- Our Gang filmography
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The following is a complete list of the 220 Our Gang short films produced by Hal Roach Studios and/or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer between 1922 and 1944, in order of release.
1922 - 1923 - 1924 - 1925 - 1926 - 1927 - 1928 - 1929 - 1930 - 1931
1932 - 1933 - 1934 - 1935 - 1936 - 1937 - 1938 - 1939 - 1940 - 1941 - 1942 - 1943 - 1944The Roach/Pathé silents (1922–1928)
These two-reel silent Our Gang shorts were produced by Hal Roach Studios and distributed to theaters by Pathé.
1922
- 001 One Terrible Day (September 10)
- 002 Fire Fighters (October 8)
- 003 Our Gang (November 5)
- 004 Young Sherlocks (November 26)
- 005 Saturday Morning (December 3)
- 006 A Quiet Street (December 31)
1923
- 007 The Champeen (January 28)
- 008 The Cobbler (February 18)
- 009 The Big Show (February 25)
- 010 A Pleasant Journey (March 18)
- 011 Boys to Board (April 8)
- 012 Giants vs. Yanks (May 13)
- 013 Back Stage (June 3)
- 014 Dogs of War (July 1)
- 015 Lodge Night (July 29)
- 016 July Days (August 26)
- 017 No Noise (September 23)
- 018 Stage Fright (October 21)
- 019 Derby Day (November 18)
- 020 Sunday Calm (December 16)
1924
- 021 Tire Trouble (January 13)
- 022 Big Business (February 10)
- 023 The Buccaneers (March 9)
- 024 Seein' Things (April 6)
- 025 Commencement Day (May 4)
- 026 Cradle Robbers (June 1)
- 027 Jubilo, Jr. (June 29)
- 028 It's a Bear (July 24)
- 029 High Society (August 24)
- 030 The Sun Down Limited (September 21)
- 031 Every Man for Himself (October 19)
- 032 Fast Company (November 16)
- 033 The Mysterious Mystery! (December 14)
1925
- 034 The Big Town (January 11)
- 035 Circus Fever (February 8)
- 036 Dog Days (March 8)
- 037 The Love Bug (April 5)
- 038 Shootin' Injuns (May 3)
- 039 Ask Grandma (May 31)
- 040 Official Officers (June 28)
- 041 Boys Will Be Joys (July 26)
- 042 Mary, Queen of Tots (August 23)
- 043 Your Own Back Yard (September 27)
- 044 Better Movies (November 1)
- 045 One Wild Ride (December 6)
1926
- 046 Good Cheer (January 26)
- 047 Buried Treasure (February 14)
- 048 Monkey Business (March 21)
- 049 Baby Clothes (April 25)
- 050 Uncle Tom's Uncle (May 30)
- 051 Thundering Fleas (July 18)
- 052 Shivering Spooks (August 8)
- 053 The Fourth Alarm (September 12)
- 054 War Feathers (November 21)
- 055 Telling Whoppers (December 19)
1927
- 056 Bring Home the Turkey (January 16)
- 057 Seeing the World (February 13)
- 058 Ten Years Old (March 13)
- 059 Love My Dog (April 17)
- 060 Tired Business Men (May 15)
- 061 Baby Brother (June 26)
- 062 The Glorious Fourth (June 26)
- 063 Olympic Games (September 11)
- 066 Chicken Feed (November 6)
1928
- 069 Playin' Hookey (January 1)
- 072 The Smile Wins (February 26)
The Roach/MGM silents (1927–1929)
These silent Our Gang shorts were produced by Hal Roach Studios and distributed to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All films are two reels (20 minutes) long, except Spook Spoofing, which is three reels (30 minutes) long. Shorts marked with an asterisk (*) were originally released with a synchronized music and sound effects track.
1927
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 064 Yale vs. Harvard Robert McGowan September 24 065 The Old Wallop Robert McGowan October 22 067 Heebee Jeebees Robert F. McGowan
Robert A. McGowanNovember 19 068 Dog Heaven Robert A. McGowan December 17 1928
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 070 Spook Spoofing Robert McGowan January 14 071 Rainy Days Robert A. McGowan February 11 073 Edison, Marconi & Co. Robert McGowan March 10 074 Barnum & Ringling, Inc. Robert McGowan April 7 075 Fair and Muddy Robert McGowan May 5 076 Crazy House Robert McGowan June 2 077 Growing Pains Robert McGowan September 22 078 Old Gray Hoss Robert McGowan October 20 079 School Begins Robert McGowan November 17 080 The Spanking Age Robert McGowan December 15 1929
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 081 Election Day Robert McGowan January 12 082 Noisy Noises Robert McGowan February 9 083 The Holy Terror Robert McGowan March 9 084 Wiggle Your Ears Robert McGowan April 6 085 Fast Freight Robert McGowan May 9 087 Little Mother Robert McGowan June 1 091 Cat, Dog & Co. Robert McGowan September 14 093 Saturday's Lesson Robert McGowan November 9 The Roach/MGM talkies (1929–1938,The Little Rascals)
These sound Our Gang shorts were produced by Hal Roach Studios and distributed to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. These 80 films, excepting some that have been removed for content, are the Our Gang shorts that King World Productions have packaged and syndicated as The Little Rascals.
