Election Daze

film no. 214

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.
other releases: This film also appeared on at least one bootleg release.

technical details:

Production 2805. The script is numbered B4963.

Release no. C-496.

Filmed February 1 to 4, 1943.

Cutting continuity submitted July 17, 1943.

Copyrighted July 30, 1943, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP12173. Renewed August 14, 1970, with registration no. R489650. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2038.

Released July 31, 1943. It was the 216th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler, lasting 10 minutes and 6 seconds.

Opening title: 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer presents Our Gang in "Election Daze".'

the crew:

Produced by M-G-M: The film credit reads: Produced by Loew's Incorporated.
Directed by Herbert Glazer: This credit appears in the film.
Director of Photography: Robert L. Surtees, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
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.
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. 8837.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
Teacher: Fern Carter

the kids:

Billy "Froggy" Laughlin as "Froggy" aka "President Froggy": Lead role. He decides to run against Mickey and campaigns as "The Peeples Choice" and as "Big-Hearted Froggy."
Bobby Blake as "Mickey" aka "President Mickey": Lead role. He ties with Froggy in the election, so they make two clubs.
Janet Burston as "Janet" aka "President Janet": Supporting role. She ends up winning the tie-breaking election.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He's the 'sargint at arms,' and tells the kids about Abraham Lincoln.
Dickie Hall as "Happy": Supporting role. He heckles Froggy during his speech, but ends up becoming his 'sargint at arms,' with a hat that says simply 'me too.'
Vincent Graeff: Small part. He tells Mickey's voters that Froggy's giving out jelly beans, and also tries to pick a fight. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Billy Ray Smith.
boy 204: Small part. He'll have some more jelly beans.
Tommy Tucker: Small part. When the club is split in two, he's the first boy to try to pick a fight. It may be that Maltin & Bann listed both this name and Robert Ferrero for the same kid, since he seems to be a cross between the two (judging by casting directory photos), but I think Tucker is the more likely choice.
Dorothy "Jackie" Horner: Small part. She's the one that gets fed up with the fighting and says she's going home.
Frank Lester Ward: Small part. He's the one that say 'my gosh, not that.'
Freddie Chapman: Small part. He tells Billy Ray to get smart and vote for Mickey.
Valerie Lee: Small part. She's the one that says 'hooray for Froggy.'
Buz Buckley: Small part. He's standing in the middle of the shot as we first see the lemonade, and says that Mickey's a 'swell guy.'
Giovanna Gubitosi: Extra. She may have been known as Joan Blake by this time. In the early scenes, she's at the far right in the front row of the clubhouse. She later becomes a Froggy supporter, and is present during his speech, and in the front row on his side of the divided clubhouse. She's best seen as Janet gives her speech.
Mickey Laughlin: Extra. He can be seen in the clubhouse and during Froggy's speech. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Happy" moniker was used, but it belongs to Dickie Hall in this short.
other kids: Small parts and extras. There should be twenty-six more kids in this film if the voting numbers are correct, and there are certainly more than twenty not listed above. Among these, They also list Robert Anderson, who might be a boy shown in the background as Ferrero puts up his dukes, but this is just a guess.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

There are no adults in this film.

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." Listed in the cutting continuity as "Gang Goes Home."

miscellaneous:

Four shooting dates went into the making of this film, from February 1 to 4, 1943. Here's a breakdown of the script activity:
July 27, 1942 - A treatment by McGowan & Law entited "All For One" derives from this date. Happy is one of the characters in this version. Froggy describes himself as 'The Friend Of The Girls,' and promises tea parties and visiting days for dolls. The club divides and reunites as in the finished film. Froggy withdraws at the end and concedes to Mickey.
Aug. 3 and 5, 1942 - Treatment changes by McGowan & Law derive from these two dates. The title was still "All For One."
Aug. 12, 1942 - In the version deriving from this date, Mickey and Froggy argue so much that the other members tie them up. Janet then asks the members if they'd like things to go back to the way they were, and they do.
Aug. 19, 1942 - A 1st trial continuity by McGowan & Law entitled "All For One" derives from this date. Froggy is still "The Friend Of The Girls" and makes the same promises, but now Happy heckles him as he gives his speech. The specific dialogue for this heckling scene hadn't been written yet. Janet wins the election at the end.
Aug. 21, 1942 - 'Temp. continuity changes' were made by McGowan & Law on this date. The title was still "All For One."
Aug. 24, 1942 - Changes to the script were made on this date. The title had been changed to "One For All And All For One."
Aug. 26, 1942 - Changes to the script were made on this date.
Aug. 27, 1942 - Changes to the script were made on this date.
Aug. 29, 1942 - Changes to the script were made on this date.
Sep. 1, 1942 - Changes to the script were made on this date. By this time, Froggy was no longer making promises to the girls, and the heckling dialogue was in place. Janet had now taken up the idea of tea parties and visiting days for dolls.
Sep. 2, 1942 - A dialogue continuity by Law & McGowan entitled "One For All And All For One" derives from this date.

The gang's club is called the One For All and All For One Club, but gets divided into the One For All Club and the All For One Club.

Froggy gives his speech at McGowan's Alley.

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

©Dec. 10, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2006 updates: 4/3, 6/14, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/4.
2008 updates: 4/25, 8/3, 9/4, 11/26.
2009 updates: 5/18, 6/1, 6/14, 9/13.

Thanks to Ray Frieders and bigshotjones for assistance on this page.