Goin' Fishin'

film no. 192

technical details:

Production 2680.

Release no. C-293.

Filmed March 22 to 26, 1940.

Copyrighted October 16, 1940, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP10009. Renewed October 20, 1967, with registration no. R420145. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2035.

Released October 26, 1940. It was the 194th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 9 minutes and 38 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Goin' Fishin'".'

the crew:

Produced by Jack Chertok and Richard Goldstone for M-G-M: The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated.
Directed by Edward Cahn: This credit appears in the film. This is the first film in which the director's credit was given on a separate title card.
Director of Photography: Jackson Rose, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Adrienne Fazan: 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.
Art Director: Richard Duce: 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 Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
Teacher: Fern Carter

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He does a lot of the talking among the boys, and it's his bag that causes the flat tire.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has about as much dialogue as Spanky.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey": Featured role. He carries the boys' bus fare and has a mousetrap on his fishing pole.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. Aside from a gag involving a clock, he's basically an ensemble player in this film.
Leonard Landy: Supporting role. He's almost entirely an ensemble player in this film.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Bit parts. There are about seven chickens at the beginning of the film, two of whom are named "Roscoe" and "Henry."

the adults:

Paul Hurst as the bus conductor: Featured role. He's given onscreen credit. He doesn't want the boys on his bus, but the cop thinks otherwise.
Robert Emmett Homans as the cop: Supporting role. He defends the boys, even if it means losing his hat.
Arthur Hoyt as one of the passengers: Supporting role. He's the diminutive man who's late for work.
Anne O'Neal as one of the passengers: Supporting role. She sits next to Hoyt.
Ben Hall as one of the passengers: Extra. He sits to the left of Anne O'Neal.
other adults: Bit parts and extras. There are at least seven more passengers on the bus. There is also the bus driver, whose name is "Mack."

the music:

"Our Gang" by David Snell: This is played over the opening titles. This is the earlier recording, used prior to "The Big Premiere" (no. 189). 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."

miscellaneous:

Five shooting dates went into the making of this film, from March 22 to 26, 1940.

Working titles for this film were "Early Birds" and "Bus Boys."

The rooster gag at the start of the film, and Buckwheat's alarm clock gag, had originally been written into one of the scripts for "Clown Princes" (no. 179), but were never used for that film.

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