The Pinch Singer

film no. 143

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 (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 17:13. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:05 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, showing the final shot of Alfalfa, Darla and Spanky.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 & Vol. 12 (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: Pinch Singer/Framing Youth (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. The original footage totals 16:53, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:12.
The Little Rascals Book XXII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Little Rascals Varieties (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: Included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set) released Mar. 21, 2001 and Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 DVD set) released Mar. 2004. The latter was also released as a 5 VHS set in Feb. 2002. Also included as part of The Best Of Our Gang Volume 2 (DVD) released June 1, 2004. A clip lasting 0:08 is included as part of the opening titles, showing the Broadway dancers. Later, almost the entire film is included, entitled "The Amateurs," and lasting 15:42.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. Five clips from this film are included. The first, included in the opening montage, lasts 0:06, and shows a closeup of Pete. The second lasts 0:23, and shows the saxophone trio, with narration added. The third lasts 1:06, and shows Darla singing "I'm In The Mood For Love," but 0:39 worth of this is sound only, since clips of other films are shown in a montage. The fourth lasts 0:37, and shows Alfalfa singing on the radio. The fifth lasts 1:04, and shows the tapdancers.
The Our Gang Story (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: VHS released 1994. DVD released May 21, 2002. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set), released Mar. 21, 2001, Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 VHS/DVD set), released Feb. 2002 (VHS) and Mar. 2004 (DVD), and The Best Of Our Gang Volume 1 (DVD) released June 1, 2004. A clip lasting 0:38 is included in the introduction, showing Buckwheat's whistling routine. Three more clips are included, lasting 0:10, 0:11, and 0:35 respectively, also from the whistling scene, with narration added. One more clip lasting 0:13 is included, taken from the theatrical trailer for "Little Rascals Varieties", with narration added.
Superstars Of Our Gang (DVD) from Legend Films: Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). Footage from this film is included in the theatrical trailer for "Little Rascals Varieties."

technical details:

Production G-36.

Filmed probably around late autumn 1935.

Released January 4, 1936. It was the 141st film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted February 6, 1936, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP6139. Renewed June 21, 1963, with registration no. R317579. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2031.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "The Pinch Singer".'

King World Productions episode no. 44b, 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 Fred Newmeyer: This credit appears in the film.
Photography: Art Lloyd, 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.
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. 1853.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Lead role. He fails the audition for the radio contest, but ends up replacing Darla and winning.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He's the leader of the gang and organizes the audition.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She wins the audition, but shows up late for the radio contest and is replaced by Alfalfa.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. He fools the kids into thinking he can whistle.
Billy Minderhout: Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Billy Winderlout. This is the blonde boy who recites.
Eugene "Porky" Lee: Small part. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He operates the record player for Buckwheat.
Harold Switzer as "Harold": Small part. He provides accordion accompaniment for Alfalfa and Darla.
Jackie Morrow: Small part. Listed by Maltin & Bann. It appears that he's the member of The Plantation Trio on the right.
Warner, Walt and George Weidler: Small parts. They play The Boy Saxophone Players. Warner is the oldest, Walt the middle boy, and George the youngest.
Jerry Tucker: Small part. He has very little dialogue, and is mostly an ensemble player in the clubhouse scenes.
Sidney Kibrick: Small part. He also has a bit of dialogue, but is mostly part of the ensemble.
Rex Downing: Small part. He's given a little dialogue, but is mostly part of the ensemble.
Dickie Jones: Small part. He's one of The Famous Broadway Artists, the second boy from the left.
girl 143: Small part. She's the Broadway dancers shown in the shot with Dickie Jones.
Gloria Brown: Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's to the left of Dickie Jones during the Broadway number.
Betsy Gay: Small part. A casting directory credits her with appearing in this film, and it appears that she's at the far right during the Broadway number.
Peggy Lynch: Small part. She's entirely part of the ensemble until her closeup while on the phone.
boy 136: Small part. He's also part of the ensemble until his phone closeup.
Paul Hilton: Small part. He's another kid that only emerges from the crowd during the phone scene.
John Collum: Extra. He's seen in all of the shots of the kids reacting to the auditions.
Kay Frye: Extra. She appears to be the girl sitting in front and to the left during the auditions.
Marianne Edwards: Extra. She's seen in the same group shots during the auditions. This was her final appearance in the series.
Daniel Boone: Extra. He's seen in the very back towards the right side in the group shots during the auditions.
Dickie De Nuet: Extra. He's one of the club, but is only noticeable as the kids walk away from the radio.
Barbara Goodrich: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's at the far right side in back during the kiddie auditions
other kids: Small parts, bit parts and extras. Maltin & Bann list a few names that I'm not familiar with, including Junior Kavanaugh, Harry McCabe and Betty Cox. They also list Delmar Watson and Dorian Johnston, who I don't think are in the film. Among the notable additional kids in this film are:
(1.) The other two members of The Plantation Trio, who are probably also The Dixie Trio, as the announcer uses both names.
(2.) The remaining members of The Famous Broadway Artists, including one girl and four boys, one of whom is the singer. Maltin & Bann list them as Bud Murray's Dancers.
(3.) A handful of additional kids in the gang's club, numbering perhaps two additional boys and two additional girls.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV: Supporting role. He handles the gong during the auditions. A studio press release describes Pete IV being visited on the set by his son, Pete the Pup V. The idea was to give Pete V some preparation for eventually replacing his father in the series. I don't yet know if the later films in the series feature Pete IV or Pete V, so I'm currently crediting Pete IV.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Bit parts. There are two mules in the gang's clubhouse.

