Big Ears

film no. 108

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 21 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Four (3 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a nearly complete original print, missing only the MGM lion, and the last couple of seconds of soundtrack. The total footage lasts 20:47. 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.

technical details:

Production G-1.

Filmed May 25 to June 5, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted August 17, 1931, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2403. Renewed December 2, 1958, with registration no. R225698. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2026.

Released August 29, 1931. It was the 108th film in the series to be released, and the first during the 1931/32 season.

All-talking two-reeler.

Also released with Spanish subtitles as "Orejas de burro." This version was 1,923 ft.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Big Ears".' Maltin & Bann state that 'His Rascals' was replaced with 'The Little Pirates' in this film, but the original title, as seen on the Cabin Fever release, contradicts this.

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.
Written by Robert F. McGowan: This credit derives from the press release for this film.
Dialogue by H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: 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.
Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer": Lead role. His parents are ready to divorce, so he decides to make himself sick to keep them together.
Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie": Featured role. Aside from tossing off several wisecracks, he assists Wheezer in getting sick.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy": Supporting role. She brings some puppies with her, and later helps to empty the medicine cabinet.
Donald Haines: Small part. He gives Wheezer some misinformation about divorce.
Sherwood Bailey: Small part. He plays straight man to Stymie during his brief scene. This was his first appearance in the series.
other kids: A promotional photo reveals that additional footage was shot during the hospital portion of the film. Not only did Stymie, Dorothy, and Sherwood accompany Wheezer to the hospital, but six more kids did as well, including Dickie Jackson. Another kid looks like she might be girl 111a. One of these kids also appeared during the scene with the puppies, but didn't make it into the finished film.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III as "Petey": Featured role. He accompanies Wheezer throughout the film, and plays with him quite a lot.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film (but was cut from the Cabin Fever print).
other animals: Small parts. The only additional animals in this film are the three puppies belonging to Dorothy.

the adults:

Creighton Hale as Wheezer's dad: Featured role. He's the father with a short fuse.
Ann Christy as Wheezer's mom: Featured role. She's not much better than her husband at holding her temper.
Wilfred Lucas as the doctor: Bit part. He examines Wheezer.
Johnnie Mae Beard as Stymie's mother: Small part. She's Stymie's real-life mother, and orders him to take the laundry to Dickie's house.
Gordon Douglas as the orderly: Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. I find it difficult to be sure.
other adults: Bit parts. The only remaining adults in the film are the two nurses at the hospital.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) This is played over the opening titles and as we're introduced to Wheezer and his father. It's repeated as Pete plays keep-away with Wheezer's beanie, and as the parents agree to quit quarreling. It's played again during the hospital scene.
"Prelude" by Leroy Shield: This is played during the breakfast sequence and the door slamming that follows. The end is repeated as Stymie's mother arrives.
"Wishing" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The second half of this is played as Wheezer talks to Pete about his parents. It's repeated partially as Wheezer's parents make up and kiss. The second half is repeated as Stymie talks about putting a hole in the sidewalk.
"The One I Love Best" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "All The World (To Me)." The opening verse to this piece is played twice while Wheezer talks separately to each parent. The same portion is played twice again as Wheezer and Stymie talk about eating lard. An alternate version is played in its entirety as the kids empty the medicine cabinet.
"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. The very beginning of this piece is played as the parents act lovey-dovey with each other. It continues partially as Wheezer overhears his parents talking about divorce. This is the version heard in "Pups Is Pups" (no. 100).
"Go Get Him" by Leroy Shield: This is played partially as the parents fight over the sock. The end of the piece is played as Stymie's mother calls the doctor. The original issue of the Beau Hunks "On To The Show!" CD identified this piece as "Instrumental (Hurry)." The recent reissue revises this.
"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Wheezer and Stymie talk about 'diworce' and Dorothy arrives with three puppies.
"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield: This is played as Donald tells Wheezer what a divorce is.
"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield: A small bit of this is played as Dorothy laments over Wheezer's situation. A slower version is played in full as Wheezer eats the lard and the soap.
"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The ending part of the slow version, reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD, is played as Wheezer finishes eating and gets sick.
piece 108: This is the very short bit played over the end title. Both "Prelude" and "Yearning" have endings that sound like this, but in different keys.

the locations:

the back porch: This is the porch where Stymie's mother enters the house. It looks like it might be the location seen in the earlier silent films like "Ask Grandma" (no. 38).

miscellaneous:

10 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Ten weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Fly My Kite" (no. 107). The studio was closed for six of those weeks. The 'start' date for "Big Ears" arrived on May 24th, and shooting continued until the 'finish' date of June 5th. No shooting took place on May 24th or 31st, which were both Sundays, nor on May 30th, which was Memorial Day. After this, three weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to film "Shiver My Timbers" (no. 109). The studio was closed for one of those weeks.

This film was removed from King World's TV package in the early 70s.

In the category of unseen characters, Wheezer and Stymie mention a kid named "Scotty Smith."

©May 18, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 6/17, 7/9, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 5/16, 7/5, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 2/21, 4/25, 7/6, 7/12, 8/19, 11/6.

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