Shiver My Timbers

film no. 109

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 8 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 20:45. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Volume 8: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), released Aug. 15, 2000.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 7 & Vol. 8 (DVD) from Cabin Fever: Same contents as the Cabin Fever VHS releases. Also released as part of The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited (6 DVD set).
The Little Rascals Digitally Remastered - Collector's Edition III (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Nov. 15, 2005. This derives from the Cabin Fever release.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever release.
The Little Rascals Clay Animation (VHS): The claymation version has appeared on various homemade VHS tapes and DVDs on eBay.

technical details:

Production G-2.

Filmed June 29 to July 9, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted October 1, 1931, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2517. Renewed December 2, 1958, with registration no. R225700. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2026.

Released October 10, 1931. It was the 109th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Also released with Spanish subtitles as "Piratas infantiles." This version was 1,908 ft.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Shiver My Timbers".' 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 soundtrack for this film was used for A Little Rascals Color Special made by King-World Productions and presented by Charles King. The resultant film, using puppet animation, was one of five episodes refashioned this way, which were intended to be marketed as a television series that never came to be.

King World Productions episode no. 10, 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.
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.
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.
Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Matthew "Stymie" Beard: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He provides almost all of the humor in the film, mostly by way of wisecracks.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer": Supporting role. He's basically the leader of the gang, and has a few lines, but mostly does ensemble acting.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba: Supporting role. She tells on the boys for playing hooky and later joins them at night.
Sherwood Bailey: Supporting role. He has a few lines, but is mostly an ensemble player.
Jerry Tucker: Supporting role. He's given a couple of lines, but mostly works as part of the group. This was his series debut.
Georgie Ernest as "Georgie": Supporting role. He has very little dialogue, and is almost exclusively an ensemble player.
Carlena Beard: Small part. She's seen in the opening scene listening to the captain's story. She's listed in the 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book as Carolina Beard.
other kids: Small parts. Two more boys listen to the captain's stories, but run off in fright before the real action starts.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III: Supporting role. He's present throughout the film, and provides occasional comic moments.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Extras. The only other animals seen are the seagulls flying around in the background during the daytime scenes.

the adults:

Billy Gilbert as the captain: Featured role. The kids call him "Cap." He convinces the kids to join his crew, and then gives them a good scare.
June Marlowe as "Miss Crabtree": Supporting role. She convinces the captain to teach the kids a lesson.
Charles Oelze as one of the crew: Supporting role. He's the pirate with the funny glasses that puts a scare into Stymie.
Harry Bernard as one of the crew: Supporting role. He's the cook, and comes into the kids' quarters to lament their signing on.
Dick Gilbert as "Dick," one of the crew: Supporting role. He's the one who informs the captain of the impending typhoon.
Cy Slocum as "Cy," one of the crew: Supporting role. He forgets what the anchor weighs.
other adults: Supporting roles and extras.
(1.) There are two additional crew members. one of whom is Jack Hill, but I don't yet know which one.
(2.) There are perhaps a hundred pirates shown in the opening story-telling scenes. It appears that this footage derives from one or more silent films.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) This is played over the opening titles. A portion is repeated as the captain sees that his crew is out cold and the end title appears.
"Confusion" by Leroy Shield: A short portion of this piece is played during the stock footage of pirates fighting a battle. Most of this piece is played twice through as the captain finishes punishing his crew and sends the kids down below. Most of it is repeated three times as the pirates chases the kids and get knocked out.
"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as the captain is telling the kids a story.
"Antics" by Leroy Shield: Part of this piece is played as Stymie talks about polecats. It's played almost in full as Stymie and the captain discuss polar bears and malaria. The first half is repeated as the captain announces the arrival of the pirates.
"The One I Love Best" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "All The World (To Me)." Part of this piece is played as Dorothy talks to Miss Crabtree. It's played in full when Miss Crabtree arrives at the dock to retrieve her truant students, with the very beginning being repeated at the end of the scene. The alternate version from "Love Business" (no. 104) is played as the kids vow to fight for Miss Crabtree.
"Crabtree" by Leroy Shield: Also known as "Girl & Stick." The first part of this piece is played as the captain complains about being balled out by Miss Crabtree.
"Prelude" by Leroy Shield: The end of this piece is played as the captain signs the kids on to his crew.
"Hurry" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1931. This is played twice as the captain arrives and punishes the first two crew members. It's played twice again as the kids experience the typhoon.
"Sneaking" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played twice as the kids arrive at the ship at night. Most of it is repeated as the pirate with the funny eyes sneaks up behind Stymie.
piece 109a: This is a short effect piece played as we first see Charlie Oelze.
"Go Get Him" by Leroy Shield: Part of the end of this piece is played as the kids hide down below. Most of it is later played as the captain and Stymie exchange dialogue. A very short bit of the end portion is repeated as the pirates are getting knocked out. The original issue of the Beau Hunks "On To The Show!" CD identified this piece as "Instrumental (Hurry)." The recent reissue revises this.
"Sliding" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swells." This is played and partially repeated as the kids listen to the pirates outside the door and Harry Bernard comes in and talks to them. It's repeated the same way as Miss Crabtree is brought into the typhoon scenario.
"Mickey" by Leroy Shield: A variation of this effect piece is played as Charlie Oelze scares Stymie.

the locations:

San Pedro Harbor: This is where the dock scenes were shot.
the ship: Maltin & Bann state that the set is essentially the same as in Laurel & Hardy's "The Live Ghost."

miscellaneous:

9 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Three weeks had passed since the finish date for "Big Ears" (no. 108). The studio was closed during one of those weeks. Filming for "Shiver My Timbers" began on June 29th, and continued until the 'finish' date of July 9th. No shooting took place on June 28th or July 5th, which were both Sundays, nor on July 4th, which was Independence Day. The 1931 datebook entry for July 10th has the word 'finish' written in but crossed out. After this, five weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Dogs Is Dogs" (no. 110). The studio was closed during one of those weeks.

Reel one ends as Stymie and one of the other boys fall backwards onto the floor and the other kids jump over them.

A story version of "Shiver My Timbers" appeared in the book Our Gang Annual in 1933.

The funny glasses worn by Charlie Oelze in this film appear to be the same pair worn by Jackie Cooper in "Love Business" (no. 104).

©May 19, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/2, 2/11, 5/16, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 2/21, 2/26, 4/25, 7/6, 7/12, 7/24, 8/19, 11/6.
2009 updates: 6/8, 7/23.

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