the adults:

Blair Davies as the radio announcer: Supporting role. He's seen announcing the acts and trying to take Alfalfa's briefcase.
Bill Madsen as one of the pages: Supporting role. I'm assuming that Maltin & Bann are referring to the page that hands the phone results to the announcer.
Marvin Hatley as "Marvin," the conductor: Small part. He's seen conducting the orchestra in the radio studio.
David Sharpe as one of the pages: Small part. He's the page that tells Alfalfa that it's time to go on.
Eddie Craven as the elevator boy: Bit part. He's seen very briefly.
Charlie Hall as the druggist, and as a member of the audience: Bit part. He's barely noticeable in the drug store, and I haven't spotted him in the audience.
Lester Dorr as an audience member: Extra. He's shown to the far right in the longshot of the audience.
other adults: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Eight additional musicians in the orchestra.
(2.) The receptionist and six operators, one of whom is presumably Gail Goodson, who Maltin & Bann credit with playing the information girl.
(3.) Probably at least 30 audience members, one of whom is listed by Maltin & Bann as Chet Brandenberg, but I don't know which one.
(4.) Four people in the elevator and walking out of it, as well as a few more in the drug store.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A14.) This is played over the opening titles and as the kids listen to the radio. Half of it is repeated as Alfalfa gongs Spanky and the end title appears.
"Beyond The Rainbow" by Leroy Shield: This is heard briefly over the radio until Spanky shuts it off.
"On The Road To California": Originated by the Mormons, reportedly after their expulsion from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. Sung to the tune of "Old Dan Tucker." In this film, it's partially sung by Alfalfa three separate times.
"The Whistler And His Dog" by Arthur Pryor: Published in 1905. In this film, a record is played containing this piece, while Buckwheat pretends to be the whistler on the record.
"I'm In The Mood For Love" by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields: Published in 1935. This was a number one hit for Little Jack Little & His Orchestra that same year. In this film it's sung by Darla at the audition, and then by Alfalfa at the radio station. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman used a recording of Alfalfa singing this as their wedding song.
piece 141c: Maltin & Bann state that this tune is included in the All Stars comedy, "Mixed Nuts" and that it was written by Marvin Hatley, but they don't provide the title. In this film, it's performed by The Boy Saxophone Players.
"Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue" by Ray Henderson, Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young: Also known as "Five Foot Two (Has Anybody Seen My Gal?)." Published in 1925. This was a number one hit for Gene Austin in 1926. In this film, it's sung by The Plantation Trio.
"Broadway Melody" by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown: Lyrics by Freed and music by Brown. Published in 1929. Ben Selvin & His Orchestra had a number three hit with this song that same year. In this film, it's performed by The Famous Broadway Artists.

miscellaneous:

The gang's club is called the Eagles Club in this film.

©July 6, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/9, 7/10, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/3, 1/16, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 6/23, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/4, 4/1, 10/22, 11/4, 11/25.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/6, 7/12, 7/28, 8/10.

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