Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus


1h 18m 1938

Film Details

Genre
Adventure
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Nov 25, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Principal Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on characters created by George W. Peck (first appeared in the La Crosse [Wisconsin] Sun , circa 1874).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 18m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

On the day before he is to leave for summer camp, the mischievous Bill Peck, whose parents have already left on their vacation, volunteers to put up posters for a traveling circus in exchange for free admission. Although Bill and eleven of his friends earn a circus pass that is marked for twelve, they are turned away by a skeptical ticket taker. A sympathetic circus employee, however, sneaks the children into the show, but after watching a ten-year-old bareback rider named Fleurette De Cava, the boys are exposed to the ushers by Herman Boggs, Bill's most hated rival. As revenge for having to pay for twelve tickets with his camp money, Bill slips the circus lions some of his mother's sleeping pills, and during their act, the animals fall asleep on their pedestals, humiliating their fellow performer, the ambitious Myrna Daro. Broke, Bill, who must be at camp by five the next afternoon in order to compete with Herman in an obstacle race, asks Fleurette for a ride to the next town. While Fleurette practices a new routine, Myrna, who is envious of the bareback rider's popularity, orders her dog to scare Fleurette's horse, and to Myrna's delight, Fleurette is thrown and injures her leg. To prevent Fleurette from breaking her contract, which stipulates that she loses her job if she misses a single performance, Bill volunteers to ride in her place. With the help of wires and lion tamer Arthur Bailey, the unsure wire puller, Bill, dressed as Fleurette, performs her routine and saves her career. Then, while still wearing Fleurette's clothes and a wig, he rides in a circus chariot driven by Arthur and arrives in camp in time to defeat Herman in the obstacle race and win the coveted trophy.

Film Details

Genre
Adventure
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Nov 25, 1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Principal Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on characters created by George W. Peck (first appeared in the La Crosse [Wisconsin] Sun , circa 1874).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 18m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

In 1906, George Peck published a novel called Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus, but this particular book is not mentioned in the film credits or in reviews as a literary source. In 1934, Sol Lesser produced and Edward Cline directed Peck's Bad Boy, which also used the Peck characters. Earlier in 1938, Tommy Kelly starred in the Selznick International hit The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which also featured Ann Gillis. For information on previous "Peck's Bad Boy" films, listing for Peck's Bad Boy.