Fishy Tales

film no. 158

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 6 (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 nearly complete print, missing only the MGM lion. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 10:30. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:02 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, showing a closeup of Butch.
The Little Rascals Volume 6: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), released Aug. 15, 2000.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 5 & Vol. 6 (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 Digitally Remastered - Collector's Edition III (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Nov. 15, 2005. This derives from the Cabin Fever release.
Little Rascals: Fishy Tales & The Kid From Borneo from Cabin Fever: Canadian release.
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 Comedy Classics Vol. 2 (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released Apr. 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 very good. The original footage totals 10:16, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:17.
The Little Rascals: Choo-Choo!/Fishy Tales (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 30, 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals Book XIII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:01 is included, showing Alfalfa shooting a rubber dart, with music added.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - Memories From Little Rascals Family Theater (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 1:16 is included, showing Butch and Woim arriving to inspect Alfalfa's foot.

technical details:

Production K-12.

Filmed probably around the late spring or early summer of 1937.

Released August 28, 1937. It was the 158th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted September 8, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7425. Renewed May 12, 1965, with registration no. R361170. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Fishy Tales".'

King World Productions episode no. 53b, 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: 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 Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Lead role. Spanky refers to him variously as "Eagle-Eye Alfalfa," "Professor" and "Professor Eagle-Eye." His William Tell routine leads him into a dilemma with Butch, which leads to a fake injury.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Spank": Featured role. He runs the show, both with the William Tell routine, and with the charade put on to fool Butch.
Tommy Bond as "Butch": Featured role. He changes his mind about beating up Alfalfa after seeing his injury.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Supporting role. Spanky introduces him as "Fearless Buckwheat, the William Tell of the South." He fills in for Porky in the act.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Supporting role. He forfeits his part in the act by eating all the apples.
Sidney Kibrick as "Woim": Supporting role. He accompanies Butch through much of the film, serving as a secretary of sorts.
Gary Jasgur as "Junior": Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. He sits in the Judges Stand at the beginning of the film, and ultimately is the reason for Alfalfa's troubles.
Darwood Kaye: Extra. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used, but he's nameless in this short. He also doesn't wear glasses. He sits at the far right in the front row.
Darla Hood: Extra. She sits at the far left in the front row.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He sits next to Darwood Kaye.
Dickie De Nuet: Extra. He sits next to Darla.
Billy Minderhout: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He sits between Dickie and Tommy.
John Collum: Extra. He sits at the far left in the back row.
Harold Switzer: Extra. He sits at the far right in the back row.
Barbara Goodrich: Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She sits at the center of the back row.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles. She also appears in at least one promotional photo taken on the set of this film.
other kids: Extras. There are two more boys in the back row. Maltin & Bann list Dorian Johnston, who is presumably a blonde boy, perhaps boy 143.

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 parts and bit parts.
(1.) The seven cats that get under Alfalfa's bed.
(2.) Numerous sandcrabs.
(3.) A dead fish.

the adults:

There are no adults in this film.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A14.) This is played over the opening titles and as we first see Buckwheat.
(A16.) This is played as Alfalfa crashes through the wall and the end title appears.
"Colonial Gayeties" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted May 7, 1936. This is played as Spanky introduces Eagle-Eye Alfalfa and Porky eats the apple. This is the version heard in "Hearts Are Thumps" (no. 153), which differs from the version reproduced by the Beau Hunks.
"Up In Room 14" by Leroy Shield: This is played, with an edit at the end, as Alfalfa successfully shoots the apple on Buckwheat's head.
"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. One verse of this piece is played as Butch reads the note. This sounds like it was probably a recent recording at the time and not one of the earlier versions.
"Fastie" by Leroy Shield: Parts of this piece are played as the gang reads the note from Butch.
piece 158a: This is played as Butch and Woim walk into the clubhouse. A part of it is repeated as the cats are under Alfalfa's bed.
"Ants (Hurry)" by Leroy Shield: Also known as "Antics" and "Sneaking," but not to be confused with the other pieces with those names. This is played as Spanky shows Alfalfa's leg to Butch and starts hammering it. It's partly repeated as Butch and Woim go for a doctor and let the cats in.
"Stair Steps" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as Junior tickles Alfalfa's foot.
"Don't Explain" by T. Marvin Hatley: This is played as Spanky tells Butch the story of Alfalfa's injury.
piece 158d: This is a laugh effect piece played as Alfalfa first feels the sandcrab on his toe.
piece 158e: This sounds like bits of various pieces, played as the cats get under the bed and Alfalfa crashes through the wall. Within this collection of bits is a part of piece 158a.

miscellaneous:

The gang's club is called The Wise Owl Club.

The negative cost on this film was $29,349.

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

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