To induce crying, Jackie Cooper was told by director Norman Taurog - his uncle, having married the sister of Jackie's mother - that his dog had just been run over by a car. It worked. After Jackie Cooper was hired for the part, he and his mother read many of the comic strips and other long-running features to help him get to know the character. He thought the costume he would have to wear was rather silly, but understood that it was a basic feature that couldn't be changed. Jackie Cooper ...[Read Story ]