Forgotten Babies

technical details:

Production G-14.

Release no. C-626.

Filmed December 3 to 10, 1932. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by William Terhune on January 23, 1933.

Cutting continuity submitted February 5, 1933.

Released March 11, 1933. It was the 121st film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted March 13, 1933, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP3716. Renewed October 13, 1960, with registration no. R264099. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2028.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Forgotten Babies".'

King World Productions episode no. 36, 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 Jack Ogilvie

This credit appears in the film. The synopsis for this film credits the recently departed Richard Currier.

Recording Engineer: James Greene

This credit appears in the film.

Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro

He trained the current Pete.

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

film editor and 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 Carl Harbaugh, Frank Terry, Charlie Hall, Robert A. McGowan and Gordon Douglas 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.

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Lead role. He's given the task of caring for eight toddlers and babies while the gang goes swimming.

the big kids

Dickie Moore

Small part. He convinces Spanky to take care of the babies. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him by his full name.

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie"

Small part. He keeps Cotton on a fishing line. He has a good amount of dialogue in the opening scene.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Small part. The nickname doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but is indicated in the cutting continuity. He has a couple of lines of dialogue.

Johnny Collum as "Uh-huh"

Small part. He's shown with the older kids, but only has one line of dialogue.

Tommy Bond

Small part. He's given a closeup, but no dialogue.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba

Small part. Her name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but is indicated in the cutting continuity. She's purely an ensemble player in this film.

Dickie Jackson

Small part. He only does ensemble acting in this film.

David Holt

Small part. This is the boy with the Dutch-boy haircut among the older kids. He's purely an ensemble player.

the toddlers and babies

Dickie Hutchins

Supporting role. He's the boy who repeatedly says 'Remarkable!'

Bobbie "Cotton" Beard as "Cotton"

Supporting role. He plays with the vacuum cleaner and rides on the turntable, among other things.

Murlin Powers

Supporting role. He's the boy who keeps climbing up the stairs. He also worked in the Charley Chase comedy "Nature In The Wrong" during the making of this Our Gang film.

Tommy "Dynamite" McFarland

Supporting role. He collapses the bed and fills the bathtub, among other things.

Madeline McGowan

Supporting role. She's the girl who falls from the kitchen chair. She was the daughter of Robert A. "Anthony Mack" McGowan, occasional series director.

Bobby Watson

Small part. Later famously known as Bobs Watson. There's a shot of him smiling for the camera.

Barbara Stevenson and Patsey Edwards

Small parts. One of these is the baby that keeps blinking, and the other is the baby with the hiccups, but I don't know which is which.

questionable listing

Maltin & Bann list Duke Sexton as one of the kids, but he was an adult that was working with one of the other units while this short was being made.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV

Supporting role. He's present during the babysitting sequence, but isn't given that much to do.

Leo

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

other animals

Small parts. The two goldfish are real while they're in the bowl, but fake when Spanky tries to catch them.

the adults:

Estelle Ettere as "Miss Ettere," and as the voice of "Mary Dangerfield"

Small part. Listed in the 1977 edition as Belle Hare. As "Miss Ettere," she's the telephone operator who traces the call. She's also "Mary Dangerfield," the character in the radio program who's being murdered.

Billy Gilbert as the radio announcer for station NIX, and as the voice of "Dr. Nemo"

Small part. He's heard but not seen, playing the part of two radio voices.

Harry Bernard as one of the cops

Small part. He's the cop that does the talking.

Dick Gilbert as one of the cops

Small part. He accompanies the other cop.

Beth Hazelton and Edna Aslyn as the other two telephone operators

Small part. Hazelton is on the left and Aslyn is on the right. Maltin & Bann apparently meant their listing of Ruth Hiatt to be in place of Hazelton, since they do this for "Beginner's Luck" as well.

other adults

Bit part. The only adult left is whoever dubbed in the baby's hiccups.

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 the kids. The last half-verse is repeated as we see Cotton in a cage and the end title appears.

"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as the kids talk about baby brothers and storks. The first half is played again at a slower tempo, with a short bit repeated, as the older kids return to the house.

"Beautiful Lady" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The first half of this piece is played as the kids ponder leaving the babies on their own. The first part is repeated as Spanky retrieves the baby from the stairs and the toddlers start to get into things. The same portion is repeated again as Cotton plays with the vacuum cleaner and the little girl gives limburger to Pete.

"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 the older kids convince Spanky to take care of the babies. It's played in its entirety as Spanky gets the goldfish out of his pants and carries the pillow up the stairs. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

This piece is played, with the first verse and middle part repeated, as Spanky begins to tell the babies about Tarzan. It's played again as Spanky tries to catch the goldfish.

"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Spanky describes various animals in the jungle. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Spanky finishes his story.

"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Spanky glues the baby to the floor and the toddlers start throwing things and knocking things down.

"Look At Him Now" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1931. This is played as Cotton rides on the turntable and Tommy collapses the bed.

"Bells" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as the telephone operators are overhearing the radio broadcast.

"Sliding" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swells." Part of this piece is played as the cops arrive at the house.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios, Culver City

Footage was shot on stage #2 (Spanky's house) from Dec. 3rd to 7th, and 9th and 10th.

Motor Avenue, Los Angeles

Footage was shot here on Dec. 8th.

Ballona Creek, Culver City

In his interview with Buddy McDonald, Richard Bann revealed that this location was used for this film, no doubt for the opening scenes.

8915 Carson Street, Culver City

As the police answer the emergency call, they pull up on this street, with its distinctive bend shown in the background. The house at 8915 is shown on the right side, while the water tower of the Selznick studio can be seen in the far background.

miscellaneous:

7 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Six weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Fish Hooky" (no. 120). The studio was closed during one of those weeks. Shooting for "Forgotten Babies" started on Dec. 3rd and continued until Dec. 10th. No shooting took place on Dec. 4th, which was a Sunday.

The 1932 studio datebook gives quite a few details about each of the shooting dates, which read as follows:
Sat., Dec. 3 - G-14 (Begin) Shooting - McGowan directing - Spanky's house - Stage #2 - weather clear
Sun., Dec. 4 - Sunday
Mon., Dec. 5 - G-14 Shooting - McGowan directing - Spanky's house - Stage #2 - weather clear
Tue., Dec. 6 - G-14 Shooting - McGowan directing - Spanky's house - Stage #2 - weather clear
Wed., Dec. 7 - G-14 Shooting - McGowan directing - Spanky's house - Stage #2 - weather clear
Thu., Dec. 8 - G-14 Shooting - McGowan directing - Location - Motor Avenue - weather clear
Fri., Dec. 9 - G-14 Shooting - McGowan directing - Spanky's house - Stage #2 - weather - Showers early - clear
Sat., Dec. 10 - G-14 - Spanky's house - Stage #3 - weather clear - production finished

It seems apparent that the living room footage probably took place on Stage #2, since four shooting dates were spent there.

The radio program is called "The Thirteenth Murder." Maltin & Bann call it "The Thirteenth Hour."

Reel one ends the first time Spanky retrieves the baby from the staircase.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B422.

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: "Dogs Is Dogs" (no. 110) and "Mama's Little Pirate" (no. 132).

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© Robert Demoss.