All shorts through Arbor Day in 1936 are two reels (approximately 17 to 20 minutes) long except Small Talk, which is three reels (26 minutes) long. Subsequent shorts (1936's Bored of Education through 1938's Hide and Shriek) are one reel (10 minutes) in length. Also in 1936, an Our Gang feature-length film, General Spanky, was released by MGM . Many of the shorts were edited for television over the years, and distributor King World Productions removed several of the shorts from their Little Rascals television package. Shorts that were either edited for, or withheld from, television broadcast are noted as such.
1929
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 086 Small Talk Robert McGowan May 18 - First sound film; release dates of first five sound shorts overlap with those of final three silents shorts.
- Television prints heavily edited for time and sound quality. Initially in the Little Rascals television package, but eliminated in the early 1980s due to sound quality.
088 Railroadin' Robert McGowan June 15 - First appearance of Norman "Chubby" Chaney.
- Never shown on television because the film's soundtrack was presumed lost since the mid-1940s. Railroadin's sound track turned up in the MGM vaults in 1982; while it was released on home video, it never became part of the television package.
089 Lazy Days Robert McGowan August 15 - Withdrawn from television package due to racial humor involving African-Americans.
090 Boxing Gloves Anthony Mack September 9 - First appearance of Jackie Cooper.
- Television prints edited due to time and to add sound to originally silent scenes.
092 Bouncing Babies Robert McGowan October 12 - Final appearances of Joe Cobb, Jean Darling, Harry Spear.
- Television prints edited due to content considered in bad taste.
094 Moan and Groan, Inc. Robert McGowan December 7 - First entry for 1929 – 30 film season.
- With Edgar Kennedy and Max Davidson.
- Final appearance of Jay R. Smith.
- Withdrawn from television package due to racial/ethnic humor involving Jewish-Americans and African Americans.
1930
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 095 Shivering Shakespeare Anthony Mack January 25 - With Edgar Kennedy.
- First appearance of Donald Haines
- Television prints edited due to content considered in bad taste.
096 The First Seven Years Robert McGowan March 1 - With Edgar Kennedy.
- Television prints edited for racial humor involving African Americans.
097 When the Wind Blows James W. Horne April 5 - With Edgar Kennedy.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
098 Bear Shooters Robert McGowan May 17 - Television prints edited due to content considered in bad taste, as well as racial humor involving African Americans.
099 A Tough Winter Robert McGowan June 21 - With Stepin Fetchit.
- Withdrawn from television package due to racial humor involving African-Americans.
100 Pups Is Pups Robert McGowan August 30 - First entry for 1930 – 31 film season.
- First appearance of Dorothy DeBorba.
- First Our Gang film to feature incidental music by Leroy Shield.
- Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans and for stereotyping of other people.
101 Teacher's Pet Robert McGowan October 11 - First appearance of Matthew Beard.
- First appearance of June Marlowe as schoolteacher Miss Crabtree.
- Television prints edited due to content considered in bad taste.
102 School's Out Robert McGowan November 22 - First appearance of Matthew Beard as "Stymie".
- With June Marlowe.
- Television prints edited due to stereotyping of women and racial humor involving African Americans.
1931
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 103 Helping Grandma Robert McGowan January 3 - Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
104 Love Business Robert McGowan February 14 - With June Marlowe.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
105 Little Daddy Robert McGowan March 28 - With June Marlowe.
- Withdrawn from television package due to racial humor involving African-Americans.
106 Bargain Day Robert McGowan May 2 - Final appearance of Jackie Cooper.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
107 Fly My Kite Robert McGowan May 30 - Final appearances of Allen "Farina" Hoskins, Mary Ann Jackson, Norman "Chubby" Chaney.
- Television prints edited slightly, due to racial humor involving African Americans.
108 Big Ears Robert McGowan August 29 - First entry for 1931 – 32 film season.
- Withdrawn from television package for centering on divorce.
