Spanky

technical details:

Production G-6.

Release no. C-436.

Filmed December 14 to 22, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by Richard Currier on February 6, 1932.

Cutting continuity submitted February 29, 1932.

Released March 26, 1932. It was the 113th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted March 29, 1932, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2945. Renewed May 19, 1959, with registration no. R236738. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2027.

All-talking two-reeler.

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

King World Productions episode no. 49b, 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 and James W. Horne

McGowan receives the onscreen credit, but without his middle initial. Horne is uncredited, since it was Spanky's screen test that he directed, a portion of which was used in this film. The original screen test was the length of one reel.

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, but not in the Blackhawk print.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Recording Engineer: James Greene

This credit appears in the film, but spells his last name Green.

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

sound department - Elmer Raguse

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Probably Don Sandstrom.

writing - Robert F. McGowan probably headed story development, while Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Frank Terry, Raymond McCarey, Billy Gilbert 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. Sandstrom was remembered by Spanky as being the propman handling the fake bug.

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.

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

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Featured role. He's featured strongly in the first part of the film, and then causes trouble for the gang's play.

Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas as "Brisbane"

Featured role. He plays Simon Legree in the play, and is in charge. He's also Spanky's older brother. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Breezy."

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie"

Featured role. He plays both Uncle Tom and Topsy in the play.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy"

Supporting role. She plays Little Eva in the play. She later recalled being knocked unconscious after falling off one of the ice floes in this film.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer" aka "Wheeze"

Supporting role. He plays Marks the lawyer in the play, and refers to himself as "Harpo."

Sherwood Bailey

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that his nickname is "Spud" in this film. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Sherwood," even though the name doesn't turn up in the dialogue. He plays Aunt Ophelia in the play.

Bobby Mallon

Small part. He's sitting in the back row in the right aisle seat, and gets the idea to throw food at Brisbane.

Douglas Greer as "Speck"

Small part. He's sitting in the back row in the left aisle seat, and conspires with Bobby Mallon.

Virginia Gilbert, Roy Godfrey, Paul Godfrey, Bobby Taylor, Bobby Haines and Mary Ann King

Small part. These are the six kids performing in blackface makeup. Virginia Gilbert is in the back and to the left. I'm pretty sure the kid in front on the left with the long blonde hair is Bobby Taylor, since he looks like "Bobby" from "Readin' And Writin'." This identification is partly based on the likelihood that the actor had the same name as the character, and the fact that this kid is absent from "Birthday Blues," which has Bobby Haines in the cast. Also among these six blackface kids is the little blonde boy listed elsewhere on this site as boy 111, who, judging by his appearance in "Birthday Blues," should be either Bobby Haines or one of the Godfrey boys.

Mildred Kornman

Extra. She's sitting in the right aisle seat of the front row. Her name isn't listed in the payroll ledger, so perhaps she was paid in cash for this appearance. There is, however, a girl named Mildred Travers listed in the ledger, which perhaps was a briefly-used professional name.

Barbara Jean Roach

Extra. She sits directly in front of Douglas Greer.

Betty Allgrunn

Extra. She sits on the right side of the audience in the middle of the second row. She was Bob McGowan's niece.

Bruce and Edward Cooke

Extras. These two are listed in the payroll ledger. Bruce seems to be in the second-to-last row, two seats from the aisle on the right. Edward seems to be sitting directly behind Mildred Kornman.

Carmencita Johnson

Extra. She's also listed in the ledger. She seems to be sitting to the far right in the second row.

Wallace Carter

Extra. He sits in the left aisle seat of the second row.

Mickey Rentschler

Extra. He's listed in the ledger, and seems to be sitting to the far left in the second row.

Dick Yates

Extra. He's listed in the ledger, and might be the boy in the front row to the far right.

Doris Oelze

Extra. She sits at the far left of the third row.

Billy Allgrunn

Extra. He was Bob McGowan's nephew. I don't yet know which kid he is in the audience.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. The remaining audience members: Bobby Jackson, Norbert Kershner, Wayne McComas, Joe McGee, Joe Succop, Alex McDonald, Dick Succop, George Durky, Jimmy Ardy, Margaret Slocum, Mildred Travers and Richard Gilbert. In the back row of the audience, two seats to the left of Douglas Greer, is the same boy who later runs out in front of everybody and tells them that a baby is throwing money out of a window. Also listed is Emma McFarlane, who was making $7.50 a day. The rest of these kids were making $5. It's possible that she was an adult who was present to keep the kids in line, since they would have been on Christmas vacation and wouldn't have had a temporary teacher on set. If this was the case, then the number of girls' names in the ledger would more closely match the number of girls' faces seen in the film. Maltin & Bann also list Tommy Bond among the kids, but the payroll ledger doesn't support this.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III as "Petey"

Supporting role. He's mostly seen in the first part of the film with Spanky. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Pete."

dog 087b

Bit part. He's given a brief closeup right before he walks across the ice.

dog 074

Bit part. This is the German shepherd that leads Sherwood across the ice.

