Roamin' Holiday

film no. 156

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 15 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Three (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 10:40. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Volume 1 (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 10:20, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:13.
The Little Rascals Book XVII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals: Roamin' Holiday/Free Eats (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. Four clips from this film are included. The first lasts 0:37, and shows Alfalfa's cowlick being plucked by the chicken. The second lasts 1:10, and shows the boys getting dog biscuits. The third lasts 1:10, and shows Spanky and Alfalfa pushing the baby carriages. The fourth lasts 0:06, and shows the boys walking down the road, with music and narration added.

technical details:

Production K-10.

Filmed probably around early-to-mid spring 1937.

Music cue sheet prepared May 25, 1937.

Released June 12, 1937. It was the 156th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted June 24, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7254. Renewed July 27, 1964, with registration no. R341919. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Roamin' Holiday".'

King World Productions episode no. 45a, 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.
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 Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America: Certificate no. 3540 (I think).
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Featured role. He and Alfalfa get fed up with babysitting and run away from home.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Featured role. He accompanies Spanky throughout the film.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Featured role. He and Porky are able to get treats when all Spanky and Alfalfa can get are dog biscuits.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Featured role. He accompanies Buckwheat throughout the film.
Darla Hood: Bit part. She informs the boys that they'll be taking dancing lessons.
Joe and Tom White: Bit part. These are presumably Alfalfa's baby brothers.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Bit part. The only remaining kid Spanky's baby brother, "Junior."

the animals:

Pete the Pup IV as "Pete": Supporting role. He's Spanky's dog, and is the means by which the boys get their dog biscuits.
dog 149: Small part. This is the dog that Buckwheat and Porky use to get food. Maltin & Bann list Von the Dog, presumably meaning this dog, but it's not the dog from "General Spanky" (no. 150).
dog 113: Bit part. The old folks are feeding this dog when the boys arrive at their store. Maltin & Bann list Laughing Gravy, but this definitely appears to be a different dog.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
other animals: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The bulldog that pulls Buckwheat and Porky. This is not, incidentally, the same bulldog that appeared in "Cat, Dog & Co." (no. 87).
(2.) The hog.
(3.) Several chickens, most notably the one that ends up with Alfalfa's cowlick.
(4.) Several geese.
(5.) Several other birds, perhaps pigeons.
(6.) Two cows.
(7.) The photo in Maltin & Bann's book shows Alfalfa with several rabbits, a dog and a tortoise, none of whom are in the finished film. The rooster, however, may be the same one noted above.

the adults:

Otis Harlan as "Hiram Jenks" aka "Pa": Featured role. He teaches the boys a lesson by arresting them and making them work on a rock pile. The 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book, and Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts both list Fred Holmes in this part.
May Wallace as "Ma": Featured role. She assists her husband in the lesson-teaching. Maltin & Bann list her character name as "Mrs. Jenks," but this specific name never turns up in the film.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A16) This is played over the opening titles and as we first see the boys.
"My Baby's Carriage" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as Spanky and Alfalfa push the baby carriages.
"That Dusty Road" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as the boys are walking into the town.
"Dog Biscuits" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played and partially repeated as the boys get dog biscuits from Mrs. Jenks.
"Everybody's Happy" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as Buckwheat and Porky gets the treats and share them with Spanky and Alfalfa.
"You're Under Arrest" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as the boys are arrested.
"Prisoner's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as the boys are marched off to the rockpile and begin their work.
"Hurry No. 1" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as the boys escape and are chased around the farm.
"Basket (Mysterioso)" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played midway through the previous piece as Spanky and Alfalfa are in the basket.
"Home, Sweet Home" by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop: Bishop derived the melody from a Sicilian melody and included it as a "Sicilian Air" in a volume of National Airs in 1821. John Howard Payne put lyrics to it in 1823. The instrumental version heard in this film, arranged by T. Marvin Hatley, is played as the boys get attacked by the bees and the end title appears.

the locations:

Constance Bennett's dressing room: This was the bungalow at the Roach studio that the "Topper" star used, the outside of which served as the boys' front yard.

miscellaneous:

Jenksville is the town the boys visit.

The negative cost on this film was $27,248.

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

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