Dogs Is Dogs

technical details:

Production G-3.

Release no. C-433.

Filmed August 12 to 28, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by Richard Currier on September 24, 1931.

Cutting continuity submitted October 3, 1931.

Copyrighted October 27, 1931, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2586. Renewed December 2, 1958, with registration no. R225704. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2026.

Released November 21, 1931. It was the 110th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

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

King World Productions episode no. 28, 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

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

general manager - Warren Doane was replaced in Nov. 1931 by Henry Ginsberg

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 - Bud "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Possibly Don Sandstrom.

writing - Robert F. McGowan probably headed story development, while Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Billy Gilbert, Jean Yarbrough and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.

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

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.

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

the kids:

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"

Lead role. His mean stepmother puts Pete in the pound.

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie"

Featured role. He provides almost all of the funny business in this short.

Sherwood Bailey as "Sherwood" aka "Spud"

Featured role. He's the spoiled son of Wheezer's stepmother, and frames Pete for what Nero does.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy"

Supporting role. She's Wheezer's sister, and is mostly seen at the breakfast table.

Dickie Jackson as "Dickey" aka "Dick"

Supporting role. He fishes in the well and alerts Wheezer when Sherwood falls in. The spelling of the character name derives from the cutting continuity, and may actually reflect the way it was usually spelled.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III as "Pete" aka "Petey"

Featured role. He frolics with Wheezer, gets shot at, and ends up in the pound.

dog 074 as "Nero"

Supporting role. He's spoiled by Sherwood, and ends up eating one of Mr. Brown's chickens. Presumably the same German shepherd seen previously.

cat 080

Small part. He gets coffee flung at him repeatedly.

Leo

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

other animals

Extras. Four additional dogs can be seen at the pound.

the adults:

Blanche Payson as Sherwood's mother

Supporting role. She spoils her own son while neglecting her stepchildren.

Billy Gilbert as "Mr. Brown"

Supporting role. He tries to shoot Pete.

Lyle Tayo as the kids' aunt

Small part. She appears at the end of the film to take the kids to their father.

Harry Bernard as the cop

Small part. He brings a stop to the shooting, but has Pete put in the pound.

Phillip Gibson as the driver

Bit part. He's seen letting the kids into the car. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Baldwin Cooke.

the music:

"Fanfare" by Leroy Shield

This is played over the MGM lion.

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A1.) This is played over the opening titles. It's repeated as the kids leave in the car and the end title appears.

"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield

This is played as we're introduced to the main characters.

"Prelude" by Leroy Shield

Most of this piece is played through to the end as Sherwood tells on Wheezer and his stepmother gives him a spanking. The missing part from the beginning is played as Wheezer cries and Pete comforts him.

"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield

A little over half of this piece is played as Wheezer hits Sherwood and his stepmother punishes him a second time. Over half is played again to the end of the piece as the kids are getting ready to go to their father.

"Wishing" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this is played as Dorothy comforts Wheezer and their stepmother orders Wheezer to take care of Sherwood.

"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." This is played as Stymie talks to Pete, and Wheezer puts tabasco sauce on Sherwood's breakfast. It's played again as Sherwood is pulled out of the well. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"The One I Love Best" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "All The World (To Me)." The fast ending part is played as Nero and Sherwood eat the tainted food.

"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Stymie enters the kitchen and eats some mush. It's played again as Sherwood blames Pete for killing Mr. Brown's chicken.

"Bells" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this is played as Stymie continues his story about the ham and eggs and Sherwood starts to fall for the trick. The very beginning of the version without bells is played as Wheezer and Stymie discover what Nero has done.

"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played, minus the introduction, as the ham and eggs are cooking and continues as Sherwood is pushed into the well.

"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Dickie tells Wheezer that Sherwood fell in the well, and as Stymie holds the short rope for Sherwood. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Sliding" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swells." This is played as Mr. Brown tries to shoot Pete.

"Hurry" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1931. Most of this piece is played as the kids continue to throw eggs at Mr. Brown.

"Dog Song" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. This is played during the dog pound scene.

the locations:

3584 Helms Avenue, Culver City

The outside of this house is shown at the end of the film.

City Dog Pound

This could possibly be the real thing, but just as easily a mock-up.

house

The house where Billy Gilbert lives is also Estelle Ettere's house in "The Pooch" (no. 115).

miscellaneous:

15 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Five weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Shiver My Timbers" (no. 109), with the studio being closed during one of those weeks. The 'start' date for "Dogs Is Dogs" arrived on Aug. 12th, and shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Aug. 28th. No shooting took place on Aug. 16th or 23rd, which were both Sundays. After this, four and a half weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Readin' And Writin'" (no. 111). The studio was closed during one of those weeks.

According to a Variety item of May 3, 1950, this short was 'tradeshown' in New York on May 1st by Monogram in anticipation of the reissue to theaters of the Our Gang shorts as "The Little Rascals." Two others shorts were shown with it: "Forgotten Babies" (no. 121) and "Mama's Little Pirate" (no. 132).

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B396.

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© Robert Demoss.