Fly My Kite

Fly My Kite

Year: 1931

Runtime: 21 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert F. McGowan

Comedy

A greedy man tries to get rid of his mother by putting her in an old folks home until he discovers she has a fortune in stock certificates.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Fly My Kite (1931)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fly My Kite (1931). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Grandma's House, The Neighborhood

The primary setting is Grandma's house, a warm family home that also serves as a hub for the Gang’s adventures. Much of the comedy and conflict spills into the yard and street as the children chase after a kite and the now-notorious bonds. The tale then steps out to the bank and the power grid, before returning to a police-arrived conclusion.

🏠 Domestic setting 👨‍👩‍👧 Community 💰 Wealth 🧭 Neighborhood life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:08

Main Characters – Fly My Kite (1931)

Meet the key characters of Fly My Kite (1931), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Stymie (Matthew Beard)

A member of the Gang, Stymie contributes to the caper with quick thinking and steady presence. He blends mischief with loyalty, proving an ally in the chase to protect Grandma and her bonds. His place in the group highlights the Our Gang dynamic of friendship across ages.

👦 Gang Member 🧠 Clever 🤝 Loyal

Grandma (Margaret Mann)

A widowed matriarch who rules her own retirement fund with warmth and wit. She loves the Gang as her extended family and fights to keep her savings safe from the scheming son-in-law. Her resourcefulness drives the plan that restores the bonds’ true value.

👵 Grandmother ❤️ Caring 🧭 Protective

Dan (James Pier Mason)

The unscrupulous son-in-law who wants Grandma out and to remarry into her money. He manipulates, breaks things, and tries to deceive her about the bonds’ worth. His antagonism triggers the Kids’ orchestrated defense of Grandma.

💼 Antagonist 🧠 Conniving 🔥 Impulsive

Farina (Allen 'Farina' Hoskins)

A natural leader among the Gang who guides the others in the plan to safeguard Grandma’s assets. Farina’s quick thinking and bold actions help turn the tide against the threat. She embodies the resourceful, fearless spirit of the Our Gang kids.

🧒 Leader 🪄 Quick-thinking 🧩 Resourceful

Dorothy (Dorothy DeBorba)

One of the younger members of the Gang, Dorothy contributes energy and courage to the pursuit. She participates in the chaotic effort to rescue Grandma’s bonds and keep the kite aloft.

👧 Energetic 🧶 Playful 🛡️ Brave

Wheezer (Bobby Hutchins)

A lively member of the Gang, Wheezer brings humor and enthusiasm to the scheme. He helps chase the kite and adds to the child-powered action.

👦 Playful 😂 Comic Relief 🛝 Energetic

Chubby (Norman Chaney)

Chubby is central to the kite plot, flying the kite and driving the chase scene. His practical approach and determination help show how the kids’ ingenuity overcomes adults’ threats.

👦 Kite-leader 🛠️ Practical 🧗 Determined

Mary Ann (Mary Ann Jackson)

Mary Ann plays a pivotal role by retrieving the bonds and ensuring Grandma’s retirement is saved. She demonstrates courage and steadfastness during the climactic pursuit.

👧 Brave 🗝️ retrieve 🧭 Loyal

Shirley (Shirley Jean Rickert)

A member of the Gang who adds energy and keeps up with the fast-paced chase. Shirley’s participation highlights the teamwork of the group.

👧 Energetic 🧩 Team-player 🎯 Focused

Dickie (Dickie Jackson)

Dickie is part of the group that bonds with Grandma and helps in the kite rescue. He contributes to the playful but determined pursuit that ends in triumph.

👦 Playful 🧭 Loyal 🛡️ Brave

Bond Agent (Broderick O'Farrell)

A minor authority figure who appears as the caper unfolds. His role adds a touch of law-and-order to the chaotic chase.

🕵️ Minor role 👮 Authority 🧩 Supporting

Boxing Kid (George Earnest)

A young spectator who participates in the melee with the gang’s antics. He contributes to the chaotic energy of the pursuit.

🥊 Sports-minded 🧒 Kid

New Wife (Mae Busch)

A minor character seen in the social milieu; serves as a narrative counterpoint to Dan’s scheming, not central to the main action.

🎭 Minor role 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:08

Major Themes – Fly My Kite (1931)

Explore the central themes of Fly My Kite (1931), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Family & Community

The film centers on a surrogate grandmother figure and a tight-knit group of children who rally to protect her retirement funds. The Gang’s loyalty and teamwork show how a chosen family can outwit bigger threats. Community spirit and mutual care drive the story from trouble to triumph.

💰 Greed vs Generosity

The son-in-law’s greed threatens Grandma’s security, but the children and Grandma’s shrewdness uncover the truth about the bonds’ value. The tale pits material desire against care for loved ones. Wealth becomes a catalyst for courage, not a weapon for harm.

🪁 Childhood Courage

The kite serves as the central symbol of risk, ingenuity, and resilience. The kids improvise tools, work together, and outsmart adults who underestimate them. Their mischief morphs into a determined rescue when Grandma’s future hangs in the balance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:08

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Chaotic family rescue movies like Fly My Kite

Fast-paced comedies where community bands together to protect what's precious.If you liked Fly My Kite, you'll enjoy these movies where a group bands together in a fast-paced, heartfelt mission to protect someone or something from a greedy threat. These similar comedy films feature chaotic action, childlike energy, and an uplifting, hopeful tone.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread center on a clear external threat—often financial or institutional—that jeopardizes a family or home. The heroes are not typical action stars but rather ordinary people, frequently children, who use cleverness, chaos, and community spirit to stage a triumphant rescue, turning the tables on the villain.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a specific emotional mix: genuine stakes are balanced by whimsical execution, creating a medium-intensity experience that feels both tense and heartwarming. The fast pacing, hopeful tone, and focus on resilience against greed create a coherent and uplifting vibe.

Movies about generational justice like Fly My Kite

Hopeful stories where elder wisdom is defended against youthful greed.Find more movies like Fly My Kite that focus on themes of generational conflict and justice. These similar stories feature characters standing up for elders against greed and betrayal, often with a hopeful tone and a happy, uplifting resolution.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a younger character, often motivated by greed, attempting to take advantage of an older relative. This injustice is challenged, leading to a reversal where the elder's true value—be it financial, emotional, or spiritual—is recognized and protected, restoring harmony and teaching a lesson about respect.

Why These Movies?

Movies fit this thread due to their shared thematic core of elder protection and the defeat of greed. They balance medium emotional weight from the serious theme with a consistently hopeful tone and positive resolution, creating a satisfying and morally clear viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Fly My Kite

Don't stop at just watching — explore Fly My Kite in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fly My Kite is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Fly My Kite Summary

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Fly My Kite Summary

Fly My Kite Timeline

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Fly My Kite Timeline

Fly My Kite Spoiler-Free Summary

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Fly My Kite Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Fly My Kite

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fly My Kite: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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