Mush And Milk

film no. 123

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 9 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (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 18:02. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:02 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, which shows Stymie holding up some hardened mush.
The Little Rascals Volume 9: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), released Aug. 15, 2000.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 9 & Vol. 10 (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 Colorized Collection (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Apr. 19, 1999. One of six same-named VHS releases, each with three colorized films, deriving from the Cabin Fever versions.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.
The Little Rascals Book XIX (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title is remade, but the crew credits and end title are original. The original footage totals 17:44, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:10.
The Little Rascals: Mush And Milk/Three Men In A Tub (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:26 is included, showing the final restaurant scene, with music and new dialogue added.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - Memories From Little Rascals Family Theater (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 0:02 is included, showing Stymie playing the harmonica.

technical details:

Production G-16.

Filmed probably around the late winter of 1933.

Copyrighted April 17, 1933, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP3806. Renewed October 13, 1960, with registration no. R264102. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2028.

Released May 27, 1933. It was the 123rd film in the series to be released, and the last of the 1932/33 season.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Mush And Milk".'

King World Productions episode no. 39, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed as "Mush & Milk."

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 Hap Depew: This credit appears in the film.
Edited by Louis McManus: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: James Greene: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. 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
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie": Featured role. He's given plenty of dialogue throughout the film, as well as a harmonica solo.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He's also given plenty of dialogue, including his scene with James Finlayson, and his recitation of "Mary Had A Little Lamb."
Dickie Moore as "Dick": Supporting role. He's featured in the early scenes milking the cow, but isn't given much to do in the second half of the film. This was his final appearance in the series.
Tommy Bond as "Tommy": Supporting role. He's given a fair amount of dialogue, but his big scene is the one in which he sings "Just Friends."
Bill Farnum as "Billy": Supporting role. He's present through most of the film, but isn't noticeable until he tap dances with Olga.
Olga Therkow as "Olga": Supporting role. Her big scene is the tap-dancing number with Bill.
Edith Fellows: Supporting role. She works in the kitchen and makes a face at Cap's wife, but mostly does ensemble acting.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy": Supporting role. She's mostly part of the ensemble, but gets to answer one of the questions in the classroom. This was her final appearance in the series.
Johnny Collum as "Uh-huh": Supporting role. He's given a question to answer in the classroom, but is otherwise part of the ensemble.
Dickie Jackson: Small part. He's purely an ensemble player in this film. This was his final appearance in the series.
Marcia Mae Jones: Small part. She's given mostly ensemble work to do in this film.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Small part. Aside from one closeup at the beginning of the film, he's barely noticeable in this film, even though he's present through most of it. This was his last appearance.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV as "Pete": Small part. He's seen off and on, but isn't given much to do aside from tipping over the milk.
Joe the Monk: Bit part. This is presumably Joe. He's shown at the end of the film.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) The cow named "Eczema."
(2.) The chicken that pecks at Spanky.
bugwatch: Ever noticed the fly crawling on Wheezer's ear?

the adults:

Gus Leonard as "Cap" aka "Old Cap": Featured role. He's the benevolent teacher at the boarding school, and receives his back pension at the end.
Louise Emmons as Cap's wife: Supporting role. She's the horrible old woman that terrifies the kids.
James Finlayson as "Mr. Brown," the banker: Small part. He's featured in a phone conversation with Spanky.
Rolfe Sedan as the waiter: Small part. He tries to tell Cap that the food he ordered is mush.
other adults: Bit parts. The two remaining adults are the men that play the waiters, "Pierre" and "Gaston."

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) A portion of this piece is played over the opening titles. It's played in full as the kids are served mush at the French restaurant and the end title appears.
"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as the boys wake up. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.
"Hollywood Kate" by Leroy Shield: Most of this effect piece is played as Cap's wife tells the boys to get out of bed. Another portion is played as she yells at the girls in the kitchen.
"Intermezzo" by Leroy Shield: This is played as Cap visits the boys in their room.
"Beautiful Lady" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as the boys first try to milk the cow. The same portion is repeated twice in a row as the kids try to eat their hardened mush.
"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield: About half of this piece is played as Spanky squirts milk into Pete's mouth. It's played in full during Spanky's conversation with Mr. Brown.
"Here We Go" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1930. This is played as the boys milk the cow with a vacuum cleaner. Half of it is repeated as Cap talks to the waiter.
"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." This is played as Pete tips over the milk bucket and the boys have no luck getting any more out of the cow. About half of it is repeated as Uh-huh uses the word 'isthmus' in a sentence.
"Look At Him Now" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1931. Half of this piece is played as Dickie makes some fake milk.
"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. The fast version of this piece is played as the kids pass the message around the table.
"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played twice in a row, with only one introduction, as Cap asks questions of his students.
"Hungarian Dance No. 5" by Johannes Brahms: Published in 1869. This is played by Stymie on his harmonica. Or at least we're supposed to think so.
"Just Friends" by John Klenner and Samuel M. Lewis: Published in 1931. This was a number 14 hit for Russ Columbo in 1932, and also a number 14 hit for Ben Selvin & His Orchestra the same year. In this film, Tommy Bond sings it.
"Bells" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as Cap learns of his back pension.
musical references: Asked to name three rivers, Stymie names three songs with the word 'river' in their titles: "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" by Mort Dixon and Harry Woods, which was a no. 1 hit for Kate Smith (with Guy Lombardo) in 1932, "Ol' Man River" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, which was a no. 1 hit for Paul Robeson in 1928, and "Weary River" by Grant Clarke and Louis Silvers, which was a no. 2 hit for Rudy Vallee in 1929.

miscellaneous:

The kids live at Bleak Hill Boarding School in this film.

©June 2, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 6/17, 7/4, 7/9, 7/10, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 5/16, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 2/26, 4/25, 4/26, 7/12, 11/6.
2009 updates: 5/9, 7/23.

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