Laughing Gravy

Bit part. He's one of the dogs that crosses the ice.

dog 105a

Bit part. This is one of the dogs that cross the ice.

dog 105b

Bit part. This is one of the dogs that cross the ice.

Leo

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

other animals

Bit parts. The goat that pulls Stymie up and down at the end of the film.

bugwatch

The flies that irritate Spanky seem to be real, or at least a couple of them. The remaining bugs are fake.

the adults:

Billy Gilbert as the kids' dad

Supporting role. He's too much of a skinflint to spend money on his family, and hides it away behind a secret wall panel. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Billy."

Grace Woods as the kids' mom

Supporting role. She argues with her husband and orders Brisbane to mind the baby.

Clarence C. "Major Mite" Howerton

Stand-in. He's seen in a longshot doubling for Spanky during the bug-hunting scene.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A12.) Most of one verse of the twelfth version is played over the opening titles.

(A2.) The second version is played as the father learns his lesson and the end title appears.

"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Spanky shoots flies. A portion is repeated as Little Eva defends Topsy.

"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield

Most of this piece is played as Spanky looks at pictures with Pete. A few seconds are played as Spanky's mother talks about getting rid of the bugs. A longer portion is repeated as Topsy leaves the stage and Ophelia asks where she is.

"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." This is played and mostly repeated as Spanky bug-hunts, takes a bath, and eats breakfast with Brisbane. Most of it is repeated as as Brisbane tries to announce the next act, but keeps getting hit with food. A very short bit is played as Brisbane scolds Spanky for making a mess in the house. Another short bit is played as Brisbane scolds Spanky for knocking the pots and pans down the stairs. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. A fast version of this tune is played as Stymie announces that his sister won't be in the show. A portion is repeated as the kids first discover that Spanky is throwing money out of the window.

"(We're Going To) Arrowhead" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Brisbane goes to the barn and suggests that Stymie play two parts.

"Dash And Dot" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1930. Half of this piece is played as Spanky bug-hunts under the sink. The beginning is repeated as Brisbane takes the stage with protective clothing.

"Ants (Hurry)" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Antics" and "Sneaking," but not to be confused with the two other pieces with these titles. Most of this piece is played as Spanky's father arrives and takes some money out of his secret hiding place.

"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Brisbane gets stuck with babysitting Spanky. A short part is repeated as Brisbane paints Stymie's head.

"Here Are The Pets" by Leroy Shield

Part of the ending section of this piece is played as the audience chants 'We want the show to start.' The very end of the piece is played as Wheezer reveals himself to be Harpo, and then the beginning is played as he chases Sherwood.

"Swing Along" by Will Marion Cook

Published by 1902 and featured in the 1903 Broadway musical "In Dahomey." It was later featured in the 1929 show "Swing Along." This is the plantation song being played on the record as the kids in blackface lip-synch.

"Prelude" by Leroy Shield

The beginning of this piece is played as Little Eva and Uncle Tom talk with each other. Another portion is played as Spanky keeps opening and closing the curtain. Another short bit is played as Simon Legree decides to send Uncle Tom down the river. The beginning is repeated as Little Eva is getting ready to die. Another short bit is played as Sherwood gets hit with a tomato. The end of the piece is played as Little Eva goes to heaven.

"The Villain" by Leroy Shield

Part of the "Goofs Suite." A short part of this piece is played as Simon Legree first appears.

"Blue Blue" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. A very short part of this piece is played as Uncle Tom walks off the stage to get Topsy.

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

The beginning of this piece is played as Spanky discovers the money. Another short bit is played as Spanky drops money from the top of the stairs. Another short part is played as Spanky throws money into the air.

"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. A portion of this piece is played as the father chases off the kids picking up his money.

miscellaneous:

8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Three and a half weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Free Eats" (no. 112). The studio was closed during one of those weeks. The 'start' date for "Spanky" arrived on Dec. 14th, and shooting continued until Dec. 22nd, when it was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Dec. 13th or 20th, which were both Sundays. After this, five weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Choo-Choo!" (no. 114). The studio was closed for about a week and a half during this period.

According to Spanky McFarland, footage from his screen test was included in this film. If so, then we can place the earliest shooting date somewhere around late October or early November 1931. In his Cabin Fever introduction for this film, Leonard Maltin specifies that the 'bug-hunting' scene was from the screen test.

In the category of unseen characters are the Marx Brothers. Sherwood asks Wheezer if he's "Zippo" or "Groucho," to which Wheezer replies that he's "Harpo." The cutting continuity corroborates with Sherwood's mispronunciation of "Zeppo."

Quoted in the Apr. 21, 1975, Independent-Gazette of Berkeley, CA, Dorothy DeBorba had this to say: "The only time I was really hurt was when I was with Spanky, doing a play within a play. I played Little Eva and Liza. When I had to cross the ice, I was walking on blocks put in place by the prop man, and I stepped where I thought there was a block, only there wasn't one. I fell and cut my chin."

Reel two opens up with the phonograph record.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B616.

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

© Robert Demoss.