Wiggle Your Ears

technical details:

Production G-18.

Filmed December 4 to 12, 1928. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on December 27, 1928.

Cutting continuity submitted February 1, 1929.

Music recorded February 16, 1929.

Copyrighted March 5, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP186. Renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176887. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2024.

Released April 6, 1929. It was the 84th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler with synchronized music track, on disc only.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Wiggle Your Ears".'

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Music performed by the Motion Picture Orchestra

According to the Victor ledgers, as described at the DAHR website. The musical director was Rosario Bourdon, assisted by Bruno Reibold.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As indicated in the film.

studio personnel

director-general - Leo McCarey

general manager - Warren Doane

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Probably Charles Oelze.

cutting - Possibly Lloyd Campbell.

writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Hal Yates and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary"

Lead role. She's rejected by Harry, only to end up with Joe.

Harry Spear as "Harry"

Featured role. He leaves Mary for Jean, but his ears get cramped.

Jean Darling as "Jean"

Featured role. She marries Harry and ends up henpecking him.

Joe Cobb as "Joe" aka "Joseph"

Supporting role. He spends the film trying to learn how to wiggle his ears.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. He helps Joe and gives the raspberries repeatedly.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Small part. He suggests to Mary that she become a vamp.

Buddy Moore as the rector

Bit part. He appears in the dream sequence performing the marriage ceremony.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Petie"

Supporting role. He appears off and on, most notably retrieving Harry for Mary Ann.

cat 080

Bit part. This is the cat that licks Harry's face.

Leo

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

other animals

Bit part. The white rabbit that gives Joe his inspiration.

bugwatch

There are various flies buzzing around, including the one around the limburger and the one that lands on Mary's cheek.

the adults:

This is one of the few Our Gang films to feature no adults.

the music:

"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson

Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. This version is an instrumental. This is played over the opening titles. It would be heard several more times through the first talkie season.

"L'Amour de l'Apache" by Jacques Offenbach

Also known as "Apache Love." This is the waltz played while Harry kicks Mary's rear end, and while Mary fixes the wheel. A second version is played as Harry is ordering Mary to buy him ice cream.

"Mon Homme" by Maurice Yvain

Also known as "My Man." English lyrics were added by Channing Pollack in 1920. Performed in the Ziegfeld Follies by Fanny Brice in 1921. An instrumental version is played while Mary pushes Harry in the cart and cracks a nut for him. A second version is played as Mary cracks some more nuts. It's played again as Harry takes the ring from Mary.

"Dance Of The Jacks" by Poldini

Also known as "Danse des Valets." This is played during the scene where Joe tries to wiggle his ears and Farina smells the limburger.

piece 084a

This is played as Harry rides down the hill. A second version is played as Harry and Jean ride down the hill.

"La Coquette" by Erno Rapee and Dr. William Axt

This is played while Jean and Harry flirt, and as Mary shows up with the ice cream. A shorter version of this piece is played as Harry shakes the ice cream out of his clothes and Pete eats it.

"Jealous" by Jack Little, Tommy Malie and Dick Finch

This is played as Jean and Harry eat their ice cream, while Mary pushes them in the cart. The song was featured in Hugh J. Ward's Christmas Fairy Pantomime Cinderella. It was a number three hit for Marion Harris in 1924.

piece 084b

This is the effect piece played as the ice cream falls into Harry's shirt.

piece 084c

This is played as Jean invites Harry to her house.

"Sympathy" by Rudolf Friml

Also known as "Sympathy Waltz." Debuted in the Broadway operetta "The Firefly" in 1912, with lyrics by Otto Harbach and Gus Kahn. Walter Van Brunt and Helen Clark had a number one hit with this song in 1913. An instrumental version is played in this film as Mary laments and Pete sympathizes.

"The Whistler And His Dog" by Arthur Pryor

Published in 1905. In this film, a portion of this song is played as Pete retrieves Harry. This is a different section than the familiar part heard in "The Pinch Singer" (no. 143).

"Like A Real Man" by Victor Herbert

This is played as Harry requests Mary to sew his pants. Part of it is replayed as Harry tells Mary he's gonna wiggle his ears for Jean from now on.

"(A) Little Girl At Home" by Victor Herbert

Debuted in the operetta "The Lady Of The Slipper" in 1912, with lyrics by James O'Dea. Harry MacDonough and Marguerite Dunlap had a number eight hit with this song in 1913. An instrumental version is played in this film as Mary sews Harry's pants.

"Don't Cry" by Ted Fio Rito

This is played as Mary cries and eats Joe's donut.

"Flirtation" by Sommer

This is played as Mary talks with her mouth full. "Music Box" is played during the middle section.

