Men In Fright

film no. 173

availability:

The Best Of Buckwheat (VHS) from MGM/UA Home Video

Released July 27, 1994. Also included as part of The Best Of Alfalfa 3 Pack (3 VHS set) released 2002. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. This version has also appeared in bootleg form.

Our Gang Comedies (3 LD set) from MGM/UA Home Video

Released 1994.

other releases

This film also appeared on at least one bootleg release.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Jack Chertok for M-G-M

The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated.

Directed by George Sidney

This credit appears in the film.

Screen Play by Hal Law and Robert A. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial.

Original Story by Carl Dudley and Marty Schwartz

This credit appears in the film.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card.

Western Electric Sound System

As indicated in the film.

Approved by the Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America

Passed by the National Board of Review

As indicated in the film.

Teacher: Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• photography - probably the work of either Robert Pittack or Clyde DeVinna.
• animation - probably the work of the MGM animation department, headed by Robert Quimby. The department had been in operation for nearly a year at this point, with William Hanna and Robert Allen directing. It's possible that Isadore "Friz" Freleng was still directing as well, but he returned to Warner Brothers around this time.

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"

Lead role. He's the '2nd cheirman' of The Sick Comity. He switches places with another boy and gets a dose of laughing gas on his way to the operating room.

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Supporting role. He's the '1st cheirman,' and has most of the dialogue among the remaining boys.

Gary Jasgur

Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. He stows away in the elevator and turns on the laughing gas.

Darla Hood as "Darla Hood"

Supporting role. The gang visits her in the hospital.

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"

Supporting role. He's the '4th cheirman,' and mostly does ensemble acting.

Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"

Supporting role. He's the '3rd cheirman,' and mostly does ensemble acting.

Leonard Landy

Supporting role. He's a silent character in this film, and does nothing more than accompany the other boys.

Moyer "Sonny" Bupp as "Junior" aka "Sonny"

Small part. He's the boy that switches places with Alfalfa. The "Junior" nickname is revealed by a 1938 casting directory, but isn't used in the actual film. At one point, Jack Rice calls Alfalfa "Sonny" while thinking that he's the other boy, so perhaps this is a roundabout way of revealing the character name.

the animals:

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

Jack Rice as "Charlie," one of the hospital orderlies

Small part. He's the orderly that wheels Alfalfa into the elevator and gets overcome with laughing gas.

Ray Turner as the elevator operator

Small part. He's also a victim of the laughing gas.

Mary MacLaren as one of the nurses

Small part. She's the nurse that brings ice cream to the kids.

Margaret Bert as one of the nurses

Small part. She's the nurse at the front desk.

Barbara Bedford as Sonny's mom

Bit part. She's seen with her son and one of the nurses.

Bess Flowers as Darla's mom

Bit part. She's seen with Darla as the sick boys are wheeled down the hall.

Don Castle as "Mack," one of the hospital orderlies

Bit part. He's seen briefly with Jack Rice.

Nell Craig as the maternity ward nurse

Bit part. She screams and runs when she finds Alfalfa in one of the cribs.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The older nurse with Sonny and his mom.
(2.) The doctor that studies the boys' x-rays.
(3.) The orderly that wheels the boys down the hall at the end of the film.
(4.) The man with the nightshirt hanging out of the back of his clothes.
(5.) The voice over the intercom at the end of the film.
(6.) The telephone operator at the beginning of the film.

the music:

"Our Gang" by David Snell

This is played over the opening titles. This is a medley of three songs:
(1.) "London Bridge" - The earliest reference to this nursery rhyme is in a play from 1659, and it was associated with children by 1720. It may derive from a part of the "Heimskringla" by Snorri Sturluson, which was composed around 1225.
(2.) "Mulberry Bush" - Also known as "So Early In The Morning" and "This Is The Way." It was probably originally called "Here We Go Round The Bramble Tree" in the mid 18th century, with the type of tree changed by inmates of Wakefield Prison, who exercised around a mulberry bush.
(3.) "The Farmer In The Dell" - This nursery rhyme is of uncertain origins.

"The Gang Goes Home" by David Snell

This is a shorter version of "Our Gang," including only "London Bridge."

the locations:

the hospital

I don't know which hospital is shown in the opening shot, but it's bound to be a familiar building to somebody.

miscellaneous:

©Oct. 26, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2006 updates: 1/15, 2/20, 4/3, 5/16, 6/14, 7/1, 10/25.
2008 updates: 4/25, 7/6, 8/3.

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