Divot Diggers

film no. 142

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 8 (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 nearly-complete print, but without the MGM lion. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 14:22. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There are also two clips included in the opening montage of all the Cabin Fever releases. The 1st lasts 0:02, and shows the gang sliding down the hill. The 2nd lasts 0:02, and show Spanky winking.
The Little Rascals Volume 8: 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 Little Rascals Digitally Remastered - Collector's Edition III (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Nov. 15, 2005. This derives from the Cabin Fever release.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.
The Little Rascals Colorized Collection (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Apr. 19, 1999. One of six same-named VHS releases, each with three colorized films, deriving from the Cabin Fever versions.
The Little Rascals: Divot Diggers/Mama's Little Pirate (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. 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, but there is footage missing. The original footage totals 12:32, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:08.
The Little Rascals Book XXVI (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Best Of The Little Rascals (LD) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released 1989. This is the Blackhawk print.
Superstars Of Our Gang (DVD) from Genius Entertainment: Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). This is a print from Allied Artists Productions, included both as a colorized print, and in the original black-and-white. The original footage totals 14:14, while the original soundtrack totals 14:24. The picture quality is very good.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:39 is included, showing the kids sliding down the hill, with music added.
The Hollywood Collection: Hollywood's Children (VHS) from MPI: Released 1991. A clip is included from this film lasting 0:36, showing Alfalfa playing golf. A second clip is included, lasting 0:16, showing Spanky doing the same. This documentary was also included as part of The Hollywood Collection: Shirley Temple, America's Little Darling/Hollywood's Children (LD).

technical details:

Production G-35.

Filmed probably around mid-autumn 1935.

Copyrighted February 6, 1936, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP6138. Renewed June 21, 1963, with registration no. R317578. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2031.

Released February 8, 1936. It was the 142nd film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Divot Diggers".'

King World Productions episode no. 41a, 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 Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
Photography: Francis Corby, 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.
Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro: He trained the current Pete.
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. 1803.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He gets the most attention among the kids, and seems to be their leader.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He caddies for Alfalfa and provides several gags along the way.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Supporting role. He sings while he golfs and shoots pool on the green.
Eugene "Porky" Lee: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He caddies for Alfalfa and uses his pea-shooter to assist him.
Darla Hood: Supporting role. She's mostly part of the ensemble in this film. This was the first Our Gang film in which she's blonde.
Baby Patsy May: Supporting role. She isn't given much to do other than breaking a balloon. She had previously appeared in "Little Papa" (no. 139) as Patsy Dittemore, and had taken the last name of May after being adopted by her maternal grandparents.
Harold Switzer: Supporting role. He's purely part of the ensemble in this film.
Leonard Kibrick: Bit part. He's one of the caddies that walk out on Mr. Hatfield. This was his final appearance in the series.

the animals:

Jiggs the Chimpanzee: Featured role. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Jiggs." He speaks gibberish and drives a tractor.
Pete the Pup IV as "Pete": Supporting role. He can't resist chasing the ball.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film (but is cut from the Cabin Fever print).
other animals: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The toad that deflects Dugan's ball.
(2.) Several chickens disrupted by the gang crashing through their coop.
(3.) At least one bird that flies by and occasional flying insects.

the adults:

Tom Dugan as the fourth golfer to tee off: Featured role. Spanky serves as his caddy and Pete chews up his ball.
Thomas Pogue as "Mr. Jackson," the first golfer to tee off: Featured role. The chimp breaks his clubs.
Jack Hatfield as "Mr. Hatfield," the caddy master: Supporting role. He recruits the gang as caddies.
Billy Bletcher as "Bill," the third golfer to tee off: Supporting role. The chimp takes his ball, so he takes another one out of his pocket.
David Thursby as "John," the second golfer to tee off: Supporting role. He's the least-noticeable of the four golfers.
Russ Powell as the voice of Jiggs: Voice-over. He provides the gibberish that comes out of Jiggs' mouth.
Hubert Diltz as the tractor driver: Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. I'm assuming that they mean that Diltz is driving the tractor in place of the chimp, since this is the only tractor seen in the film. His face isn't shown, so there must be some additional evidence out there.
other adults: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The eleven remaining caddies that walk out, one of whom is Matty Roubert, according to Maltin & Bann.
(2.) Several golfers shown in the background and bowled over by the gang as they slide down the hill on a piece of the fence. According to Maltin & Bann, one of these is Jack Hill.

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 Darla and Buckwheat. The last half-verse is played over the end title.
"Beyond The Rainbow" by Leroy Shield: Most of this piece is played as Spanky golfs.
"She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain": Originally a negro spiritual entitled "When The Chariot Comes." The retitled version was a popular Appalachian song in the 19th century, and also sung by railroad workers in the latter part of that century. In this film, it's sung by Alfalfa as he golfs. Marvin Hatley received an arrangement credit for this version, which was copyrighted on Mar. 8, 1935.
"Crow-Hop" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Feb. 19, 1936. This is played as Alfalfa shoots pool and Mr. Hatfield looks for caddies.
"Streamline Susie" by Leroy Shield: This is played as Mr. Jackson tries to tee off.
"Just A Melody Sweet" by Leroy Shield: This is played as the next two golfers tee off.
"Up In Room 14" by Leroy Shield: This is played as the final golfer tees off and Alfalfa and Porky ride their cart down the hill.
"Standin' On The Corner" by Leroy Shield: This is played as Dugan gets commentary from the chimp and advice from Spanky.
"If It Were Only True" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Part of this is played as Dugan's ball gets deflected by the toad.
"Go Get Him" by Leroy Shield: This is played as the chimp drives the tractor. The original issue of the Beau Hunks "On To The Show!" CD identified this piece as "Instrumental (Hurry)." The recent reissue revises this.
"Quickie" by Leroy Shield: Also known as "Fastie #2." This is played as the kids slide down the hill.
special note: Maltin & Bann list several pieces of music, seemingly implying that they were used in this film, but they may have been attributing them to various films from this period. In any event, the titles don't jibe whatsoever with other information about the music in this film. The titles are "Cuckoo Waltz" by Nathaniel Shilkret, "Buckwheat's March" and "Alfalfa's March", both by Marvin Hatley, and "Colonel Buckshot," "Miss Crabtree," "Sliding," "Slouching," "Dash And Dot," "Gangway Charley," "Riding Along," "On A Sunny Afternoon," "We're Out For Fun" and "Fliver Flops," all by Leroy Shield.

©July 5, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/9, 7/10, 8/27, 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 7/16, 10/22.
2008 updates: 4/25, 5/26, 7/6, 7/12, 7/28, 8/19, 9/7, 9/12, 9/22, 11/6.
2009 updates: 7/23.

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