Bargain Day

film no. 106

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 13 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Three (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 18:47. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version. There are also several clips from this film included in the documentary Rascals And Racial Issues.

technical details:

Production G-40.

Filmed December 14 to 23, 1930, and January 26 to February 2, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted March 23, 1931, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2072. Renewed December 2, 1958, with registration no. R225696. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2026.

Released May 2, 1931. It was the 106th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Bargain Day".'

King World Productions episode no. 51, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

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.
Dialogue by H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film. Studio documentation credits him as a story editor.
Recording Engineered: Elmer Raguse: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay: He was Pete's owner and trainer.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title card.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
A Victor Recording, Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie" and as the speaking voice for the monkey: Featured role. He gets most of the featured footage in this film, particularly as he chases the monkey around. When the monkey speaks to him, it's Stymie's voice we hear.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer": Featured role. He and Stymie are door-to-door peddlers.
Shirley Jean Rickert as "Shirley": Featured role. She's the poor little rich girl who's more than happy to have a couple of peddlers at her door.
Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby": Supporting role. He's initially seen trying to buy a hat, and later tries out a reduction cabinet. The nickname is seen on the fence where they gang's equipment is missing.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina": Supporting role. He's nervous about getting pinched as the gang enters the wealthy home. His nickname is also written on the fence.
Jackie Cooper as "Jack": Small part. He's the leader of the gang and sets out to find Wheezer, but is replaced by a double in some of the longshots. This was his final appearance in the series.
Mary Ann Jackson: Small part. She's present during the hat scene, and later hides up the chimney.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba: Small part. She's also seen during the hat scene, but mostly does ensemble acting.
Donald Haines as "Speck": Small part. He does mostly ensemble acting, and is replaced by a double in some of the longshots. His nickname is also written on the fence.
Douglas Greer: Bit part. He's seen only in the scene where the gang discovers that their equipment is missing, and stays behind while the others go look for Wheezer.
other kids: Supporting roles and small parts.
(1.) The little boy that plays "Bologna," who rides along with Wheezer and Stymie and sets off the alarm.
(2.) Two boys used as stand-ins for Jackie Cooper and Donald Haines in certain shots.

the animals:

Joe the Monk as "Pansy": Featured role. This is presumably Joe. He's Shirley's monkey, and causes plenty of mischief throughout the film.
Pete the Pup III: Supporting role. He joins Wheezer and Stymie, and is given a few comical reactions to the whole Watt Street exchange.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

