Wedding Worries

film no. 203

technical details:

Production 2751.

Release no. C-393.

Filmed September 29 to October 3, 1941.

Released December 13, 1941. It was the 203rd film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted December 22, 1941, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP11345. Renewed December 23, 1968, with registration no. R451742. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2036.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 51 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Wedding Worries".'

the crew:

Produced by M-G-M: The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated. For some reason, Jack Chertok and Richard Goldstone are not credited by Maltin & Bann, but they were in charge of the short subject department during this period.
Directed by Edward Cahn: This credit appears in the film.
Director of Photography: Jackson Rose, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Leon Bourgeau: 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:

Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy": Featured role. He tells the gang about mean stepmothers.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey": Featured role. He has a toothache, so the gang takes him to Dr. Hood.
George "Spanky" McFarland: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He decides that he and the boys must stop the wedding.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. Her father is getting married, so she invites the gang to the wedding. This was her final appearance in the series.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's present with the other three boys, but isn't given much specific attention.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears during the opening title.
other animals: Small part. The only remaining animal is Darla's dog, who does backflips when the laughing gas is turned on.

the adults:

Byron Shores as "Jim" aka "Dr. James B. Hood," Darla's dad: Featured role. He's a dentist and extracts Mickey's tooth. He's also getting married.
Margaret Bert as "Delia," the housekeeper: Supporting role. She prods Dr. Hood to tell Darla about the wedding, and ends up catching the boys with the laughing gas.
Chester Clute as "Judge Martin": Supporting role. He performs the wedding ceremony.
Joe Young as the best man: Small part. He joins the groom in trying to unlock the door.
Barbara Bedford as "Miss Douglas," the bride: Small part. She has no dialogue, but is present throughout the wedding.
Jack (Tiny) Lipson as one of the wedding guests: Small part. He jokes with the judge and is later featured during the laughing sequence.
Stanley Logan as the father of the bride: Small part. He's mainly seen walking with the bride.
William Irving as one of the wedding guests: Small part. He's featured during the laughing sequence and is later seen spanking Spanky. It may be implied that he's Spanky's dad.
Ben Hall as one of the wedding guests: Small part. He's the man spanking Froggy, which probably means he was playing Froggy's father.
man 202 as the servant: Small part. He assists Delia, and is later seen spanking Buckwheat.
Sid D'Albrook: Small part. He's the man spanking Mickey. Maltin & Bann list him as Mickey's dad.
woman 182: Extra. She's seen in an early scene sitting next to the organist.
other adults: Bit parts and extras. There are perhaps twenty more people at the wedding, including a maiden of honor.

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.
"Here Comes The Bride" by Richard Wagner: Music written in 1841 as the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin." This is played by the organist.
"Anvil Chorus" by Giuseppe Verdi: From the 1853 opera "Il Trovatore." This is played by the organist as the boys are being spanked.
"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 September 29 to October 3, 1941.

In the category of unseen characters, "Mrs. Hood" had passed on four years earlier.

The radio broadcast is from station WHN, and features the fight between "Bomber Brown" and "Turtleneck Jones" in Soldier's Field, Chicago.

A Royal Crown Cola ad in the Dec. 8, 1941, issue of Life Magazine shows a photo of the gang and mentions this film.

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

availability:

The Our Gang Collection (5 DVD-R set) from Warner Home Video: Released Sep. 1, 2009. This is from the WB Archive Collection and available in a limited edition.