Night 'N' Gales

film no. 157

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 13 (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 10:43. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:01 included in the opening montage of all the Cabin Fever releases, showing the boys in bed.
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: Night 'N' Gales/First Round-Up (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk.
The Best Of Spanky (DVD) from Genius Entertainment: Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). This is a Famous Kids Comedies print from Official Films, included both as a colorized print, and in the original black-and-white. The original footage totals 10:11, while the original soundtrack totals 10:36. The picture quality is very good.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 1:26 is included, showing Buckwheat getting a tummy ache, with music added.

technical details:

Production K-11.

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.
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.
Special Effects by Roy Seawright: Seawright handled the filming of the 'visionary imps.' He also probably animated the moth.
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
possible uncredited involvement

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.

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.

miscellaneous:

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.

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

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