109 Shiver My Timbers Robert McGowan October 10 - With June Marlowe.
- Television prints edited for verbal descriptions of violence.
110 Dogs is Dogs Robert McGowan November 21 - Television prints edited due to negative treatment toward children and racial humor involving African Americans.
1932
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 111 Readin' and Writin' Robert McGowan January 2 - First appearance of Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas.
- Final appearance of June Marlowe.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans and content deemed to be in bad taste.
112 Free Eats Raymond McCarey February 13 - First appearance of George "Spanky" McFarland.
113 Spanky Robert McGowan March 26 - First appearance of Tommy Bond.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
114 Choo-Choo! Robert McGowan May 7 - Television prints edited due to content deemed to be in bad taste.
115 The Pooch Robert McGowan June 11 - Television prints edited due to negative treatment toward children and racial humor involving African Americans.
116 Hook and Ladder Robert McGowan August 27 - First entry for 1932 – 33 film season.
- First appearance of Dickie Moore.
117 Free Wheeling Robert McGowan October 1 - Television prints edited due to stereotyping of women and racial humor involving African Americans.
118 Birthday Blues Robert McGowan November 12 - Final appearance of Kendall McComas.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
119 A Lad an' a Lamp Robert McGowan December 17 - Withdrawn from television package due to racial humor involving African-Americans.
1933
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 120 Fish Hooky Robert McGowan January 28 - Features "Our Gang Graduates" Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Allen "Farina" Hoskins, Joe Cobb
- Final appearance of Donald Haines
121 Forgotten Babies Robert McGowan March 11 122 The Kid From Borneo Robert McGowan April 15 - Withdrawn from television package due to racial humor.
123 Mush and Milk Robert McGowan May 27 - Final appearances of Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins, Dorothy DeBorba, Dickie Moore.
- Television prints edited due to negative treatment of children.
124 Bedtime Worries Robert McGowan September 9 - First entry for 1933 – 34 film season.
- With Emerson Treacy and Gay Seabrook.
125 Wild Poses Robert McGowan October 28 - With Emerson Treacy, Gay Seabrook, Franklin Pangborn.
- Production hiatus until early 1934 following this short.
1934
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 126 Hi'-Neighbor! Gus Meins March 3 - First appearance of Wally Albright, Scotty Beckett, Jackie Lynn Taylor.
- Edited slightly due to scenes deemed to be in bad taste.
127 For Pete's Sake! Gus Meins April 14 - First appearance of Leonard Kibrick, Billie Thomas.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
128 The First Round-Up Gus Meins May 5 - Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
129 Honky Donkey Gus Meins June 2 - With Don Barclay
130 Mike Fright Gus Meins August 25 - First entry for 1934 – 35 film season.
131 Washee Ironee James Parrott November 13[1] - Final appearance of Wally Albright.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving Asian Americans.
1935
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 132 Mama's Little Pirate Gus Meins January 5[1] - First appearance of Billie Thomas as "Buckwheat".
- Edited slightly due to negative treatment toward African Americans.
133 Shrimps for a Day Gus Meins February 20[1] - Final appearance of Jackie Lynn Taylor.
- Edited slightly due to racial humor.
134 Anniversary Trouble Gus Meins March 13[1] - With Johnny Arthur and Hattie McDaniel.
- Television prints edited heavily due to racial humor involving African Americans.
135 Beginner's Luck Gus Meins April 8[1] - First appearance of Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer.
136 Teacher's Beau Gus Meins April 27 - Final appearance of Matthew "Stymie" Beard.
- edited slightly due to racial humor.
137 Sprucin' Up Gus Meins June 1 - Sole Our Gang appearance of Dick Elliott.
138 Little Papa Gus Meins September 21 - First entry for 1935 – 36 film season.
139 Little Sinner Gus Meins October 26 - First appearance of Eugene "Porky" Lee.
- Withdrawn from television package from the early 1970s to early 1980s due to racial humor involving African-Americans. The short was later reinstated, though edited heavily for the same reasons.
140 Our Gang Follies of 1936 Gus Meins November 30 - First appearance of Darla Hood.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
1936
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 141 The Pinch Singer Fred Newmeyer January 4 - Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
142 Divot Diggers Robert McGowan February 8 - Filmed before The Pinch Singer, but released after.
143 The Lucky Corner Gus Meins March 14 - Filmed in mid-1935 between Sprucin' Up and Little Papa, withheld for a year.
- Final appearance of Scotty Beckett, although the final short Beckett shot was Follies of 1936.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
144 Second Childhood Gus Meins April 11 145 Arbor Day Fred Newmeyer May 2 - Final regular two-reel short in series.
- First appearance of Rosina Lawrence as schoolteacher Miss Lawrence/Miss Jones.
