Teacher's Beau

film no. 136

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 2 (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 18:48. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Volume 2: 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. 1 & Vol. 2 (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 Volumes 1-2 (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Same contents as the Cabin Fever DVD.
The Little Rascals Comedy Classics Vol. 1 (VHS) from NTA Home Entertainment: Released Apr. 1991. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title is remade, but the crew credits and end title are original. The end title has been cropped to omit the NRA logo. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 18:30, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:12.
The Little Rascals Book II (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 1:15 is included, showing the Cabin Kids.

technical details:

Production G-29.

Filmed probably in March 1935.

Production negatives and print shipped to MGM on March 28, 1935.

Title sheet prepared by William Terhune on April 8, 1935.

Cutting continuity submitted April 19, 1935.

Released April 27, 1935. It was the 136th film in the series to be released. It's possible that this film was actually released a little later than this, since the last five films had all been delayed. However, the gap between the published release date and the copyright date is a lot smaller for this film than for those earlier ones.

Copyrighted May 1, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP5533. Renewed August 1, 1962, with registration no. R299651. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2030.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Teacher's Beau".'

King World Productions episode no. 15, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Gus Meins: This credit appears in the film.
Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Robert Crandall: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: William Randall: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Teacher: Fern Carter: Verified by a publicity photo.
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.
Approved by the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America: Certificate no. 740.
NRA: The National Recovery Administration emblem is shown in both the opening and end titles.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has all the ideas behind getting Miss Jones unengaged.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Featured role. The cutting continuity introduces him as "Carl (Alfalfa)." He takes part in most of Spanky's schemes and sings a song with his brother. According to a press item, the studio had intended to give him the nickname "Hayseed," but Spanky preferred to call him "Alfalfa."
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He provides a few comic moments, particularly as he's assisting Spanky in tainting the spaghetti.
Scotty Beckett: Supporting role. He and Jerry have the most dialogue among the remaining kids.
Jerry Tucker: Supporting role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "Jerry." Along with Scotty, he has the most dialogue among the remaining kids.
Harold Switzer as "Harold": Supporting role. He's an ensemble player, except for his musical performance with Alfalfa.
Alvin Buckelew: Supporting role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "Alvin." He's mostly an ensemble player, but has a few lines of dialogue.
Rex Downing: Supporting role. Aside from a couple of lines of dialogue, he's just part of the group. According to the cutting continuity, he's the one who says "I guess we don't live right."
Matthew "Stymie" Beard: Supporting role. The nickname doesn't turn up in this dialogue, but the cutting continuity includes it. Mostly an ensemble player, he has one line of dialogue in this, his final film in the series (not counting one last reunion appearance a couple of years later).
The Cabin Kids: Small parts. Listed by Maltin & Bann as The Five Cabin Kids. They perform for the class, but disappear after that, with their seats being occupied by others. The oldest girl is Ruth, nicknamed "Sweetie," the second oldest girl is Helen, nicknamed "Precious," the oldest boy is James, nicknamed "Darling," the youngest girl is Winifred, nicknamed "Sugar," and the youngest boy is Frederick, nicknamed "Honey." I'm pretty sure their last name was Hall, but I still need to verify this.
girl 133: Small part. She sits in front of Spanky in class, and he pulls her hair. She previously appeared in "Shrimps For A Day" (no. 133).
boy 136: Small part. This is the little blonde boy who gets a closeup as spaghetti is put on his plate. He later appeared in "The Pinch Singer" (no. 143).
Peggy Lynch: Extra. She's seen pretty well in the classroom shot of Pete, and sits behind Harold.
Donald Proffitt: Extra. He can be seen in the background in many of the scenes.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He sits to the right of Stymie in class. The press release claims this as his debut appearance.
Eileen Bernstein: Extra. She sits in front of Scotty in class.
Jackie White: Extra. She's in the background occasionally.
Marianne Edwards: Extra. She's barely noticeable in the film, but a publicity photo reveals that she sits in front of Alvin in the classroom.
Jannie Hoskins: Extra. She sits behind Stymie, serving as one of the replacements for the Cabin Kids after they finish their song. Maltin & Bann list her as Jane Hoskins.
Dorothy Dandridge: Extra. She sits behind Peggy Lynch. Like Jannie, she's one of the replacements for the Cabin Kids after they finish their song. Interestingly enough, she later appears behind Stymie in the classroom.
Jacqueline "Jackie" Cagney Miller: Extra. I strongly suspect that she's the blonde girl sitting at the back of the row with Tommy McFarland and Alvin Buckelew.
other kids: Extras. There are probably ten to fifteen additional kids in this film. Among the names listed by Maltin & Bann are Dorian Johnston, Barry Downing and Gene Reynolds, none of whom seem to be in the film. In addition to these, they list Beverly Baldey, Jamie Kauffman and Snooky Valentine, none of whom I'm familiar with. There is a little brunette girl that may be Barbara Goodrich, but I'm not sure about this. There are also three remaining kids that replace the Cabin Kids in the long shots. According to the press release, there were more than 30 kids in the film, but this actually seems a little low.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV: Small part. He attends class as well as the party for Miss Jones. The sound he makes after eating the spaghetti seems to be taken right out of the soundtrack for "Hook And Ladder" (no. 116).
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
bugwatch: There's a fly that buzzes around Spanky's face as he gives horse radish to Alfalfa.

