For Pete's Sake!

technical details:

Production G-20.

Release no. C-824.

Filmed Feb. 23rd to Mar. 3, 1934. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by William Terhune on March 28, 1934.

Cutting continuity submitted April 4, 1934.

Copyrighted April 4, 1934, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP4616. Renewed August 29, 1961, with registration no. R281001. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2029.

Released April 14, 1934. It was the 127th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "For Pete's Sake!".'

King World Productions episode no. 23, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed without the exclamation point.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Gus Meins

This credit appears in the film.

Photography: Francis Corby

This credit appears in the film.

Film Editor: Ray Snyder

This credit appears in the film.

Recording Engineer: Harry Baker

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.

NRA

The National Recovery Administration emblem is shown in both the opening and end titles.

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

process department - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Probably Gordon Douglas.

writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Frank Terry, Billy Gilbert, James Parrott, Charlie Hall, Robert McKenzie, Frank Tashlin 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:

Wally Albright as "Wally"

Featured role. The cutting continuity introduces him by his full name. He's the leader of the gang and does most of the thinking and talking.

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Featured role. He and Scotty sit on the sidelines and comment on the older kids when they're not ruining shag rugs. This was the first film in which he wore his customary beanie.

Scotty Beckett

Featured role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him by his full name. He accompanies Spanky throughout the film as the two provide most of the comedy.

Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie"

Featured role. He's basically second-in-command in the gang, but is constantly sidetracked by his little sister.

Leonard Kibrick as "Leonard"

Supporting role. The cutting continuity introduces him by his full name. He's the bully that destroys the doll, and is also the son of the toy store owner. This was his series debut.

Carlena Beard

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that she played "Buckwheat" in this film, but the name never turns up in the dialogue. The cutting continuity refers to her as "Carolina Beard." Stymie repeatedly finds her hanging from various things.

Tommy Bond

Supporting role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him by his full name. He's present throughout the film, but is given just a small amount of dialogue.

Marianne Edwards as "Marianne"

Small part. The cutting continuity introduces her as "Marion Edwards." She's the sick girl in need of a new doll. This was her series debut.

Jackie Lynn Taylor

Small part. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Jacqueline Taylor. Her name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces her as "Jackie Taylor." She's the older girl taking care of Marianne.

Philbrook Lyons

Small part. The cutting continuity refers to him simply as 'kid.' He's present throughout most of the film, but isn't given too much to do.

Billie Thomas

Small part. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him as "William Thomas." He's given a couple of closeups, but otherwise is an ensemble player. This was his series debut.

Barbara Goodrich

Small part. She's the small brown-haired 'boy' resembling Donald Proffitt. Her role in this film is verified by both a 1935 casting directory and the snipe on the back of a contemporary publicity photo. She's entirely an ensemble player in this film.

Edmund Corthell

Small part. This is the fat boy that accompanies the gang throughout most of the film as an ensemble player. Maltin & Bann list him as Marvin "Bubbles" Trin, but this is an error.

other kids

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The blonde boy in the beanie shown in the opening sequence, but not in the remainder of the film.

(2.) A boy shown in the foreground as Pete pulls Spanky and Scotty back to the store.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV as "Pete"

Featured role. He's the subject of the film, being traded in for a doll, but ultimately saving the day.

Leo

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

other animals

Bit part. A black cat is chased by Pete, who pulls the lawn mower over the shag rug.

the adults:

William Wagner as the storekeeper

Supporting role. He's willing to trade the doll for Pete, but demands the doll back after a vase is broken.

Fred Holmes as "Fred"

Supporting role. He takes a nap while the boys ruin his rug.

Lyle Tayo as Fred's wife

Small part. She goes shopping and orders her husband to work in the yard.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) The man working on the ladder.

(2.) Leonard's mother, who's heard but not seen.

(3.) The man working under his car.

(4.) Several other pedestrians seen in the background of various shots and getting startled by Pete, Spanky and Scotty.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A14.) This is played twice through during the opening titles and as Wally unsuccessfully tries to put sawdust in the doll. Half of it is repeated as Marianne receives her new doll and the end title appears.

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

The first half of this piece is played as Wally fixes the doll.

"Wishing" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played, minus the introduction, about two and a half times as Leonard lassos the doll and the boys promise to get a new one.

"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played and partially repeated as the boys look at the doll in the window. This version is similar to the one reproduced on the second Beau Hunks CD, but taken at a much slower tempo.

"The Moon And You" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as the boys arrive at the house and offer to do some work.

"Crabtree" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Girl & Stick." A short bit of this piece is played as Stymie ties Carlena to the tree.

"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." This is played twice as Spanky and Scotty mow the lawn and ruin the rug.

"All Together" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Tune." This is played twice as the boys glue the rug and get chased off.

"You Are The One I Love" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as the kids trade in Pete for the doll, but lose the doll after breaking a vase.

"If It Were Only True" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as the gang gets back Pete as well as the doll.

"Fliver Flops" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Pete pulls Spanky and Scotty back to the store.

"Here Are The Pets" by Leroy Shield

The first half of this piece is played twice as Pete pulls Spanky and Scotty back to the house.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios

The New York street set was used for most of the exteriors.

miscellaneous:

Eight shooting dates went into the making of this film. About three weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Hi'-Neighbor!" (no. 126). Shooting for "For Pete's Sake!" started on Feb. 23rd and continued until Mar. 3rd. No shooting took place on Feb. 25th, which was a Sunday. After this, about two weeks would pass before the Our Gang unit began filming "The First Round-Up" (no. 128).

The working title for this film was "Doll Diggers Of 1934."

It's worth noting that Pete is destroying a Mickey Mouse doll while he's on his rampage at the toy store. Also, Leonard is holding a Mickey Mouse doll as he's hanging from the shelves.

Tip Poff, in his March 11th syndicated column, reported the following: "Spanky MacFarland, aged 6, of 'Our Gang' fame, was watching a prop man dress a toy store set for the Gang's latest epic. 'You know,' he solemnly told Scotty Beckett, aged 5, 'if I had my life to live over I'd be a prop man instead of an actor!' "

Reel two starts as Wally beats the rug and Spanky and Scotty emerge from it.

A story version of this film appeared in the book Our Gang in 1934.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B423.

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© Robert Demoss.