Time Out For Lessons

film no. 186

availability:

The Best Of Alfalfa (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.
General Spanky (LD) from MGM/UA Home Video: Released Apr. 1993.
other releases: This film also appeared on at least one bootleg release.

technical details:

Production 2655.

Release no. C-133.

Filmed September 25 to 28, 1939, over four days of shooting.

Released December 2, 1939. It was the 186th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 49 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Time Out For Lessons".' Starting with this film, the lettering style in the opening title was changed for each film.

the crew:

Produced by Jack Chertok for M-G-M: The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated.
Directed by Edward Cahn and Bud Murray: Only Cahn is credited in the film.
Director of Photography: Robert Planck, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Ralph E. Goldstein: 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.
Dances by Bud Murray: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. 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

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa" aka "Alf": Lead role. He neglects his schoolwork in favor of football, until his dad shows him his future.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Coach Spanky": Supporting role. He's the coach of the football team.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She's featured in the college sequence, highlighted by her big singing number.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey": Supporting role. He's with Alfalfa at the opening of the film, and is present through most of the college sequence.
Leonard Landy as "Leonard": Supporting role. He's present through much of the film, with a featured moment breaking the goldfish-eating record.
Shirley Coates as "Muggsy": Supporting role. She's present during much of the college sequence, particularly as Alfalfa's dance partner.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He's present through most of the film, but doesn't do anything the other kids aren't also doing.
Darwood Kaye as the "Professor": Small part. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used, but it doesn't show up in the dialogue. However, it's clear that he's in character as he lets Alfalfa know that he isn't going to be playing in the big game.
Paul Hilton: Small part. He's Alfalfa's roommate, and is also seen at the rally.
Gloria Brown: Small part. She's Spanky's dance partner.
Valerie Lee: Bit part. This is Mickey's dance partner.
Dickie Humphries: Bit part. He's the boy that encourages Buckwheat as the players are walking out of the pep rally.
Hugh Chapman: Bit part. He's the boy that encourages Leonard as the players are walking out of the pep rally.
Jo-Jo La Savio: Extra. He's standing behind Leonard during the goldfish scene.
Betty Ann Muir: Extra. She's the freckle-faced girl to the right during the goldfish scene.
Elaine Merk: Extra. She appears to be standing along the left side of the ring of kids surrounding the solo tapdancing boy.
boy 186: Extra. He's dancing with a girl to the left of Spanky and his partner.
Joe "Corky" Geil: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He can be seen to the left in front of the stage as Darla finishes her song.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. According to Maltin & Bann. I think he might be two people behind Buckwheat as the boys are marching out of the rally.
Harold Switzer: Extra. He's two people behind Tommy McFarland.
Sidney Kibrick: Extra. He can be seen as the football players dejectedly walk out of the room, leaving Alfalfa behind. This was his final appearance in the series.
James Gubitosi: Extra. Listed by Maltin & Bann. It looks like he's running along on the left side as the girls talk to the fur-coated boys.
Gerald Mackey: Extra. It appears that he's the third kid behind Harold Switzer as the players are walking out of the pep rally.
Glenn Mickens: Extra. A 1941 casting directory states that he appeared in the Our Gang series. It appears that he's the second kid Gerald Mackey as the players are walking out of the pep rally.
Janice Hood: Extra. It appears that she might be in the background of the shot showing Alfalfa and Muggsy jitterbugging.
other kids: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Nine musicians backing up Darla.
(2.) Forty to fifty additional kids at the rally, presumably including the remaining football players, which number probably about ten. Maltin & Bann list Jovanni "Joan" Gubitosi, Larry Kert and Jackie Horner, but I haven't spotted them yet.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the start of the film.
other animals: Bit parts.
(1.) The dog that won't let Alfalfa pet him. He looks similar to Whiskers from "Auto Antics" (no. 183), but is not the same dog.
(2.) The only other animals in this film are the five or six goldfish in the bowl as Leonard breaks the school record.

the adults:

Si Wills as "Mr. Switzer," Alfalfa's dad: Small part. He teaches Alfalfa the importance of an education.

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.
"Boola Boola" by Allen M. Hirsh: Written in November 1900 while Hirsh was a student at Yale University, and introduced in a game against Harvard on November 24th. It was published the following year. He adapted it from a 1898 song called "La Hoola Boola" by Bob Cole and Billy Johnson. In this film, it's sung by the boys as they walk through the campus.
"Swingin' The Jinx Away" by Cole Porter: From the 1936 feature "Born To Dance." This is sung by Darla and later the various boys of Our Gang dance to it with their dance partners.
"The Jitterbug" by Harold Arlen: Published in 1939 with lyrics by Edgar Yipsel "Yip" Harburg. This song was written for the soundtrack to "The Wizard Of Oz," but cut from the film. In "Time Out For Lessons," an instrumental version is played during the solo tapdancing routine.
"Drum Rolls": This occurs right before Spanky speaks at the pep rally.
"Roar Leo Roar" by Robert Wright and George "Chet" Forrest: The cutting continuity lists this entry as "Roar Leo Roar - Ward - Wright and Forrest." It's fairly obvious that the songwriting team is Robert and George, but the extra hyphen would suggest that Ward was involved separately from them. Perhaps he's the one who changed the lyrics. Ward is probably Edward Ward, who worked a lot with MGM over the years. This is the song being played as the team is marching out of the pep rally.
"The Gang Goes Home" by David Snell: This is a shorter version of "Our Gang," including only "London Bridge."

miscellaneous:

Originally titled "Learn To Play."

The kids go to Hayle University. Their school paper is called The Hayle Hiccup. The opposing team is Yarmouth.

See page 236 of Maltin & Bann's book for this film's expenses and profits.