The Kid From Borneo

film no. 122

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 4 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume One (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 18:41. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Volume 4: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-5: Collector's Edition (5 VHS set) and The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), both released Aug. 15, 2000.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 3 & Vol. 4 (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 (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 19, 2003. This is a copy of the Cabin Fever version.
Little Rascals: Fishy Tales & The Kid From Borneo (VHS) from Cabin Fever: Canadian release.
The Little Rascals Volume 1 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1985. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title is remade, but the crew credits and end title are original. The picture quality is very good, but the soundtrack has some problems. The original footage totals 18:19, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:13.
The Little Rascals Book XVII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals: Pay As You Exit/Kid From Borneo (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 23, 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
Little Rascals Greatest Hits (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: Released Mar. 1, 2001. Reissued Aug. 13, 2002. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set), released Mar. 21, 2001. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 VHS set/5 DVD set), VHS released Feb. 2002 and DVD released Mar. 2004. Also included as part of Our Gang Double Feature (DVD), released June 25, 2002. This is a TV print by Monogram Pictures Corporation from The Little Rascals series entitled "Kid From Borneo." The opening title is remade, but the crew credits are original. The picture quality is good. The original footage totals 18:14, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:11. There is also a clip lasting 0:32 shown during the introductory portion of the DVD. This version has also appeared in bootleg form.
The Best Of Our Gang (DVD) from Legend Films: Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). This is the Monogram print, included both as a colorized print, and in the original black-and-white.
The Little Rascals - Funniest Episodes (5 VHS set) from GoodTimes Home Video: Released June 25, 2002.
The Best Of Our Gang Volume 1 (DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: Released June 1, 2004. Also included on The Best Of Our Gang Volumes 1 & 2 (2 DVD set).
The Our Gang Story (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: VHS released 1994. DVD released May 21, 2002. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set), released Mar. 21, 2001, Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 VHS/DVD set), released Feb. 2002 (VHS) and Mar. 2004 (DVD), and The Best Of Our Gang Volume 1 (DVD) released June 1, 2004. A clip lasting 3:16 is included, showing various shots, including the big chase and Spanky's scene with Bumbo, with narration added.

technical details:

Production G-15.

Filmed probably around mid-winter 1933. It was budgeted at a negative cost of $21,500.

Copyrighted March 13, 1933, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP3713. Renewed October 13, 1960, with registration no. R264096. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2028.

Released April 15, 1933. It was the 122nd film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "The Kid From Borneo".'

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." The Monogram print credits Roach only.
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 Bert Jordan: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: James Greene: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
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:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He has an extended scene with Bumbo, and is otherwise given plenty to do in this film.
Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie": Featured role. He gets chased around the house by Bumbo, and has plenty of dialogue otherwise.
Dickie Moore as "Dickie" aka "Dick": Featured role. He's the leader of the gang and has plenty of dialogue.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy": Supporting role. She's the sister of Dickie and Spanky, but is mostly an ensemble player.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has a little bit of dialogue, but is otherwise an ensemble player.
Tommy Bond: Supporting role. He has one line of dialogue, but is seen through most of the film as part of the group.
Dickie Jackson: Supporting role. He's almost exclusively part of the ensemble in this film and has no dialogue.
Henry Hanna: Supporting role. He's the one remaining kid in the film, and purely an ensemble player.
questionable listings: Maltin & Bann also list John "Uh-huh" Collum, but he's clearly not in the film. Perhaps publicity photos reveal a deleted scene that included him.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV: Small part. He's seen with the kids on the sidewalk and is chased along with them by Bumbo, but disappears halfway through the film.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

John Lester Johnson as "Bumbo," The Wild Man from Borneo: Featured role. The kids think he's their uncle. He calls candy 'yum yum eat 'em up.'
May Wallace as the kids' mom: Small part. She sends her kids to the sideshow to visit their uncle.
Otto Fries as the kids' dad: Small part. He doesn't want his brother-in-law coming around the house.
Harry Bernard as the sideshow manager: Small part. He shows Bumbo to the man from the license bureau and then invites the kids in.
Dick Gilbert as a worker: Bit part. Of the three workers at the sideshow, he's the only one whose face is clearly shown.
other adults: Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The man from the license bureau.
(2.) The stunt double for May Wallace.
(3.) The two other workers at the sideshow.
(4.) The man and the woman shown in portraits on the walls of the house.
(5.) The man on the sidewalk in the background of the chase sequence, running to the corner to see what's going on.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) Most of this piece is played over the opening titles and while the letter is shown. The last half-verse is played as Spanky laughs and the end title appears.
"Prelude" by Leroy Shield: A short part of this piece is played as the parents talk about Uncle George.
"Here We Go" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1930. This is played as the kids look at the letter and mistakenly think that the wild man is their uncle. It's played again as Stymie is selected to go see where Bumbo is.
"Beautiful Lady" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The beginning of this piece is played as the kids talk to their mother about Uncle George. The beginning is repeated as Spanky makes small talk with Bumbo.
"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Stymie hoards his candy from the other kids and Dickie shows them the picture of the wild man. It's repeated twice in a row as Spanky gives Bumbo various items out of the icebox.
"Look At Him Now" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1931. This is played twice as the kids head off to see Uncle George, and the man from the license bureau drops by for an inspection.
"Give Us A Hand" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 4, 1931. This is played as the kids first meet Bumbo. It's played again as Spanky tries to knock out Bumbo and then gives him sardines.
"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The very beginning of this piece is played as Stymie pulls out some candy and Bumbo reacts. The rest is played as Bumbo drinks the jug of wine. This is the version reproduced on the second Beau Hunks CD.
"Fliver Flops" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Bumbo chases the kids back to the house. It's played again as Bumbo chases Stymie around the house.
"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield: This is played twice as Spanky closes the shades and meets up with Bumbo.
piece 122 by Leroy Shield: This is a short effect piece played as Stymie meets up with Bumbo. A reproduction can be heard on the second Beau Hunks CD as an untitled addition to the "Funeral March" track. In that version, the musical track is played only twice, whereas it's played three times in this film.
"Sliding" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swell." This is played, with parts repeated, as the kids start to get the upper hand on the wild man.
"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Spanky shoots flares at Bumbo's derriere and the parents get home.

the locations:

the back porch: This looks to be the same one seen in many of the silent films, including "Ask Grandma" (no. 38).
the back yards: Maltin & Bann indicate that the scenes the kids are chased through are in Culver City.
the front door: If this is an actual location, then it's number 807 of whichever street it's on.
the hillside: In the background as Spanky's running is a hill with a huge number 57 on it.

miscellaneous:

The title of this film is a takeoff on "The Kid From Spain."

According to IMDb, this film had an estimated budget of $21,500.

In the category of unseen characters, the real Uncle George in this film is "George Billings."

This film was removed from King World's TV package in the early 70s.

©June 1, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 6/17, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/3, 1/16, 2/11, 5/16, 7/25, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 2/4, 2/27, 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 4/25, 4/26, 7/12.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.