Three Men In A Tub

film no. 165

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 10:31. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Best Of The Little Rascals (VHS) from NTA Home Entertainment: Released Oct. 1992. 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 10:10, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:15.
The Little Rascals: Mush And Milk/Three Men In A Tub (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals Book III (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 1:28 is included, showing the opening scene, with music added.

technical details:

Production K-18.

Filmed probably around mid-winter 1938.

Music cue sheet prepared Mar. 8, 1938.

Released March 26, 1938. It was the 165th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted April 1, 1938, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7963. Renewed June 16, 1965, with registration no. R362814. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2033.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Three Men In A Tub".'

King World Productions episode no. 50a, 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 Nate Watt: 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: Oscar Lagerstrom: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Script Clerk: Ellen Corby: This is revealed by the photograph in Maltin & Bann's book.
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. He races Waldo around Toluca Lake to win back Darla.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Featured role. She leaves Alfalfa for the more refined Waldo.
Darwood Kaye as "Waldo": Featured role. He accepts Alfalfa's challenge and ultimately loses.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat" aka "Buck": Supporting role. He's the 'injineer' on Alfalfa's boat.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Supporting role. He's also part of Alfalfa's crew.
George "Spanky" McFarland: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has the idea to build the boat and serves as 'race maneger.'
John Collum: Small part. He starts the race. This was his final appearance in the series.
Gary Jasgur: Small part. He's the 'starter' at the race, but the job is actually handled by John Collum. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. They also indicate that the "Junior" moniker was used, but it wasn't.
Harold Switzer: Bit part. He's the one that Spanky pushes into the water.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He's the blonde boy in the front row.
girl 160: Extra. She sits to the left of Tommy McFarland.
girl 159: Extra. She's at the far right of the front row of spectators.
Jerry Tucker: Extra. He's at the far right in the back row. This was his final appearance in the series.
Sheila Brown: Extra. It appears that she's sitting behind girl 160.
Audrey Carol: Extra. It appears that she's the one sitting next to Jerry Tucker.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Extras. There are six additional spectators at the race.

the animals:

horse 165 as "Bessie": Small part. Buckwheat and Porky ride this horse on their visit to Darla and Waldo.
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: Bit parts. Three geese provide the power for Alfalfa's boat. There's also a duck in the background during the unveiling.

the adults:

There are no adults in this 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 Alfalfa pacing. The end part is played as Alfalfa saves Darla and the end title appears.

the locations:

Malibu Lake: Idenitified as Toluca Lake in the film, but not actually shot there. Malibu Lake is in the Santa Monica Mountains near the Paramount Ranch.

miscellaneous:

Alfalfa's boat is called 'Darla the 4th.'

©Aug. 11, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/30, 10/26, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 6/14, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 7/16, 10/22.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/12, 8/3.

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