Rushin' Ballet

film no. 155

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 10:39. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:06 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, which shows Spanky and Alfalfa pretending to be dummies. There's also a clip lasting 0:01 included in the opening montage of all the Cabin Fever releases, which shows Alfalfa crossing his eyes.
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 - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.
The Little Rascals Volume 2 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1985. 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 very good. The original footage totals 10:15, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:18.
The Little Rascals Book X (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals: Rushin' Ballet/Lucky Corner (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 8:36 is included, showing most of the film. Another clip lasting 0:02 is included, showing Butch and Woim getting hit with tomatoes, with music added.

technical details:

Production K-9.

Copyrighted April 22, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7097. Renewed July 27, 1964, with registration no. R341920. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

Released April 24, 1937. It was the 155th film in the series to be released. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of MGM set a projected release date for this production of April 24, 1937, making this a rare instance in which the actual release date matched.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Rushin' Ballet".'

King World Productions episode no. 44a, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter. The 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book gives the credit as 'produced by Hal Roach for M-G-M.'
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: 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. 3196.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Featured role. He's the jury in the protection society, and ends up dancing a ballet with the two bullies.
George "Spanky" McFarland: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's the judge in the protection society and accompanies Alfalfa through most of the film.
Tommy "Butch" Bond: Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He and Woim chase Spanky and Alfalfa into the ballet school, where they take part in some unscheduled dancing.
Sidney Kibrick as "Woim": Featured role. He accompanies Butch throughout the film.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. Butch and Woim steal his marbles and his mother's tomatoes.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Supporting role. He accompanies Buckwheat throughout the film.
Darwood Kaye: Small part. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used in this film, but it wasn't. He's one of the two boy dancers replaced by Butch and Woim.
Harold Switzer: Small part. He's the other boy dancer replaced by Butch and Woim.
Gloria Brown: Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She's the ballet dancer next to Spanky.
Elaine Merk: Small part. A 1938 casting directory states that she appeared in this film. She's to the far left as the dance begins, but is best seen as Kathryn Sheldon hastens the girls to the stage.
Camille Williams: Small part. The 1938 directory states that she appeared in this film. She's second from the left as the dance begins.
John Collum: Extra. He sits in the front closest to the door.
Darla Hood: Maltin & Bann list her as a cast member, but the only role she could have played was that of the tap-dancing girl, in a routine that's heard but never shown. We see her from behind as she exits the stage. Even if this isn't her in the film, her photo is still shown during the opening credits.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Small parts, bit parts and extras. Maltin & Bann list Maria Ayres, but I'm not familiar with her.
(1.) The one remaining ballet dancer.
(2.) The tapdancing boy, who's seen from the back as he exits the stage.
(3.) The blonde girl in the audience sitting a couple of rows behind John Collum.
(4.) Numerous kids shown in photos on the wall of the dressing room.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
Pete the Pup IV: He's not actually in the film, but his photo is shown during the opening titles.

the adults:

Kathryn Sheldon as the dance recital teacher: Featured role. She's too overworked to notice the extra ballet dancers, until it's too late.
Fred Holmes as a member of the audience: Extra. He sits in the front row.
Ernie Alexander as a member of the audience: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. I'm pretty sure he's near the center of the audience.
other adults: Small parts and extras.
(1.) The three musicians.
(2.) The remaining adults in the audience, numbering probably at least fifteen.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A17.) This is played over the opening titles and during the game of marbles. It's played at double the usual length. The end part is played as Buckwheat and Porky sing 'la la la la' out the door of the ballet school, and as the end title appears.

miscellaneous:

Spanky and Alfalfa's protection society is called The Sekret Revengers Club.

©August 1, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/27, 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/17, 10/22.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/12, 8/24, 9/7, 9/22, 11/6.

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