technical details:
Production G-33.
Release no. C-212.
Filmed probably around mid-summer 1935. The second Beau Hunks CD states that it was produced in August. It should
also be noted that Eugene "Porky" Lee joined the gang when he was nineteen months old, which was at the end of
May or the beginning of June. However, "Little Papa" (no. 139) was finished by this time, so he still
would have turned up in the next short, even if it wasn't filmed for another two months.
Copyrighted September 4, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP5805. Renewed
June 21, 1963, with registration no. R317566. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2030.
Released October 26, 1935. It was the 139th film in the series to be released.
All-talking two-reeler.
Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Little Sinner".'
King World Productions episode no. 52b, 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: Francis Corby, A. S. C.
- This credit appears in the film.
- Film Editor: Louis McManus
- This credit appears in the film.
- Sound: William Randall
- This credit appears in the film.
- Animal Trainer: Tony Campanaro
- Verified by the press release. He was, at this time, foreman of the Roach Ranch.
- 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. 1053.
- 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, 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.
the kids:
- George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Spank"
- Lead role. He plays hooky from Sunday school to go fishing.
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"
- Featured role. He tags along after Spanky and shares in his spooky adventure in the woods.
- Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"
- Featured role. He also tags along after Spanky and spends most of the film eating. This was his debut
appearance.
- girl 140 as "Mary Ann"
- Small part. Spanky gives her money to put into the collection plate.
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer
- Small part. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has his fair share of dialogue among the kids
at the church, but isn't featured strongly in this film.
- Jerry Tucker
- Small part. He also has a reasonable amount of the dialogue among the secondary kids.
- Sidney Kibrick
- Small part. He has a few lines as well, but is shown only in the church scenes.
- Donald Proffitt
- Small part. He's purely part of the ensemble in this film.
- Rex Downing
- Small part. He's purely part of the ensemble in this film.
- Barbara Goodrich
- Extra. She's among the girls talking with Mary Ann. She's the brunette girl whose face is shown.
- Phillip Marley Rock
- Extra. A 1935 casting directory states that this plump little boy appeared in this film, and indeed, he
can be seen being led into the church in the first scene.
- Joan Lott
- Extra. A 1935 casting directory states that she appeared in this film. It looks like she's the blonde
girl walking out of the church and turning and smiling towards the camera.
- other kids
- Extras. There are several additional kids walking into and out of the church, but it's not possible
to positively identify most of them in this film. Presumably, Maltin & Bann had one or more publicity photos to aid
them, as their cast listing includes Dickie De Neut, Mildred Kornman, John Collum and Jackie
Banning.
the animals:
- Bozo
- Small part. This is the duck that battles with Spanky over the worm. He was four years old and mastered
by Tony Campanaro. The press release specifically says that he helps Spanky fish, which isn't the case at all.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- other animals
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The fish on Spanky's line as he walks away from the lake. There are also two fish shown in the underwater shot.
- (2.) Several earthworms.
- (3.) The bear that Buckwheat encounters.
- (4.) The owl that watches the 'ghost' fly by.
- (5.) Three additional ducks shown in the lake at one point.
- bugwatch
- Several insects are flying around at the lake.
the adults:
- Clarence Wilson as the property owner
- Small part. He orders Spanky pull in his line and leave.
- Ray Turner
- Bit part. He's at the baptism and asks his friend when it will take place. Later he's seen losing his tent.
- The Etude Chorus
- Voice-over. They're heard singing the gospel music. This is according to the press release, which
states that the group was made up of '25 Negro singers.' Maltin & Bann credit Frieda Shaw's
Singers, but these are clearly two names for the same group. It was "The Etude Ethiopian Chorus" that worked
in "Little Daddy" (no. 105), and Shaw is also known to have led "Frieda Shaw's Ethiopian
Chorus."
- other adults
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) "Reverend Dobson," who's seen greeting the kids early in the film, and then
bidding farewell to the churchgoers at the end.
- (2.) The person playing the scarecrow that runs off when the 'ghost' goes by.
- (3.) Several adults walking into and out of the church. The reverend addresses one of them as
"George."
the music:
- "Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
- Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
- (A14.) This is played over the opening titles and as we first see the kids. The last half-verse is played
twice as Spanky returns to the church and the end title appears.
- "Poor Mourners Found A Hiding Place"
- This is the first gospel piece performed by Frieda Shaw's Singers.
- piece 140
- This is the gospel piece containing the words 'Oh Lord, won't you save me', which may
actually be part of the following piece.
- "Leaning On The Lord"
- I'm assuming that this is the title. It's the last song sung by Frieda Shaw's Singers.
- "Fastie" by Leroy Shield
- Most of this piece is played as Spanky and Buckwheat run through the woods.
the locations:
- Lancaster's Lake aka Lancaster Lake
- This is near Sunland, California, and is the location for the fishing scene.
availability:
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 21
(VHS) from Cabin Fever and
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume
Four (3 LD set) from Cabin Fever
- Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts
17:15. 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 a closeup of Spanky.
- The Little Rascals Book XIV (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 picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 16:52, but the original soundtrack
lasts an additional 0:14.
- The Little Rascals: Little Sinner/Two Too
Young (VHS) from
Republic Pictures Home Video
- Released May 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
- 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 0:06 is included as part of the
opening montage for this documentary, showing a closeup of Porky.