The Pooch

technical details:

Production G-8.

Release no. C-438.

Filmed March 9 to 17, 1932. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Released June 11, 1932. It was the 115th film in the series to be released, and the last of the 1931/32 season.

Copyrighted June 13, 1932, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP3086. Renewed February 17, 1960, with registration no. R252229. 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 "The Pooch".'

King World Productions episode no. 7, 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.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Recording Engineer: James Greene

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 - 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.

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.

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

the kids:

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie"

Lead role. He saves the gang's dogs from the dogcatcher, but then has to come up with five dollars to save Pete.

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Featured role. This is the second of two films to introduce him in a special title card reading 'With Spanky.' He accompanies Stymie throughout the film and provides much of the comedy.

Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas as "Breezy"

Supporting role. He's the leader among the gang.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba

Supporting role. She witnesses Stymie setting the dogs free and then defends him when the gang accuses him.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He only has a few lines and mostly does ensemble acting.

Sherwood Bailey

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that his nickname was "Spud" in this film, but it wasn't used. He does mostly ensemble acting with few lines of dialogue.

Harold "Bouncy" Wertz

Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's present with the other members of the gang, but has no lines.

Artye Folz

Small part. She reads the signs for Stymie.

Dickie Jackson

Small part. He throws a donut down to Stymie.

other kids

Extras. While the dogcatcher is struggling with Pete, a kid (probably a boy) can be seen in the background in the yard of a house. It appears that a second person, perhaps a kid, is on the porch.

the animals:

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

Featured role. The story revolves around him, as he's taken by the dogcatcher, but lives to chase him down the road in the end. This was the last appearance of Pete III.

dog 105b as "Pointer"

Small part. This is Breezy's dog.

dog 087b

Small part. This is Sherwood's dog.

Laughing Gravy

Small part. This is Wheezer's dog.

Leo

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

other animals

Bit parts and extras. Bouncy's dog looks to be a German shepherd, but I think it's different than the one usually seen. There is also a white dog that the dogcatcher is about to load into the truck when he comes across Spanky. Also, there are four dogs in the background at the pound.

the adults:

Budd Fine as "Budd," the dog catcher

Supporting role. The gang attacks him when he takes Pete, and he takes glee in the prospect of gassing the dog.

Harry Bernard as the police officer

Supporting role. He tries to catch Stymie to retrieve the five dollar bill.

May Wallace as the second housewife

Small part. Her frosty disposition is warmed by Stymie's charm, and she ends up giving him a feast.

Dick Gilbert as the co-worker at the dog pound

Small part. He tries to tell Budd that there's no gas in the cylinders.

Estelle Ettere as the first housewife

Small part. The 1977 edition lists her as Belle Hare. She gives Stymie dog biscuits.

Baldwin Cooke as the diner attendant

Small part. He refuses to give Stymie free food.

Evelyn Burns

Bit part. She's the woman who loses five dollars.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) The street sweeper, who's only seen from the waist down.

(2.) The woman seen in the background as the gang is racing to the dog pound.

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 and as we're first introduced to Stymie and Spanky.

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Stymie and Spanky decide what they want to eat. It's repeated as Spanky throws dog biscuits to Pete. It's played again as the dog catcher grabs Pete.

"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Stymie and Spanky leave the lunch counter and Dickie throws a donut down to them.

"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." Most of this piece is played as Stymie and Spanky see the gang putting up signs. It's played in full at the end of Spanky's dog biscuit scene with Pete and the beginning of Stymie's scene with May Wallace. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Ezra" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Ears." This is played and repeated as Artye reads the signs for Stymie.

"Candy, Candy" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as we're introduced to Brisbane, and as Stymie gets dog biscuits for Pete.

"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played twice in a row as Stymie puzzles over the artichoke and frees the gang's dogs from the dog catcher's wagon.

"Dash And Dot" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1930. This is played as Stymie struggles to hide the gang's dogs.

"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield

Most of this piece is played as the gang confronts Stymie and then welcomes him back into the fold.

"Prelude" by Leroy Shield

The beginning of this piece is played as Stymie pleads with the dogcatcher. The end is played as the gang arrives at the dog pound and Pete chases the dogcatcher and the end title appears.

"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. Most of this piece is played as the gang attacks the dogcatcher. Most of it is repeated as the gang races to save Pete.

"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as Stymie prays for five dollars and gets it. 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 and repeated as the cop chases Stymie.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios, Culver City

The New York street set is used for the early exterior shots.

Hal E. Roach Ranch

The dog pound looks authentic, but I suspect it was actually a mockup put together at the ranch. The adjacent eucalyptus-lined road looks very much like the access road leading into the ranch. This road was roughly where David Avenue is nowadays, just west of Robertson Boulevard.

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

In a longshot, the gang runs along a diagonal trail through a vacant lot. This lot was located on the northwest corner of Motor and Woodbine. When the wind blows the money out of the old woman's hand, she appears to be in the doorway of the grocery store at 3384 Motor.

Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles

In the shot where the boys are standing in front of a fence and acquire the box of rotten fruit, they're standing on the north side of Woodbine at the opening of the alley east of Motor Avenue.

house

The house where Estelle Ettere lives is also Billy Gilbert's house in "Dogs Is Dogs" (no. 110).

miscellaneous:

8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Five weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Choo-Choo!" (no. 114). The studio was closed during one of those weeks. The 'start' date for "The Pooch" arrived on Mar. 9th, and shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Mar. 17th. No shooting took place on Mar. 13th, which was a Sunday. After this, nine weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began shooting "Hook And Ladder" (no. 116). The studio was closed during five of those weeks.

On March 23, 1932, The Long Beach Sun published a story on new Our Gang member Harold Wertz. It mentions that he has completed two films and that the first one was the recently-previewed "Choo-Choo!" and that the second one was the recently-filmed "Yes And No," which was apparently a working title for "The Pooch."

A story version of this film, entitled "Three Poor Orphans," appeared in the book Our Gang Annual in 1933.

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

© Robert Demoss.