Reunion In Rhythm

film no. 151

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 1 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume One (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 10:34. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:04 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, as well as a clip lasting 0:06 included in the opening montage of all the Cabin Fever releases. Both clips show the final song.
The Little Rascals Volume 1: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-5: Collector's Edition (5 VHS set) and The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), both released Aug. 15, 2000.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (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 Volumes 1-2 (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Same contents as the Cabin Fever DVD.
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 - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.
The Little Rascals: Reunion In Rhythm/Mike Fright (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title and crew credits are remade, but the end title is original. The picture quality is good. The original footage totals 10:07, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:21.
The Little Rascals Book V (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. Almost the entire film is shown, entitled "Vacation Reunion," and lasting 9:26.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. Five clips from this film are shown. The first lasts 1:21, and shows Darla singing to Porky. The second lasts 0:51, and shows Spanky's opening number. This is followed by a clip lasting 0:44 is included, showing Georgia Jean LaRue's number. The fourth clip lasts 0:40, and shows the opening reunion footage. The final clip lasts 0:20, and shows the kids' farewell song.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 0:18 is included, showing the reunion footage, with narration added. Five seconds of this footage is repeated later, also with narration added.
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 0:19 is included, showing the reunion footage. A second clip lasting 0:30 is included, showing Spanky's opening number. And a third clip lasting 0:59 is included, showing the opening reunion footage. All three of these clips have narration added. Another clip lasting 0:24 is included, taken from the theatrical trailer for "Little Rascals Varieties."
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 K-5.

Released January 9, 1937. It was the 151st film in the series to be released. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of MGM had set an original projected release date for this production of January 2, 1937.

Copyrighted January 14, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP6862. Renewed July 27, 1964, with registration no. R341918. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Reunion In Rhythm".'

King World Productions episode no. 48a, 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 Gordon Douglas: This credit appears in the film.
Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: William Ziegler: This credit appears in the film.
Sound: W. B. Delaplain: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Musical Director: Marvin Hatley: This credit derives from the daily film report of December 4th, which was the date of the recording session.
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. 2943.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He runs the show and sings during "The Gay White Way" segment.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Featured role. He sings during the "Hopeless Love" segment.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He repeatedly tries to recite "Little Jack Horner."
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She sings to Porky in "The Toy Shop At Midnight" segment.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Supporting role. He appears with Darla in "The Toy Shop At Midnight" segment.
Georgia Jean LaRue as "Georgia": Supporting role. She plays "Mirandy" in the "Hopeless Love" segment.
Matthew "Stymie" Beard: Small part. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's seen toasting with Buckwheat. This was his final appearance in the series.
boy 141: Small part. He's the first boy on the left to walk out onto the stage behind Spanky during the Broadway number.
Daniel Boone: Small part. He's the top-hatted boy at the far right in "The Gay White Way" segment. It looks like he's also sitting next to Sidney Kibrick in the opening scene.
Gloria Brown: Small part. She's the girl next to Daniel Boone.
girl 151: Small part. She's the blonde girl to the left of Spanky during his big number.
Elaine Merk: Small part. A 1938 casting directory states that she appeared in this film. She's the girl to the right of Spanky during his big number.
Sidney Kibrick: Bit part. He's seen at stage left grimacing at Buckwheat.
Harold Switzer: Bit part. He's one of the kids at stage left.
girl 146: Bit part. She's one of the kids at stage left.
girl 148: Bit part. She's the blonde girl on the left in the shot of the kids at stage left.
Barbara Goodrich: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She can be seen walking by in back of Alfalfa during the traffic segment.
Paul Hilton: Extra. It appears that he's in the lower lefthand corner of the screen in the first longshot in the film. He also seems to be in the toy car pushed by girl 148.
girl 147: Extra. She's right behind Barbara Goodrich as they walk behind traffic cop Alfalfa. She's also in the first stage left shot.
boy 148: Extra. It appears that he's sitting on the outside corner of the table arrangement at the bottom of the screen.
John Collum: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann and not easily noticed in the film. The production sheets include his name, but list him as John Keith, which reflects his middle name. He passes in back of Alfalfa in his closeup as the traffic cop.
Barbara Bletcher: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She was the daughter of Billy Bletcher and is listed on the production sheets. According to IMDb, she played a fat girl in "Show Boat," but this doesn't help with finding her in this Our Gang short.
Baby Patsy May: She's not apparent in the film, but the production sheets indicate her participation. She's probably the smallest girl sitting across the table from the regular kids. Her photo is seen during the opening titles. Her presence during the filming is also revealed in the book Of All Places.
other kids: Small parts, bit parts and extras. Laura June Williams (later Kenny) remembered being in this film, but I haven't spotted her yet.
(1.) Two more boys and two more girls in "The Gay White Way" segment.
(2.) About eight more kids taking part in the traffic segment.
(3.) The remaining kids sitting at the tables, all of whom may have participated in the stage performance. A production sheet states that 6 boys and 6 girls were sitting at the tables.

