Little Sinner

film no. 140

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.

technical details:

Production G-33.

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: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. 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
possible uncredited involvement

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.
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 Nuet, Mildred Kornman, John Collum and Jackie Banning.

the animals:

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.
Frieda Shaw's Singers: Voice-over. They're heard singing the gospel music.
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.

©July 3, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/8, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/12, 7/28, 9/22, 11/6.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore, Paul Mular, Steven R. Wright, Elliot Unkefer and Greg for assistance on this page.