Night 'N' Gales

film no. 157


technical details:

Production K-11.

Release no. C-591.

Filmed June 22 to 30, 1937. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Negative shipped on July 17, 1937.

Music cue sheet prepared July 18, 1937.

Released July 24, 1937. It was the 157th 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 June 19, 1937.

Copyrighted August 18, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7355. Renewed May 12, 1965, with registration no. R361169. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Night 'N' Gales".'

King World Productions episode no. 47a, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed as "Night N' Gales."


the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach
Credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Gordon Douglas
This credit appears in the film.
Assistant Director: Barney Carr
This credit derives from production documents.
2nd Assistant Director: Hal Roach, Jr.
This credit derives from the daily film reports.
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
This credit appears in the film.
Musical Director: T. Marvin Hatley
This credit derives from the call sheets and daily film reports. Hatley played the piano off-camera while the boys sang.
Special Effects by Roy Seawright
Seawright handled the filming of the 'visionary imps.' He also probably animated the moth.
Script Clerks: Morton and Murphy
These credits derive from the daily film reports, which don't provide first names. Murphy was the script clerk on June 22nd, while Morton handled this duty for the remainder of the shoot.
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. 3523.
studio personnel
vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren
secretary-treasurer - Mat O'Brien
Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver
assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber
film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse
story department - Jack Jevne
art department - Arthur I. Royce
property department - W. L. Stevens
process department - Roy Seawright
still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves
musical director - Marvin Hatley
men's wardrobe - Harry Black
paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash
transportation director - Bob Davis
school teacher - Fern Carter
possible uncredited involvement
writing - Hal Yates, James Parrott, Hal Law, Felix Adler, Harry Langdon, Richard Flournoy and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.
property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity.
animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"
Featured role. He and the boys are a singing quartet that find themselves spending the night keeping Mr. Hood awake.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"
Featured role. He drops the silverware drawer onto the floor.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"
Featured role. He's afraid of the dark and gets a headache in his stomach.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"
Featured role. He doesn't know what a porcupine is.
Darla Hood as "Darla"
Supporting role. She accompanies the boys on piano and ends up sleeping with her mother.
Gary Jasgur as "Junior"
Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. He's identified in the script as "Gary." He gets locked into the icebox. This was his series debut.
Baby Patsy May
She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids
An article in The Brownsville Herald (TX) of July 4, 1937, reports that a local girl, Mariellen Smith, whose aunt worked in the casting office at the Roach studio, did some extra work in this film. It may be that her work as an extra was elsewhere on the lot, and that the reporter was tripped up by the accompanying photo of Mariellen posing with the Our Gang kids, who are all in costume for this film.

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.
other animals
Small part. The only animal in the film itself is the black cat that gets spooked by Mr. Hood in the bear rug.

the adults:

Johnny Arthur as "Mr. Hood" aka "Arthur," Darla's dad
Lead role. He can't get to sleep having to share a bed with the four boys.
Elaine Shepard as Darla's mom
Supporting role. Her husband calls her "Mama." She misunderstands the circumstances and blames her husband.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A17.) This is played over the opening titles. A small portion is repeated as the film ends.
"Home, Sweet Home" by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop and John Howard Payne
Bishop derived the melody from a Sicilian melody and included it as a "Sicilian Air" in a volume of National Airs in 1821. Payne put lyrics to it in 1823. In this film, it's sung by the boys. A Hatley arrangement of this tune had been copyrighted on June 3, 1937, for the film "Roamin' Holiday" (no. 156).
"Funny And Mysterious" by Nathaniel Shilkret
This is played during the nightmare sequence.
"Finn's Saloon" by T. Marvin Hatley
Copyrighted Mar. 20, 1937. This is played as Mr. Hood walks into the room wearing the bear rug. This version differs from the one heard in "Mail And Female" (no. 161).

unused music
The following are three songs that were considered for use at the opening of the film before "Home, Sweet Home" was decided upon.
"Till We Meet Again" by Raymond B. Egan and Richard A. Whiting
Published in 1918. Three different versions of this song reached no. 1 in the spring of 1919. One was by Henry Burr and Albert Campbell, another was by Charles Hart and Lewis James, and the third was by Nicholas Orlando's Orchestra.
"A Thousand Goodnights" by Walter Donaldson
Published in 1934. Don Bestor and His Orchestra had a number 4 hit with this song the same year.
"Silver Threads Among The Gold" by Hart Pease Danks and Eben E. Rexford
Written by Danks in 1872 and based on a poem by Rexford. First copyrighted in 1873. Richard Jose had a number 1 hit with this song in 1904.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios
The entire film was shot here. Most of the sets were on Stage 2. The living room set was apparently on Stage 1, though one of the documents places it on Stage 2. The black velvet 'visionary imps' superimposed footage was shot on Stage 4.

