technical details:
Production 2795. The script is numbered 4918.
Release no. C-492.
Filmed August 3 to 6, 1942.
Cutting continuity submitted January 18, 1943.
Copyrighted January 28, 1943, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP11862. Renewed January 29, 1970, with registration no. R478585. This copyright is currently due to expire at
the end of 2038.
Released January 30, 1943. It was the 212th film in the series to be released.
All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 53 seconds.
Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Benjamin Franklin, Jr."' The end title design reverted to the design last seen in "Surprised
Parties" (no. 207).
the crew:
- Produced by M-G-M
- According to Maltin & Bann. The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated. It's likely that Richard Goldstone was the producer, since he okayed the
script.
- Directed by Herbert Glazer
- This credit appears in the film.
- Director of Photography: Charles Schoenbaum, 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: Paul Youngblood
- 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
- Certificate no. 8670.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As indicated in the film.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
the kids:
- the "Our Gang"
- Bobby Blake as "Mickey"
- Lead role. He changes the kids' attitudes about the war by playing Benjamin Franklin in the play.
- Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy"
- Featured role. He's the president of the club and complains about a patch on the seat of his pants. He plays "Squire Laughlin" in the play. He used to be The Dude Of Elm
Street.
- Janet Burston as "Janet"
- Featured role. She complains about war stamps and makes announcements in between the acts of the play.
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"
- Featured role. He complains about sugar and also takes part in the play.
- Mickey Laughlin
- Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Happy" moniker was used, but it wasn't. He takes part in the play, but is not as prominent as the other four kids.
- other kids
- boy 212 as "Pinky Smith"
- Small part. This is the boy that comes up with the idea of letting the gang think for everybody else.
- Vincent Graeff
- Small part. Janet puts him in his place. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Billy Ray Smith.
- Edward Lewis as "Big Shot"
- Small part. He's Buckwheat's little brother.
- Gene Collins
- Small part. He's the first kid to gripe. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Frank Lester Ward.
- Valerie Lee
- Small part. She complains about Jimmy Stewart.
- Dickie Hall
- Small part. He wonders if the gang are trying to make saps out of everybody.
- Barry Downing
- Extra. During the play, he sits in the row behind Pinky and Millie.
- Elena Savona
- Extra. It appears that she's sitting to the right of Frank Ward.
- other kids
- Small parts, bit parts and extras. There are upwards of forty additional kids in the club, including "Millie Jones," and the boy handling the curtain.
the animals:
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
the adults:
- Barbara Bedford as Janet's mom
- Small part. She tries to explain to Janet the value of war stamps.
- Ernie Alexander as "John," Mickey's dad
- Small part. He's seen in the opening scene.
- Margaret Bert as "Martha," Mickey's mom
- Small part. She's also in the opening scene, talking to her husband about the new food budget.
- man 202 as Buckwheat's dad
- Small part. He scolds Buckwheat for using too much sugar.
- Catherine "Cathy" Lewis as Froggy's mom
- Small part. She sews a moon-shaped patch onto the seat of Froggy's pants.
- other adults
- Bit parts.
- (1.) Buckwheat's mom.
- (2.) The mailman at Janet's house.
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:
Four shooting dates went into the making of this film, from August 3 to 6, 1942. Here's a breakdown of the script activity:
June 8, 1942 - A treatment by McGowan & Law entitled "Ben Franklin, Jr." derives from this date. Spanky is included, and is given the scene with the sugar, which was later
given to Buckwheat. Mickey gets stamps from his "Aunt Gertrude."
June 15, 1942 - A treatment by McGowan & Law entitled "Ben Franklin, Jr." derives from this date. Spanky was still featured in the sugar scene, while Mickey was still
receiving stamps from his "Aunt Gertrude."
June 19, 1942 - A treatment by McGowan & Law entitled "Ben Franklin, Jr." derives from this date. At this point, Spanky was given the scene involving the patch on the seat
of his pants, which was later given to Froggy. Buckwheat now has the sugar scene, as seen in the finished film. Janet now has the "Aunt Gertrude" scene, though the aunt's name
would change by the time the film was shot. The "Pinky" character was introduced by this time.
June 22, 1942 - A treatment by McGowan & Law entitled "Ben Franklin, Jr." derives from this date. At this point, Janet's aunt is named "Aurelia." This version
also has Mickey reading Poor Richard's Almanack.
June 25, 1942 - A treatment entitled "The Gang's Play - 'Benjamin Franklin, Jr.'" derives from this date. Froggy plays the Franklin part in this version.
June 26, 1942 - Changes were made to the script on this date.
June 30, 1942 - Changes were made to the script on this date. The title was now "Benjamin Franklin, Jr."
July 2, 1942 - McGowan & Law re-wrote sequence #2 on this date. "'Pop' Peters" runs the sweet shop - he's the one who tells the kids about Franklin.
Spanky plays Franklin in the play.
July 3, 1942 - Changes were made by McGowan & Law on this date. Mickey is again reading from Poor Richard's Almanac. Spanky is still the leader, though, and organizes the kids
into putting on the play.
July 6, 1942 - Changes were made to the script on this date.
July 10, 1942 - Changes were made to the script on this date.
July 15, 1942 - The script of July 29th states that it was written on July 15th. The main development at this point was the removal of Spanky and the addition of Happy.
July 29, 1942 - A script by McGowan & Law entitled "Benjamin Franklin, Jr." derives from this date, though it states that it was written on July 15th. It was okayed by
Richard Goldstone, and on Aug. 20th, 'read by' Leroy Linick, whatever that means. This version included the character "Millie."
At the start of the film, Mickey is reading Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin.
In the category of unseen characters are Froggy's "Aunt Minnie" and Janet's "Aunt Aurelia."
See page 236 of Maltin & Bann's book for this film's expenses and profits.