Little Papa

film no. 139

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 7 (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 19:27. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Volume 7: 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. 7 & Vol. 8 (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 Best Of The Little Rascals (VHS) from NTA Home Entertainment: Released Oct. 1992. 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. The original footage totals 19:03, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:08.
The Little Rascals Book IV (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals - Little Papa/Dogs Is Dogs/Sprucin' Up (VHS/DVD)
from GoodTimes Home Video: Released Mar. 1 or 21, 2001. Presumably released initially on VHS. Included as part of The Little Rascals 4-Pack DVD, released May 29, 2001, and probably also Our Gang Collection (10 VHS set/8 DVD set), released May 7, 2002.
The Little Rascals - Funniest Episodes (5 VHS set) from GoodTimes Home Video: Released June 25, 2002. This version has also appeared in bootleg form.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 2:11 is included, showing Alfalfa singing the baby to sleep, with music added.

technical details:

Production G-32.

Filmed probably in early to mid May 1935.

Copyrighted August 20, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP5745. Renewed June 21, 1963, with registration no. R317564. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2030.

Released September 21, 1935. It was the 138th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Little Papa".'

King World Productions episode no. 35, 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: Harry Forbes, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: Louis McManus: This credit appears in the film.
Sound: W. B. Delaplain: 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.
Approved by the Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America: Certificate no. 948.
NRA: The National Recovery Administration emblem is shown during the opening titles.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Spank": Lead role. Alfalfa calls him "Uncle Spanky" while talking to the baby. His mother leaves him in charge of the baby and he spends the film trying to get her to sleep.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Featured role. He joins Spanky in the house to try to get the baby to sleep and sings a lullaby.
Baby Patsy Dittemore: Featured role. The similarity between Baby Patsy Dittemore and Baby Patsy May, who appeared in "Divot Diggers" (no. 142), is not coincidental. When she was 19 days old, her mother died and she was taken in by her maternal grandparents and eventually adopted by them, taking their last name of May. She's featured very strongly in this film. Spanky refers to her as a 'him' at one point.
Scotty Beckett as "Scotty" aka "Scott": Supporting role. During the first part of the film in the yard, he's almost on equal footing with Spanky and Alfalfa, but doesn't join them inside.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He provides some comic relief during the yard scenes.
Dickie De Nuet: Small part. His repeated comments wear thin on the others' patience.
Sidney Kibrick: Small part. He has a fair share of the dialogue among the peripheral players.
Alvin Buckelew: Small part. He has a bit of dialogue, but is mostly an ensemble player.
Donald Proffitt: Small part. He's purely an ensemble player.
Eva Lee "Marvel" Kuney: Stand-in. The payroll ledgers reveal that she was present on each day of shooting except the last. However, watching the film, I find it possible to only identify Patsy Dittemore whenever the baby's face is shown. For this reason, I'm assuming that Kuney was hired to double for Dittemore. This seems all the more plausible when we consider that infants and toddlers are legally allowed even less on-set time than older children.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Small parts. The chicken coop shows six ducklings, who the baby joins for a swim, and at least five chickens. Only one grown duck seems to be there. Maltin & Bann also list Pete the Pup, but he's not in the film.

the adults:

Ruth Hiatt as Spanky's mom: Small part. She's seen briefly ordering Spanky to mind the baby.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A15.) This is played over the opening titles and as we're introduced to the kids. A small portion is repeated as the film closes.
"Emmet's Lullaby" by Joseph K. Emmet: Written in 1876. Also known as "Go To Sleep, My Baby." In this film, it's sung by Alfalfa.

©July 2, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/3, 1/16, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 7/25, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/5, 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/7, 4/25, 5/26, 7/27, 9/22, 11/6.
2010 updates: 3/19.

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