Came The Brawn

film no. 166

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 19 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Four (3 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 10:42. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 5 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1986. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk, but with the company name blacked out. It was also included as part of a 6 VHS boxed set. The opening title and crew credits are remade, but the end title is original. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 10:21, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:19.
The Little Rascals Book XVI (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. This DVD is also available in a 2 DVD set with another same-named DVD.
Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: This is one of two DVDs with this name, and includes a documentary entitled Hollywood Hall Of Fame, with 24 clips from this film. The 1st lasts 0:06, and shows Alfalfa inspecting the boys. The 2nd lasts 0:04, and shows Alfalfa in the rings. The 3rd lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa selecting Porky. The 4th lasts 0:01, and shows Butch in his outfit. The 5th lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa getting ready to take down Waldo. The 6th lasts 0:38, and show Butch chasing Alfalfa and losing his clothes. The 7th lasts 0:04, and shows Henry Lee. The 8th lasts 0:02, and shows Porky. The 9th lasts 0:02, and shows Darla. The 10th lasts 0:35, and shows Alfalfa wrestling Waldo. The 11th lasts 0:04, and shows Alfalfa in the ropes. The 12th lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa being swung around. The 13th lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa flexing. The 14th lasts 0:05, and shows Alfalfa wrestling Porky. The 15th lasts 0:10, and shows Alfalfa getting mad. The 16th lasts 0:11, and shows Waldo, Butch, and Woim. The 17th lasts 0:05, and shows Alfalfa saying goodnight. The 18th lasts 1:12, and shows Alfalfa inspecting the boys. The 19th lasts 0:05, and shows Porky sitting on Alfalfa. The 20th lasts 0:02, and shows the little kids stealing Butch's clothes. The 21st lasts 0:02, and shows Darla in the crowd. The 22nd lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa waving from the ring. The 23rd lasts 0:02, and shows Butch twirling Alfalfa. And the 24th lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa in the ropes.
Hal Roach's Rascals 3-Tape Set (3 VHS set): Released Feb. 2000. Contains the same print as the DVD as well as the Hollywood Hall Of Fame documentary.
Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 2 Pack (2 VHS set) from Brentwood Home Video: Released November 2000. Also released as part of Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 10 Pack (10 VHS set).
Adventures Of The Little Rascals (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video
The Toy Town Story Adventure (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: Released Nov. 7, 2000.
The Lady And The Highwayman (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: Released May 22, 2001.
White Fang To The Rescue (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: Released June 26, 2001.
The Wizard Of Oz (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: Released July 10, 2001. This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out.
His Majesty Scarecrow Of Oz (DVD) from Brentwood Home Video: Released Jan. 1, 2002.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:05 is included, showing Darla and Alfalfa waving to each other. Another clip lasting 0:05 is included, showing Alfalfa saying goodnight to the camera, with music added.
The Little Rascals Clay Animation (VHS): The claymation version has appeared on various homemade VHS tapes and DVDs on eBay.
The Little Rascals Collection (5 DVD set) from Passport Video: Released July 13, 2004. A documentary entitled Kid Stuff: Inside Hollywood's Child Stars contains 12 clips from this film. The 1st lasts 0:01, and shows Spanky. The 2nd lasts 0:05, and shows Alfalfa unmasking Butch. The 3rd lasts 0:03, and shows Butch pinning Alfalfa. The 4th lasts 0:02, and shows Alfalfa fainting. The 5th lasts 0:11, and shows Alfalfa going down for the count. The 6th lasts 0:03, and shows Butch and Woim arriving at the match. The 7th lasts 0:07, and continues the scene with Butch and Woim. The 8th lasts 0:08, and shows Alfalfa unmasking Butch. The 9th lasts 0:17, and shows Butch and Woim talking to Darla and Alfalfa. The 10th lasts 0:11, and shows Darla getting fickle with Butch. The 11th lasts 0:04, and shows Alfalfa and Darla. And the 12th lasts 0:11, and shows the end of the film.

technical details:

Production K-19.

Filmed probably around mid-to-late winter 1938. It's likely that filming was finished no later than Mar. 8th.

Music cue sheet prepared March 21, 1938.

Copyrighted April 12, 1938, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7962. Renewed June 16, 1965, with registration no. R362813. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2033.

Released April 16, 1938. It was the 166th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Came The Brawn".'

The soundtrack for this film was used for A Little Rascals Color Special made by King-World Productions and presented by Charles King. The resultant film, using puppet animation, was one of five episodes refashioned this way, which were intended to be marketed as a television series that never came to be.

King World Productions episode no. 54a, 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.
Story by Hal E. Roach: This credit doesn't appear in the film.
Sound: Oscar Lagerstrom: 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. 4136.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa" aka "Wild-Cat Alfalfa": Lead role. Darla calls him "Tarzan" at one point. He becomes a wrestling champ by beating The Masked Marvel.
Tommy Bond as "Butch": Featured role. He takes Waldo's place behind the mask.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Supporting role. He's Alfalfa's trainer and the referee in the wrestling match.
Darwood Kaye as "Waldo": Supporting role. Butch derisively calls him "Shakespeare." He's The Masked Marvel until Butch takes his place.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She's the incentive behind both Alfalfa's and Butch's efforts.
Sidney Kibrick: Supporting role. He clearly plays "Woim," but the name isn't used in the film. It's his idea that Butch take Waldo's place.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Supporting role. He beats Alfalfa in the practice round. He's also the '1st comitee' at the wrestling match and ends up with Butch's outfit.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas: Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's the '2nd comitee,' and accompanies Porky throughout the film.
Billy Mindy: Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. Also known as Billy Minderhout. He's one of the three pushovers that Alfalfa's afraid to wrestle, and is also in the back row during the match.
Ernest "Stinky" Wechbaugh: Small part. Alfalfa doesn't want to wrestle him because he's got too much muscle.
Henry Lee: Bit part. He's the ticket taker. He's listed in the 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book, and in Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts, as Alvin Buckelew.
Betsy Gay: Extra. She sits directly behind Darla.
Joe "Corky" Geil: Extra. He sits in the second row slightly to the left of Darla.
Harold Switzer: Extra. He sits closest to the Masked Marvel's dressing room.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He sits next to Harold.
boy 148: Extra. This is the boy sitting to the left of Joe Geil.
girl 148: Extra. This is the blonde girl seen behind Joe Geil and boy 148.
Patsy Currier: Extra. She sits behind Joe Geil and Betsy Gay.
Paul Hilton: Extra. He's sitting at the far left of the front row, usually out of camera range.
boy 166: Extra. He's the blonde boy behind Paul Hilton and in front of Harold Switzer.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Bit parts and extras. Most notable among the remaining kids are the other two pushovers at the beginning of the film, one of whom seems to be sitting to the right of Billy Mindy during the match. There are also between 15 and 20 additional kids at the match not already noted. A 1938 casting directory states that Raymond Rayhill Powell and Spencer Quinn both appeared in this film, but I haven't been able to spot them. Also, it appears that Charles Flickinger may be in the upper right corner of the crowd shots, but this is just a guess.

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.

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. A bit more of it is played than usual. The end part is played as Alfalfa says good night and the end title appears.

miscellaneous:

The title of this film is a spoof on the 1928 feature "Came The Dawn."

The gang's organization is called the Ajax Athletic Club.

©Aug. 12, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/2, 2/11, 2/13, 4/3, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/4, 2/27, 4/1, 6/15, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/7, 5/26, 7/12.

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