Don't Lie

film no. 206

technical details:

Production 2752.

Release no. C-396.

Filmed October 8 to 14, 1941.

Released April 4, 1942. It was the 206th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted April 14, 1942, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP11296. Renewed April 14, 1969, with registration no. R459892. 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 "Don't Lie".'

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: 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:

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Lead role. He's a habitual liar, so the gang decides to teach him a lesson.
Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy": Featured role. He dresses as a chimp to scare Buckwheat.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. It's his idea to teach Buckwheat a lesson.
Mickey Gubitosi as "Mickey": Featured role. He accompanies Spanky throughout the film, with plenty of dialogue.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. In addition to appearing in the opening title, the MGM lion also makes a cameo at the end of the film.
other animals: The only remaining animal in the film is the chimpanzee that appears as "Melinda" in the newspaper article. The chimp that the gang meets up with is a midget in a costume.

the adults:

Billy Curtis as "Melinda": Featured role. Presumably, there's a publicity photo revealing Curtis to be the one in the chimp costume, or perhaps he simply recounted playing the part. Froggy addresses him as "Monk." The chimp has run off after a circus train has wrecked, and spends the film playing with the kids.
Emmett Vogan as the circus official: Small part. He's the spokesman among the three men from the circus that come to look for Melinda.
George Washington: The gang has a portrait of him on the wall of their clubhouse.
other adults: Small parts. There are two additional men from the circus accompanying Vogan.

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.
"Whistle Improvisation": This title was given to the uncopyrighted whistling by Buckwheat.
"Blind Man Pew" by Herbert Stothart: This is played while Froggy is alone in the house with the chimp. The title refers to a character in "Treasure Island." Stothart wrote the original music for the 1934 film version.
"The Gang Goes Home" by David Snell: This is a shorter version of "Our Gang," including only "London Bridge."

miscellaneous:

Six shooting dates went into the making of this film, from October 8 to 14, 1941. It's likely that no shooting took place on Sunday, Oct. 12.

The chimp reads the Greenpoint Herald.

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.
The Original Our Gang Comedies Featuring "Don't Lie" (VHS/BETA) from MGM/UA Home Video: Released Aug. 1992. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. This version has also appeared in bootleg form.