the adults:

Edward Norris as "Ralph Wilson": Featured role. The kids call him "Mr. Ralph." The cutting continuity refers to him as "Ralph." The press release refers to him as Edwin Norris. He plays along with the kids' mistaken notion that he's marrying their teacher away from them.
Arletta Duncan as "Miss Jones": Featured role. Ralph calls her "Liza" as a joke. She's getting married, and will be returning the following year as Mrs. Wilson.
Billy Bletcher as the chairman of the board: Supporting role. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Bletcher." He does most of the talking and announcements among the guests.
Robert McKenzie: Small part. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "McKenzie." He's the Andy Devine-type guy that Spanky tries to distract.
Gus Leonard: Small part. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him as "Leonard (Gus)." He helps Spanky with the plate of spaghetti.
Fred Holmes: Extra. He sits two seats away from Bletcher.
Charlie Hall: Extra. He sits two seats away from McKenzie.
Lon Poff: Extra. I'm pretty sure he's the one sitting between Robert McKenzie and Charlie Hall. He's listed as Lo Poff in the 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book.
other adults: Extras. There are at least two more men at the party. Maltin & Bann list Ernie Alexander and Robert (Bobby) Burns, but I can't identify them in the film. There are also at least five unidentified women at the party. The press release indicates that 15 adults appear in the film, which seems accurate.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) Part of this piece is played over the opening titles. A small portion is repeated as the film closes.
"Old MacDonald Had A Farm": Dan Russo & His Oriole Orchestra had a number 20 hit with this song in 1932. In this film, it's sung by The Five Cabin Kids.
"Ticklish Reuben" by Cal Stewart: First released by Stewart in 1902. This is the song sung by Alfalfa and Harold Switzer.

miscellaneous:

A memo of March 12, 1935, states that the title of the film will be "Teacher's Beau."

A memo of March 16, 1935, to Mr. Cohn, describes the main title cards.

A memo of March 28, 1935, signed by Terhune, states that the production negatives and prints were shipped to Joe Rivkin, who was Roach's eastern representative.

A memo of March 30, 1935, states that the synopsis was sent via air mail to New York.

From the press release: "'Teacher's Beau,' the newest 'Our Gang' comedy to be produced by Hal Roach, is the 'greatest of them all' in the opinion of most of the kid actors who appeared in it. The reason for their unusual enthusiasm for this particular production was a party scene at which many goodies were served. The food which was not eaten or destroyed during the filming of this sequence was given to the youngsters so that they might enjoy a real party."

Reel two begins as Spanky and Alfalfa pace and Ralph speaks in a southern accent.

It should be noted that the title sheet includes the production number G-28, which normally goes with "Beginner's Luck" (no. 135). The cutting continuity verifies that "Teacher's Beau" was production G-29.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B630.

©June 29, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 2/21, 3/4, 4/3, 5/16, 6/11, 10/26.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/17, 10/22, 11/4, 11/9.
2008 updates: 1/7, 5/26, 7/12, 7/27.

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