technical details:
Production G-32.
Release no. C-211.
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
- 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
- general manager - Henry Ginsberg
- assistant general manager - L. A. French
- secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
- assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien
- publicity and advertising - Fred Purner
- property department - W. L. Stevens
- film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse
- construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- process department - Roy Seawright
- still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
- musical director - Marvin Hatley
- makeup department - Jack Casey
- hairdressing - Peggy Zardo
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- school teacher - Fern Carter
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant direction - Probably Gordon Douglas.
- writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, James
Parrott, Charlie Hall, Frank Butler, Hal Law, Frank Tashlin and Gordon Douglas
may have been among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze was probably
involved in this capacity.
- titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.
- animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been
among the animal trainers.
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. The press book states that Baby Patsy was
'not quite 14 months' when she appeared in the film, which would place it prior to May 20th.
- 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 Neut
- 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.
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.
miscellaneous:
A memo of May 31, 1935, signed by William Terhune, states that the title of the film will be "Little
Papa."
A memo of June 4, 1935, also signed by Terhune, describes the main titles for the film. Originally, Elmer Raguse was
indicated as the sound man, but his name was scratched out and replaced by Delaplain's.
A memo of June 10, 1935, states that the main titles were sent to New York via air mail. Delaplain is listed in this
one.
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.