Harry Bernard as the hat salesman: Small part. He's seen at the beginning of the film.
Stanley "Tiny" Sandford as the police captain: Small part. He's the cop that's in charge and does most of the talking.
Otto Fries as the plain-clothes cop: Small part. He warns Wheezer and Stymie that they'd better get a license.
Mickey Daniels as the laugh-over for the monkey: Small part. His laugh is heard several times.
Silas D. Wilcox as one of the cops: Small part. He's the one chasing Wheezer in the house.
Baldwin Cooke as the socks customer: Bit part. He distracts the salesman long enough for the kids to make a mess of his store.
Lyle Tayo: Presumed small part. Publicity photos reveal that she appeared in footage deleted from the final version of this film. Since the footage takes place in Shirley's house and includes Jackie Cooper, it can be assumed that it was replaced during the January/February retakes. It seems probable that Tayo played Shirley's mother in this footage.
other adults: Small parts. There are four additional cops chasing the kids around the plush home.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A12.) The twelfth version is played in part over the opening titles. It's partially played again as the kids discover their baseball equipment is missing.
(A10.) The tenth version is played as the older kids are looking for Wheezer, and Baloney sets off the alarm.
"It Is To Laugh" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1930. Most of this is played as Chubby tries on various hats, with most of thesecond half repeated several times. This is the version reproduced by on the second Beau Hunks CD, with elements of "Oh, My Hat" and "Let's Go" incorporated into it. The end part is played as the kids run out of the store. The last bit is repeated as Chubby says 'I must have shrunk.'
"Where? Oh, Where" by Leroy Shield: This effect piece is partially played as the salesman gets angry.
"(We're Going To) Arrowhead" by Leroy Shield: This is played as we first see Wheezer and Stymie.
"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. Most of this is played during Stymie's conversation with the plain-clothes cop. The beginning is repeated as Stymie meets the monkey.
"Wishing" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played and partially repeated as we're introduced to Shirley and her monkey. The introduction to this piece is repeated three times, and interspersed with "One For You," as Stymie finds the toy lion.
"Beautiful Lady" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. An alternate version of this tune is played as Wheezer and Stymie arrive at Shirley's door.
"Crabtree" by Leroy Shield: Also known as "Girl & Stick." The second half of this piece is played as Wheezer and Stymie walk into Shirley's house. It's played again as the cops round up the kids.
"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played during the Watt Street dialogue.
piece 106a: This effect piece is played as Pete puts his paws over his ears.
piece 106b: This trombone effect piece is played as Pete puts his paw in his mouth.
"Tuba": This effect piece is played as Pete rolls onto his back. This seems to be a longer version of the piece from "Helping Grandma" (no. 103).
"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Wheezer tries to sell Shirley a doorknob. This is the faster version reproduced on the second Beau Hunks CD.
"Nothing At All" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. This is played as Stymie looks for a tack.
"Hollywood Kate" by Leroy Shield: A very small bit of this effect piece is played as Stymie is about to sit on the tack.
piece 106c: This effect piece is played as Stymie sits on the tack.
"One For You" by Leroy Shield: A single chime from this piece is played three times and is interspersed with "Wishing."
"Tip Toes" by Leroy Shield: Part of the "Goofs Suite." This is played as Stymie is getting scared by the toy lion.
"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Part of this are played as Stymie shoots craps. This version is similar to the version reproduced on the second Beau Hunks CD.
"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield: Coyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. Most of this is played as Stymie chases the monkey around.
"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield: This is played as the older kids first get to the house.
"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield: This is played as Chubby tries out the steam cabinet and Farina warns Wheezer about Jackie.
"Excitement" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. This is played four times in a row as the cops are chasing the kids around the house.
"Your Piktur" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Mary Ann falls into the fireplace.
"Yearning" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. A small part of this is played as the picture fades and the end title appears.

miscellaneous:

14 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Four weeks after shooting finished for "Little Daddy" (no. 104), the 'start' date arrived for "Bargain Day" on Dec. 14th, which was a rare working Sunday. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Dec. 20th. Three days later, on Dec. 23rd, retakes were shot. After this, four and a half weeks passed before retakes resumed on Jan. 26th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Feb. 2nd. No shooting took place on Jan. 25th or Feb. 1st, which were both Sundays, nor on Jan. 29th. After this, four weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Fly My Kite" (no. 107).

Apparently, the retakes for this film were the result of the loaning out by Roach of Jackie Cooper to Paramount for the film "Skippy." It can be assumed that the footage with Jackie was shot in December, and that most of the footage at Shirley's house was shot in January and February.

This film was budgeted at $19,000, which was less than usual. However, the final negative cost came to $28,600, no doubt resulting from the extensive retakes.

It's likely that Our Gang's scene in "The Stolen Jools" was shot during January or February, around the time of the retakes for this film. This is contrary to Maltin & Bann's suggestion that it was shot after "Fly My Kite" (no. 107), which doesn't seem likely at all when one compares Shirley Jean Rickert's hair in the three films.

The 'Watt Street' routine derives from a turn-of-the-century vaudeville routine called "The Baker Scene."

This is a quote from Shirley Jean Rickert's website: "Back in the 1930's people who went out 'on the town' were known as gad-abouts and the phrase I use is 'My Mother went out to gad'."

Reissue and television prints are titled "Bargain Days."

©May 16, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/8, 2/11, 5/16, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/7, 2/21, 4/25, 7/6, 7/12, 7/23, 7/27, 8/19, 11/6.
2009 updates: 6/8.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore, Piet Schreuders and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.