Spanky (film)

Infobox Film
name = Spanky


image_size =
caption =
director = Robert F. McGowan
producer = Robert F. McGowan
Hal Roach
writer = Hal Roach
H. M. Walker
narrator =
starring =
music = Leroy Shield
Marvin Hatley
cinematography = Art Lloyd
editing = Richard C. Currier
distributor = MGM
released = 26 March, 1932
runtime = 20 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = "Free Eats"
followed_by = "Choo-Choo!"
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0023497

"Spanky" is a 1932 "Our Gang" short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. cite web |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/64189/Spanky/overview |title=New York Times: Spanky |accessdate=2008-09-19|work=NY Times] It was the 113th (25th talking episode) "Our Gang" short that was released.

Plot

ALthough this is a remake of a 1920's silent Our Gang episode called Uncle Tom's Uncle, the main character is Spanky. The first 7 minutes of this film was Spanky's screen test taken back in April of 1931 during his firsst visit to Hal Roach studios. It included him bug hunting, waking up in the morning, getting dressed, and taking a bath. His real life mother was also playing his mother on screen. Meanwhile, his brother Brisbane, sister Dorothy, and the rest of the gang are putting on a play of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Brisbane is forced to supervise Spanky. Also, Spanky's dad refuses to spend money in order to keep the house clean though he has tons of it hidden in a closet.

Spanky disrupts the play the whole time and the play itself is a flop and the kids that came to watch it ruin the play even more by throwing tomatoes and garbage at the gang as they are trying to put the show on. Spanky also finds his dad's money and begins throwing it out the window. The kids all run out and try to steal the money and Spanky's dad arrives and throws the kids out frcing them to give back the money. The gang helps clean up the money and the father promises to put the money in the bank and spend more on mom and the kids. Coincidently, Bobby Mallon appeared in both "Spanky" and "Uncle Tom's Uncle" and was the only actor to do so.

On the syndicated television print, 12 minutes of this episode, which are the scenes of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" were edited out in 1971 making the film only 9 minutes long. This was due to percieved racism toward African Americans. Its been available on home video on several collections and is becoming available on DVD in its entirety on October 28, 2008. The content of this film never got restored on the AMC airings from 2001-2003, unlike other episodes.

Cast

* George McFarland - Spanky
* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer
* Matthew Beard - Stymie / Uncle Tom / Topsy
* Tommy Bond - Tommy
* Dorothy DeBorba - Dorothy / Little Eva
* Sherwood Bailey - Spud
* Douglas Greer - Speck
* Dickie Jackson
* Buddy McDondald
* Bobby Mallon
* Kendall McComas - Breezy Brisbane / Simon Legree
* Mildred Kornman
* Georgie Billings
* Johnny Aber
* Donald Haines
* Jerry Tucker
* Donnie Smith
* Pete the Pup - Petie
* Billy Gilbert - Spanky's father
* Spanky's Mother - herself (uncredited)

ee also

* Our Gang filmography

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0023497|title=Spanky