Hide And Shriek

technical details:

Production K-22.

Release no. C-740.

Filmed May 11 to 14, 1938. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by Elmer Raguse on May 31, 1938.

Cutting continuity submitted June 1, 1938.

Music cue sheet prepared June 11, 1938.

Copyrighted June 16, 1938, by Loew's Incorporated. 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. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of MGM set a projected release date for this production of May 21, 1938.

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.

Assistant Director: Lawrence Tarver

This credit derives from studio documentation.

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

This credit appears in the film.

Script Clerk: Morton

This credit derives from the daily film reports, which don't reveal his first name.

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. 4315.

studio personnel

vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren

secretary-treasurer - Mat O'Brien

Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver

assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber

film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse

story department - Jack Jevne

property department - W. L. Stevens

process department - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

musical director - Marvin Hatley

men's wardrobe - Harry Black

paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

writing - James Parrott, Hal Law, Felix Adler and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity. He's specifically referred to in the script, which makes use of the term 'Oelze gag.'

animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

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. The "Percy" moniker does not turn up in the dialogue. However, this is the name given to him in both the script and the press release. 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 dialogue. He's referred to as "Gary" in the script. 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:

Jiggs 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.

other animals

The press release mentions a dog named Major in addition to Jiggs, but if he was involved, then he didn't wind up in the film.

in still images

A photo of Pete the Pup IV is shown during the opening titles.

the adults:

Billy Bletcher as the voice on the record

Small part. The boys think he's real, rather than just a recording.

Fred Holmes as the janitor

Small part. He's at the doorway to the haunted house.

other adults

Bit parts. The only other adults in the film are the two moving men, including one named "Al." One of them is referred to in the script as "Driver," while the other one is referred to as "2nd Driver."

in still images

There are 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.

(A17.) 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

Copyrighted Oct. 1, 1935. A portion of this piece is played by the skeleton at the organ. The actual performer was Chauncey Haines. There were actually three takes recorded. Take 1, at 250 feet, was no good. Take 2, at 230 feet with a 'moderato' tempo, was deemed to be okay. Take 3, at 170 feet and played moderately fast, was also deemed to be okay.

unused music

"Finn's Saloon" by T. Marvin Hatley

Copyrighted Mar. 20, 1937. This is another piece recorded by Chauncey Haines. Take 1, at 200 feet, was no good. Take 2, at 195 feet and played in a 'mysterioso' style, was deemed to be okay.

"Grab The Deed" by T. Marvin Hatley

Copyrighted Mar. 20, 1937. This is another piece recorded by Chauncey Haines. Take 1, at 65 feet, was no good. Take 2, at 180 feet and played at a fast tempo, was deemed to be okay.

"Welcome Home"

A May 8th memo reveals that this song was considered for use in this film. Presumably, it's the 1913 Irving Berlin composition.

"Ups And Downs"

This is another song mentioned in the May 8th memo, but I have no idea what it is.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios

All of the indoor footage was shot on Stage 4, whether involving the haunted house or the basement. All of the outdoor footage was shot on the New York Street set.

miscellaneous:

Four shooting dates went into the making of this film. Here's a breakdown of the activity, deriving from the call sheets, daily film reports, and various memos:
May 8 - A Raguse memo from this date to Van Keuren states that availability and clearance of "Welcome Home" and "Ups And Downs" were being requested for possible use in this production, at the request of Hal Roach, Jr.
May 9 and 10 - A surviving script dated May 11th reveals that it was written by the staff on these two dates.
May 11 - This was the first day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Gary Jaspar (sic), Leonard Landy, and Jiggs. Shooting was to take place on the interior basement set on Stage 4. The daily film report spells Gary's last name "Jasquer," and also mentions an 'animal man' to handle the dog. About half of the basement footage was shot on this date. A Collum memo from this date to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, requests that Alfalfa, Darla, Porky and Buckwheat, be 'started' as of this date.
May 12 - This was the second day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Gary Jasper (sic) and Leonard Landy. Shooting was to take place on the interior basement set in the morning, and the exterior basement set on the New York Street set in the afternoon. Time permitting, activity would then move to the entrance to the haunted house. The daily film report spells Gary's last name "Jasquer," and also mentions an 'animal man' to handle the dog. The interior basement and exterior basement door and street sets were used, with this type of footage being virtually finished, including the tag end of the film when the boys return to the basement.
May 13 - This was the third day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Gary Jasgur (sic), Leonard Landy, 1 truck driver (bit), 1 truck driver (extra) and Fred Holmes (bit). Shooting was to take place at the exterior entrance to the haunted house and the interior haunted house set, as well as the New York Street set and Stage 4. Written into the call sheet is 'NY St. basement.' The daily film report again spells Gary's last name "Jasquer." The bits are listed as 1 truck driver, 1 truck operator, 1 janitor, and 1 dog. Also mentioned is the animal man. Shooting took place on the exterior street, interior haunted house, and exterior haunted house sets.
May 14 - This was the final day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, 1 truck driver (bit), 1 truck driver (extra) and Fred Holmes (bit), but 'no dog.' Shooting was to take place on the interior haunted house set on Stage 4. The daily film report reveals that Holmes and the two truck drivers were not needed. It also mentions the presence of Billy Bletcher for a voice recording, and Chauncey Haines for an organ recording. However, another document reveals that Haines was present between 9:15 pm and midnight. He recorded three Marvin Hatley compositions. See the 'music' section above for details. Most of the haunted house footage was shot on this date, and the production was considered completed.
May 16 - A Collum memo from this date to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, requests that Alfalfa, Porky, Darla and Buckwheat, be 'closed' as of May 14th.
May 28 - Film costs for the previous week were $199.08, bringing the total to $2067.39 so far.

On May 31st, Hal Roach sold the Our Gang series, including the name and the talent contracts, to MGM for $25,000.

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

The press release claims that Buckwheat was not scared during the shooting of this film. However, another press item refutes this. At one point during the haunted house shooting, a master fuse had blown, bringing shooting to a halt and leaving cast and crew in total darkness. It describes four frightened children grasping onto director Douglas's knees, though as we know, there were actually three. Wanting to ease the tension, Douglas began whistling the first tune that came into his head: "Danse Macabre." He knew this was a mistake when Porky began pinching his leg, so he began to whistle the next tune that came to mind: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Alfalfa then began to whistle "Lead, Kindly Light."

A document prepared at the beginning of the film season gave projected dates for all of the one-reelers to be released. Editing on this film was to begin on Apr. 23rd, with the negative cut on May 4th and shipped to MGM on May 7th, and the film released on May 21st.

The script submitted to MGM was given the number B447.

A Van Keuren memo states that Roach loaned out Alfalfa to MGM from May 13th to 18th. This, of course, partially conflicts with his appearance in "Hide And Shriek," but it's possible that some adjustment was made to the dates after the memo had been written.

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.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.