Hide And Shriek

film no. 169

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 12 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a nearly original print, missing only the MGM lion. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 10:30. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 & Vol. 12 (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 Book IX (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: 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 10:19, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:13.
The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 3 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. It was also included as part of a 6 VHS boxed set.
The Best Of Our Gang (DVD) from Legend Films: Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). This is a home movie print from the Famous Kids Comedies series from Official Films, included both as a colorized print, and in the original black-and-white. The original footage totals 10:17, while the original soundtrack totals 10:27. The picture quality is very good.

technical details:

Production K-22.

The shooting script was prepared May 9th through May 11th, 1938.

Filmed in May 1938.

Music cue sheet prepared June 11, 1938.

Copyrighted June 16, 1938, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP8125. Renewed December 2, 1965, with registration no. R374808. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2033.

Released June 18, 1938. It was the 169th film in the series to be released.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Hide And Shriek".'

King World Productions episode no. 46b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Production Manager: S. S. Van Keuren: Maltin & Bann state that the original script credits S. S. Keuren.
Directed by Gordon Douglas: This credit appears in the film.
Photography: Norbert Brodine: According to Maltin & Bann. This credit doesn't appear 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: Certificate no. 4315.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa" aka "X-10, Sooper-Slooth": Lead role. He runs a detective agency and leads himself and his assistants into an amusement park haunted house.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky" aka "X6": Featured role. He and Buckwheat become Alfalfa's assistants and join him at the haunted house.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat" aka "X6 1/2": Featured role. He accompanies Porky through most of the film.
Leonard Landy: Small part. He's accused of stealing Darla's candy. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Percy" moniker was used, but it isn't in the film. Perhaps the script uses this name. He also appears in a photograph during the opening titles in the location previously occupied by Spanky.
Gary Jasgur: Small part. He accompanies Leonard throughout the film. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. They also indicate that the "Junior" moniker was used, but it doesn't turn up in the film. He also appears in a photograph during the opening titles in the location previously occupied by Baby Patsy May.
Darla Hood: Small part. She thinks that the little kids have stolen her candy.

the animals:

dog 149 as "X20": Small part. He helps Buckwheat and Porky to catch the criminals. Maltin & Bann list Von the Dog, but this is a different dog.
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:

Billy Bletcher as the voice on the record: Small part. According to Maltin & Bann, and it certainly sounds like it could be him.
Fred Holmes as the janitor: Small part. He's at the doorway to the haunted house. Maltin & Bann credit him as playing the janitor, but this isn't at all clear by watching the film.
other adults: Bit parts. The only other adults in the film are the two moving men, including one named "Al." There are also various people shown in photographs, clippings and posters on the walls of Alfalfa's detective agency.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A16.) A small portion of this piece is played over the opening titles. The very end is played over the end title.
"The Ghost Frolic" by T. Marvin Hatley: A portion of this piece is played by the skeleton at the organ.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios: It looks like the street scenes were shot on the New York street set at the studio.

miscellaneous:

Alfalfa's business is called the Eegle Eye Detektive-Agency.

The bogeyman shown in the haunted house was left over from the Laurel & Hardy feature "Babes In Toyland."

This was the second-to-last Roach film delivered to MGM, with Laurel & Hardy's "Block-Heads" following it.

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