Robot Wrecks

1941 0h 11m EN

😐

5.8

MID

★5.8TMDB · 6

ComedyFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Spanky and the gang discover a demonstration of a "human-like" robot named Volto and are inspired to create a robot themselves to do their chores for them. Slicker Walburn convinces them they will need "invisible rays" to bring it to life which he just happens to have to sell to them. As they rush off to get their money, Slicker gets Boxcar Smith to wear the robot's outer body so when he "brings" the robot to life, it will be Boxcar bringing it to life. The gang unsuspectedly gets their robot to mow the lawn at Froggy's house, but with a signal from Slicker, Boxcar runs amok and mows down everything in his path. Froggy gets to explain what happened to his parents who bust up the fraud and get the miscreants to work with the gang to clean up the mess.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Robert Blake
Mickey
Darla Hood
Darla
Billy Laughlin
Froggy
George McFarland
Spanky
Billie Thomas
Buckwheat
Margaret Bert
Froggy's Mother (uncredited)
Billy Bletcher
Froggy's Father (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Edward L. Cahn
Writers: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 11-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

85 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Part of the "Our Gang: The MGM talkies (1929-1938)" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Edward L. Cahn, shot by Jackson Rose. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Leon Bourgeau shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Robert Blake and Darla Hood and Billy Laughlin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0034122 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Edward L. Cahn directs. Jackson Rose behind the camera. Leon Bourgeau cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 11-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
285 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Our Gang: The MGM talkies (1929-1938)" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Edward L. Cahn, shot by Jackson Rose. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Leon Bourgeau shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Robert Blake and Darla Hood and Billy Laughlin carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0034122 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.