miscellaneous:

At least seven shooting dates went into the making of this film. Here's a breakdown of the activity, as derived from the call sheets, daily film reports and various memos:
June 14 - A Raguse memo to Van Keuren from this date relays Douglas's request on the availability and cost of three numbers he was considering for use in this film: "Till We Meet Again," "A Thousand Goodnights" and "Silver Threads Among The Gold." Local information had classified all three as 'pay' usages and they were being cleared through Mr. Decker in New York.
June 16 - A Carr memo to Van Keuren from this date requests visual, vocal and instrumental clearance of "Home, Sweet Home." This was followed by a Van Keuren memo to Raguse requesting the same. This was followed by a Raguse memo to Van Keuren indicating that the number was being cleared through Mr. Decker in New York, and that clearance of the previous three songs was being cancelled.
June 17 - A Raguse memo to Van Keuren from this date relays a wire from Mr. Decker stating that "Home, Sweet Home" was in the public domain provided that a new arrangement was used. A Carr memo to Van Keuren mentions the desire to transpose the line 'Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home' from the verse to the chorus, reading 'Home, home sweet, sweet home, be it ever so humble there's no place like home.' A Van Keuren memo to Carr states that this is perfectly permissible.
June 19 - Film costs for the previous week were $1941.81.
June 21 - A musical rehearsal took place on Stage 4 on this date for the song "Home Sweet Home." In attendance were the five main kids, Gary Jasgur, Marvin Hatley at the piano, and assistant director Carr. A document from this date lists the sets to be used over the following week's shooting schedule.
June 22 - This was the first day of shooting. Scheduled were the five main kids, Johnny Arthur, Elaine Sheppard, Gary Jasquer (sic), Marvin Hatley at the sideline piano, and Roy Seawright for visionary effects. Special effects for rain and an extra camera and crew would be needed. Shooting was to take place on the interior living room and hall sets on Stage 1, covering the kids' song up until they go to bed, as well as the father falling asleep and being bothered by the visionary imps. After this, shooting was to take place at the exterior front door set. Finally, shooting was to take place on the interior upper hall set, covering shots of the mother forcing the father back into the bedroom and the father with the bear rug. The film at this point was being referred to as "Untitled 'Our Gang'." Comparing the daily film report to the finished film, it's apparent that footage from the opening of the film, as well as Johnny Arthur's scene while sleeping on the couch, was started on this date, but not finished. The living room and hall sets were the only sets used. A surviving script derives from this date. A Collum memo from this date to Van Keuren, O'Brien, Huber and Cash, indicates that the five main kids and Shepard 'started' as of this date.
June 23 - This was the second day of shooting. Scheduled were the five main kids, Johnny Arthur, Elaine Shepard, and Gary Jasquer (sic). Footage was to be shot on the interior upper hallway set on Stage 2, showing Darla giving the boys nightgowns to wear, and cuts of mother and daughter shown later in the film. Footage was also to be shot on the interior father's bedroom set on Stage 2, showing the routines that take place prior to the boys leaving for the kitchen. A later addition to the call sheet was some added cuts to be shot on the interior living room set on Stage 2 (though this contradicts the previous day's call sheet, in which this set is said to be on Stage 1). Comparing the daily film report to the finished film, it appears that the opening scene in the living room was essentially finished, and that the scene showing Darla handing nightgowns to the boys was also shot, though this latter footage was ultimately cut from the film. There was also some additional footage shot of Johnny Arthur sleeping on the couch, as well as a bit of footage showing him arriving at the bedroom wearing the bear rug. The film at this point was still referred to as "Untitled 'Our Gang'." A Carr memo from this date to Van Keuren, Huber and Collum, states that Arthur had started on a daily basis the previous day, but was converted to a weekly salary as of this date. A Collum memo to Van Keuren, O'Brien, Huber and Cash, relates a similar message.
June 24 - This was the third day of shooting. Originally, footage shot on the kitchen set and on the bedroom set were scheduled, but by the time the call sheet was prepared, the kitchen footage had been put off for a later date. Scheduled were the five main kids, Johnny Arthur, Elaine Shepard, and Gary Jasquer (sic). According to the call sheet, shooting was to take place on the interior lower floor set on Stage 2, involving the point at which the rain starts. Shooting on the interior bedroom set on Stage 2 was to continue, as well as a couple of shots using the interior upper hallway set on Stage 2. The daily film report reveals that the exterior front door shot as the rain begins was accomplished, as was the shot of Johnny saying goodnight as he carries Gary up the stairs, and the footage of Elaine calling the boys' mothers. The beginning bedroom footage was also shot, but there was still plenty of that left to shoot on subsequent dates. There was also upper hallway footage of Elaine forcing Johnny into the bedroom with the boys, making it clear that some footage was deleted that shows how reluctant he was to sleep in the same bed with them. A Raguse memo from this date states that the title of the film was "Night 'N' Gales," though the call sheets would continue to call it "Untitled (Our Gang)" until the end of the week.
