Mickey Rentschler	...	Herman Boggs
Fay Helm	...	Mrs. De Cava
Harry Stubbs	...	Hank
Wade Boteler	...	Murphy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Chandlee	...	Boy (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Jim - Circus Cop (uncredited)
Lester Dorr	...	Circus Usher (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Ticket Vendor (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins	...	Circus Barker (uncredited)
Malcolm Hutton	...	Boy (uncredited)
Leonard Kibrick	...	One of Bill's Friends (uncredited)
Sidney Kibrick	...	One of Bill's Friends (uncredited)
Robert McKenzie	...	Circus Sign Hanger (uncredited)
Dickie Meyers	...	Boy (uncredited)
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Race Judge (uncredited)
Jack Wagner	...	Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward F. Cline

Writing credits
Al Martin		(screenplay) &
David Boehm		(screenplay) &
Robert Neville		(screenplay)
Robert Neville		(adaptation)
George W. Peck		(characters)

Produced by
Leonard Fields	....	associate producer
Sol Lesser	....	producer

Original Music by
Victor Young		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Jack MacKenzie		(photography) (as Jack McKenzie)

Film Editing by
Arthur Hilton

Art Direction by
Lewis J. Rachmil

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Sherwood	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Richard Van Hessen	....	sound technician

Music Department
Abe Meyer	....	music supervisor
Victor Young	....	musical director
Edward Kilenyi	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Edwin Schnatz	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Sol Lesser Productions (as Principal Productions Inc.)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical)
• Screencraft Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4893)

Company:

Sol Lesser Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows Peck's Bad Boy (1921)

Enjoyable fluff, but don't assume it's really a sequel

"Peck's Bad Boy" was made twice--one in 1921 with Jackie Coogan in the lead and another in 1934 with Jackie Cooper. Here in 1938 in "Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus", it stars a virtual unknown--Tommy Kelly. However, the different leading man isn't the only difference. In fact, the story and characters are mostly different. Peck now has a mother (his mother died when he was a baby), there is no bratty cousin or aunt and you really won't recognize the sequel as a sequel at all. That's okay--just assume it's NOT a sequel and you'll be fine.

In addition to Kelly, the film has an interesting cast that includes: Spanky McFarland, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy, William Demarest and Grant Mitchell as Dad. So, even if this is a low-budget film, the cast is made up of some excellent supporting actors.

The story is crazy but works if you suspend disbelief...and I mean TOTALLY suspend disbelief. It begins with Peck about to go to camp while his parents are on a vacation. His parents leave the day before Peck is to go on the train to camp. During this day, he goes to the circus with his friends. But, when they are forced to sneak in (after being cheated out of their tickets), they are caught and Peck feels obliged to pay for every one of his friends. BUT, then he's left with no money for the train and decides to hitch a ride with the circus to the next town--which is near the camp. It is AMAZING how easy this is and how the circus folk have no problem with him hanging out with them!

There is a subplot involving an evil lady who is intent on becoming THE star at the circus--and Billy Peck is able to help foil her plans. It's all pretty weird--and difficult to believe at times (such as when she locks Edgar Kennedy in the cage with the nasty lion, Demon). But, it's all in good fun.

The bottom line is that in spite of a plot that occasionally made no sense, I still enjoyed the movie. It's the sort of fun old fashioned film I like, even if it isn't exactly Shakespeare--it's just entertaining. Worth seeing if you are an old movie buff--those who aren't probably won't understand or care for it. But even if you don't like it, you can at least say you saw a film where Spanky got loopy while taking drugs (you have to see it to understand).