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV: Bit part. He's shown at the beginning drinking a toast.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Small part. The one remaining animal in the film is the rooster that accompanies Alfalfa.

the adults:

Rosina Lawrence: Supporting role. She handles the introductions at the beginning of the film. Maltin & Bann state that she plays "Miss Jones," but the name isn't used in this film. The cutting continuity refers to her as "Rosina."
Mickey Daniels as "Mickey Daniels": Supporting role. He gives a short speech. This was his final appearance in the series.
Mary Kornman: Small part. She drinks a toast with Darla. This was her final appearance in the series.
Joe Cobb: Small part. He drinks a toast with Porky. This was his final appearance in the series.
Ernie Alexander as the band leader: Bit part. He's seen in the early part of the film.
other adults: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The musicians led by Alexander. Only six are visible, but the production sheets state that seven were actually there.
(2.) About twenty additional graduates around the table. One of the production sheets matches this number exactly.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A16.) This is played over the MGM lion and opening titles. A Marvin Hatley memo refers to this tune as "Title Music," and gives arrangement credit to Ted Duncan.
"Auld Lang Syne": Robert (or Rabbie) Burns sent a copy of this Scottish song to the British Museum in the 18th century, which he learned from an old man. This was a number seven hit for Frank Stanley in 1907, and a number five hit for the Peerless Quartet in 1921. In this film, it's sung by the whole cast in the first scene, then by the kids, with different words, at the end of the film. Marvin Hatley received arrangement credit for these versions.
"Baby Face" by Benny Davis and Harry Akst: Published in 1926. Jan Garber & His Orchestra had a number one hit with this song the same year. In this film Darla sings it to Porky during "The Toy Shop At Midnight" segment. This version was arranged by Ted Duncan.
"Broadway Rhythm" by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown: Lyrics by Freed and music by Brown. Published in 1935. Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians had a number nine hit with this song the same year. It was featured in the film "Broadway Melody Of 1936." In "Reunion In Rhythm," it's sung by Spanky during "The Gay White Way" segment. This version was arranged by Ted Duncan.
"Going Hollywood" by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown: Lyrics by Freed and music by Brown. Published in 1933. Featured in the Bing Crosby film of the same name. In "Reunion In Rhythm," it's sung by Georgia Jean LaRue during the "Hopeless Love" segment.
"I'm Through With Love" by Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck and Fud Livingston: Lyrics by Kahn and music by Malneck and Livingston. Published in 1931. Bing Crosby had a number three hit with this song the same year. In this film it's sung by Alfalfa during the "Hopeless Love" segment.
other music: The only remaining music in the film is the fanfare played (twice) by the band at the end of Mickey's speech.

miscellaneous:

This film was originally going to be "Our Gang Follies Of 1937," and presumably a two-reeler.

Buckwheat repeatedly recites "Little Jack Horner," which was first published in 1725. However, it had already circulated for many years prior to this. Studio memos indicate that another choice for recitation was "Little Bo Peep," which dates from at least the Victorian era.

The reunion in the film is for the Adams Street Grammar School.

This film was 966 feet in length.

©July 28, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/27, 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/3, 1/16, 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 7/16, 10/22, 11/4.
2008 updates: 2/26, 5/26, 7/12, 8/10, 8/11, 8/24, 9/7, 9/22, 11/6.
2009 updates: 7/23.

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