"The Our Gang Story" has a relatively cheap look to it. This isn't so much a complaint...just an observation that it didn't have all the polish some documentaries might have. However, most of the film clips they use were in very good condition...which is a plus.
The fact that this was made in 1994 is important. This is because back in 1994, many silent Our Gang shorts were considered lost...and becasue of the internet, many have been found. In other words, if made today, the film might talk about some of these films. I would LOVE to see a new documentary on this film franchise. But it would also have to be longer and possibly multi-part, as the two hours for this documentary just wasn't enough...and many of the actors from the series were not mentioned or were only mentioned superficially. For example, while the documentary did talk about some of the more screwed up members of the Our Gang franchise (such as the early deaths of Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer), many were simply glossed over due to time. Now again, this is not to day the film is bad....but for folks wanting a more complete analysis and discussion of Our Gang, it will likely leave you wishing there'd been more.
The fact that this was made in 1994 is important. This is because back in 1994, many silent Our Gang shorts were considered lost...and becasue of the internet, many have been found. In other words, if made today, the film might talk about some of these films. I would LOVE to see a new documentary on this film franchise. But it would also have to be longer and possibly multi-part, as the two hours for this documentary just wasn't enough...and many of the actors from the series were not mentioned or were only mentioned superficially. For example, while the documentary did talk about some of the more screwed up members of the Our Gang franchise (such as the early deaths of Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer), many were simply glossed over due to time. Now again, this is not to day the film is bad....but for folks wanting a more complete analysis and discussion of Our Gang, it will likely leave you wishing there'd been more.