"Music Box" by Paul Lincke

This is played during the middle part of "Flirtation," and sounds like it's all one tune.

"Marionette" by Felix Arndt

Published in 1914. This arrangement is by J. S. Zamecnik. This is played as Mary leaves and Joe vows to wiggle his ears. Another part of this piece is played as Joe demonstrates his ear wiggling for Mary. The two parts don't sound like the same piece until one watches "Bear Shooters" (no. 98), in which the whole piece is played.

"Heartbroken And Lonely" by Con Conrad and Sam Coslow

Published in 1928 with lyrics by Saul Bernie. An instrumental version is played in this film as Harry wiggles his ears and Mary erases the love message on the fence.

"Flapperette" by Jesse Greer

Published in 1926. This was a number six hit for Nat Shilkret in 1927. It's played as Farina suggests that Mary become a flapper, and as we see the advertisement for Flapperette Face Cream. Meanwhile, Jean pets Harry's hair. It's replayed as Mary gets into her flapper outfit.

"Me-ow" by Mel B. Kaufman

Published in 1918 with lyrics by Harry D. Kerr. This is played as the cat licks Harry's face.

"The Vamp" by Byron Gay

Published in 1919. Also known as "Vamp A Little Lady." Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra had a number 3 hit with this song in 1919, with vocals by Billy Murray and Harry Macdonough. This is played while Mary puts on her makeup, and continues as Harry and Jean get engaged, and as Mary vamps Harry. There's a wedding bell effect included in this edit.

"Here Comes The Bride" by Richard Wagner

Music written in 1841 as the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin." Played while Harry and Jean get married.

piece 084d

This is the solemn organ music played while Harry and Jean exchange their vows.

"Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

From "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from 1842. A very short piece of this is played as Harry and Jean walk from the altar.

piece 084e

This is played as Mary laments. It's very much in the style of "Wishing" by Leroy Shield.

"Animal Cartoonix" by Morris Aborn

This is played as Joe hits upon the idea of using string to wiggle his ears.

"Tin Ears" by Zefros and Wall

The spelling of Zefros' name is unconfirmed. This is played as Harry discovers his ears are cramped.

piece 084f

This is the tune with the baby effects that's played as Jean orders Harry to take care of the baby.

"Toddling" by Erno Rapee and Dr. William Axt

This is played as Joe pushes Mary and wiggles his ears for her, and continues as Harry starts pushing Jean. It's played again as the two couples give each other looks and Joe wiggles his ears.

piece 084g

This is the carhorn bit that's played as the two couples first meet.

piece 084h

This is the brass bit that plays as the film irises out.

miscellaneous:

8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Six days after shooting finished for "The Holy Terror" (no. 83), the 'start' date arrived for "Wiggle Your Ears" on Dec. 4th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Dec. 12th. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. However, it should be noted that Anthony Mack simultaneously directed footage for "Fast Freight" (no. 85) on Dec. 10th, 11th and 12th, and continued with this film after "Wiggle Your Ears" finished. No shooting took place on Dec. 9th, which was a Sunday.

The first reel of this film ends at the point where Mary Ann talks with her mouth full.

The 16-inch disc masters containing the music and sound effects were Victor matrix MVE-50608 (for reel 1) and Victor matrix MVE-50609 (for reel 2). The takes were all recorded at the Church Bldg. in Camden, NJ. The takes for reel 1 were numbered 1, 1A, 2, and 2A, while the takes for reel 2 were also numbered 1, 1A, 2, and 2A. In neither case is a master take indicated. The orchestra was made up of 22 men. The Victor ledgers use the word "Inaudible" to indicate that the soundtrack contains no dialogue or other closely synchronized sound.

The opening theme of "That Old Gang Of Mine" was dubbed onto the soundtracks of "Shivering Shakespeare" (no. 95), "The First Seven Years" (no. 96), "When The Wind Blows" (no. 97) and "A Tough Winter" (no. 99) from the reel one disc for this film. There was also a version of "Moan & Groan, Inc." (no. 94) that included this recording, but it isn't clear if it was ever released that way.

Among the props seen in this film is a poster advertising Flapperette Face Cream.

Around 1931, a four-minute trailer was made for Jean Darling's stage act, which culminated in the wedding scene from this film. Jean would then emerge from a breakaway screen wearing a wedding dress like the one she wears in the film.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B677.

availability:

The Little Rascals XVIII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video

This copy is a home movie print from Blackhawk, and includes a textual introduction. The inter-titles and the soundtrack are original. The picture quality is good. The print totals 20:51, with 19:56 of it original footage. Almost all of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #13 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is also the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out and a non-original soundtrack. The picture isn't quite as sharp as on the other copy. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.