Going To Press

film no. 205

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.
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:

Production 2758.

Release no. C-395.

Filmed November 17 to December 5, 1941.

Released March 7, 1942. It was the 205th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted March 17, 1942, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP11314. Renewed March 20, 1969, with registration no. R457461. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2037.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 44 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Going To Press".'

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: Walter Lundin, 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: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Music by Dave Snell: This credit derives from the copyright registration.
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:

the Greenpoint Flash
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He's the 'edditer' and does most of the thinking.
Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy": Featured role. He works in the 'Circle-Ashun Deept.' and gets kidnapped.
Juanita Quigley as "Sally": Supporting role. She's given onscreen credit. She works in the 'Sas Siety Deept.' and likes Frank until she finds out who he really is.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey": Supporting role. He works in the 'Reportin Deept.'
Clyde Demback as "Fatty": Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He works in the 'Printin Deept.'
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He's the 'paper seller,' and is ambushed by two of the Gas House Gang.
boy 200a as "Big Shot": Supporting role. He's variously the 'janitor', 'coppy boy' and 'asst noosboy,' and is with Buckwheat when they get ambushed.
the Gas House Gang: Two of the members of this gang are name "Rush" and "McGuire," but it's never revealed who.
Darryl Hickman as "Frank" aka "The Boss": Featured role. He's given onscreen credit. He's the leader of the bad guys, and sets up the Gas House Protection Society to collect dues, but the gang foils him in the end.
James Gubitosi: Small part. He grabs Buckwheat.
Freddie Chapman: Small part. He grabs Big Shot.
Vincent Graeff: Small part. He's given the least to do among the Gas House kids. Maltin & Bann list both Vincent Graeff and Billy Ray Smith for this role.
other boys: Supporting role. The only remaining member of the Gas House Gang is the boy that takes Froggy for a ride.
other kids
Tommy Tucker: Bit part. It appears that this is the boy who calls Froggy a 'wise guy' at the start of the film.
other kids: Bit parts and extras. At the beginning of the film, five additional kids are reading the newspaper on the outside wall, and there is also a boy named "Willie" who buys a subscription.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears during the opening titles.
other animals: Small part. The only other animal in this film is the goat that plays "Violet."

the adults:

adults: Bit parts and extras. The only adults in the film are the cop that talks to Froggy, and the various pedestrians and drivers seen in the background of this scene.

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:

Ten shooting dates went into the making of this film, from November 17 to December 5, 1941. Presumably, no shooting took place on Saturdays or Sundays, nor on Thanksgiving. If we also assume that cast and crew had the Friday after the holiday off, then that still leaves 13 days.

The gang's newspaper is called The Greenpoint Flash.

In the category of unseen characters is "Mary Jane," one of the Elm Street girls. There's also "Joey Bingham," who got beaten up for not paying his dues. Also, there's Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, whose name is noted under his famous saying, 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'

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

A story version of this film was included in the book Our Gang On The March in 1942.

©Nov. 30, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2006 updates: 1/7, 1/15, 2/11, 2/20, 4/3, 10/25.
2008 updates: 8/3, 11/26, 12/22.
2009 updates: 5/18, 9/13.

Thanks to bigshotjones for assistance on this page.