June 25 - This was the fourth day of shooting, and was originally slated to involve all of the bedroom footage from the water bottle gag to end of the film. When it was decided that the kitchen footage of the 24th was to be postponed, it was then scheduled for the 25th, but by the time the call sheet was prepared, the kitchen footage was saved for the 26th, and the bedroom scene became the sole goal for the 25th. Scheduled were the five main kids, Johnny Arthur, Elaine Shepard, and Gary Jasguer (sic). All activity took place on the interior bedroom set and the interior upper hall set, both on Stage 2. The main titles for this film were finalized on this date.
June 26 - This was the fifth day of shooting, and was originally supposed to be the final day, with only special effects and pickup shots involved. However, delays on June 24th necessitated the addition of bedroom footage to the schedule. Ultimately, though, the bedroom footage was taken care of on the 25th, which meant that the kitchen footage was saved for the 26th, with the special effects also included in the scheduling in a vain attempt to finish on time. By the time the call sheet was prepared, it was clear that some bedroom footage would have to be finished up, in addition to the kitchen footage and a shot of the kids coming down the stairs. The special effects were postponed until Monday the 28th. Scheduled were the five main kids, Johnny, Elaine and Gary. According to the daily film report, most of the footage was indeed finished on this day, but the very end of the film had still not been shot. Film costs for the previous week were $3892.89, bringing the total to $5834.70 so far.
June 27 - This was a Sunday. No shooting took place.
June 28 - This was the sixth day of shooting. It was on the 26th that special effects footage was delayed until the 28th. However, further delays meant that the final bedroom footage would also be shot on this date, which meant that the five main kids, Johnny, Elaine and Gary, were all scheduled. However, according to the daily film report, Gary did not attend. The bedroom footage on Stage 2 was essentially finished, and the black velvet footage of the 'visionary imps' was achieved by Roy Seawright on Stage 4. The production was considered 'finished' at this point. A Carr memo to Van Keuren, Huber and Collum states that the five main kids, Johnny Arthur and Elaine Shepard all 'closed' as of this date. A Collum memo to Van Keuren, O'Brien, Huber and Cash, states the same.
June 30 - This was the final day of shooting. One shot was taken, which was the closeup of the water bottle springing a leak. None of the cast attended. It's possible, however, that added footage was shot on some later date, as the film has a higher number of shots than the daily film reports indicate. It appears that the footage involving Gary getting into the icebox and being discovered by Johnny was this later footage.
July 3 - Film costs for the previous week were $1321.68, bringing the total to $7156.38 so far. However, this seems to contradict the total picture cost of $26,818.64, which is given this same date, and is the amount listed in Maltin & Bann's book.
July 10 - Film costs for the previous week were $553.75, bringing the total to $7710.13 so far.
July 17 - A Raguse memo from this date indicates that the domestic negative and domestic negative soundtrack were shipped to the MGM lab, and that the domestic positive Movietone print was shipped to W. D. Kelly in New York on this date. Film costs for the previous week were $948.23, bringing the total to $8658.36 so far.
Aug. 2 - A Raguse memo from this date indicates that the Canadian negative and Canadian negative soundtrack were shipped. A pressbook was sent to Van Keuren on this date.

According to the pressbook for this film, Alfalfa had just finished shooting "Wild And Woolly."

The pressbook also states that this was the first film for Hal Roach, Jr., as an assistant director, and that he had been the original inspiration for the series.

On July 17th (about midway between this film and the next one), Spanky took part in a baseball game between film comedians and leading men at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. The comedians won the game 7 to 6. Spanky got a hit, but Vince Barnett wheeled him around to second base in a perambulator. A protesting Spanky insisted on running the rest of the way himself.

The boys call themselves The Four Nitengales.

There's some sort of Mickey Mouse doll on the table next to the bed.

This film was 979 feet in length.


See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.


© Robert Demoss.


My thanks to the following people for assisting with this page:
Rob Stone (for providing the production number)
Joe Moore (for providing the copyright information)
Randy Skretvedt (for clearing up the confusion involving Bud and Stax Graves)
Paul Mular (for providing info on the Cabin Fever laserdiscs)
Piet Schreuders (for providing copyright dates for the music)
Debby Mendelsohn (for verifying the spelling of Gary Jasgur's last name)
bigshotjones (for researching Gary Jasgur and getting discussion started on this matter)


The Lucky Corner Homepage