- With Hattie McDaniel.
146 Bored of Education Gordon Douglas August 20 - First entry for 1936 – 37 film season.
- First one-reel short in series.
- With Rosina Lawrence.
- Winner of the 1937 Academy Award for Short Subjects (One-Reel).
147 Two Too Young Gordon Douglas September 26 - With Rosina Lawrence.
148 Pay as You Exit Gordon Douglas October 24 - Features "Our Gang Graduate" Joe Cobb.
149 Spooky Hooky Gordon Douglas December 5 - With Rosina Lawrence.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
1937
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 150 Reunion in Rhythm Gordon Douglas January 9 - With Rosina Lawrence and "Our Gang Graduates" Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb, Matthew "Stymie" Beard.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
151 Glove Taps Gordon Douglas February 20 - First appearance of Tommy Bond as "Butch", Sidney Kibrick as "The Woim".
- First appearance of Darwood "Waldo" Kaye.
152 Hearts Are Thumps Gordon Douglas April 3 - With Rosina Lawrence.
153 Three Smart Boys Gordon Douglas May 13 - Final appearance of Rosina Lawrence.
- Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
154 Rushin' Ballet Gordon Douglas April 24 - Television prints edited due to racial humor involving African Americans.
155 Roamin' Holiday Gordon Douglas June 12 156 Night 'n' Gales Gordon Douglas July 24 - With Johnny Arthur.
157 Fishy Tales Gordon Douglas August 28 158 Framing Youth Gordon Douglas September 11 - First entry for 1937 – 38 film season.
159 The Pigskin Palooka Gordon Douglas October 23 160 Mail and Female Fred Newmeyer November 13 - First appearance of Henry Lee as "Spike".
161 Our Gang Follies of 1938 Gordon Douglas December 18 - Two-reel musical special.
- Edited slightly due to racial humor involving African Americans.
1938
# Film Director Original release date Notes/Content edits for television 162 Canned Fishing Gordon Douglas February 12 163 Bear Facts Gordon Douglas March 5 164 Three Men in a Tub Nate Watt March 26 165 Came the Brawn Gordon Douglas April 16 - George "Spanky" McFarland departs series after this short; will rejoin after transition to MGM.
166 Feed 'em and Weep Gordon Douglas May 7 - With Johnny Arthur.
167 The Awful Tooth Nate Watt May 28 168 Hide and Shriek Gordon Douglas June 18 - Final Roach short. Final two entries for 1937 – 38 film season completed by MGM.
The MGM talkies (1938–1944)
These one-reel sound Our Gang shorts were produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
1938
# Film Director Original release date Notes 169 The Little Ranger Gordon Douglas May 18 170 Party Fever George Sidney June 15 171 Aladdin's Lantern Gordon Douglas September 17 - First entry for 1938 – 39 film season.
- George "Spanky" McFarland returns to Our Gang with this short.
- Final apperance of Henry Lee as "Spike".
172 Men in Fright George Sidney October 15 173 Football Romeo George Sidney November 12 174 Practical Jokers George Sidney December 17 1939
# Film Director Original release date Notes 175 Alfalfa's Aunt George Sidney January 7 176 Tiny Troubles George Sidney February 18 177 Duel Personalities George Sidney March 11 178 Clown Princes George Sidney April 15 179 Cousin Wilbur George Sidney April 29 - Guest appearance by Scotty Beckett.
180 Joy Scouts Edward Cahn June 24 - First appearance of Mickey Gubitosi (Robert Blake).
181 Dog Daze George Sidney July 1 - Guest appearance by Scotty Beckett.
182 Auto Antics Edward Cahn July 22 - Final appearance of Eugene "Porky" Lee.
183 Captain Spanky's Show Boat Edward Cahn September 9 - First entry for 1939 – 40 film season.
184 Dad for a Day Edward Cahn October 21 185 Time Out for Lessons Edward Cahn
Bud MurrayDecember 2 - Final appearance of Sidney Kibrick.
1940
# Film Director Original release date Notes 186 Alfalfa's Double Edward Cahn January 20 187 The Big Premiere Edward Cahn March 9 188 All About Hash Edward Cahn March 30 - First appearance of Janet Burston.
189 The New Pupil Edward Cahn April 27 - With Juanita Quigley.
- First appearance of Billy "Froggy" Laughlin.
190 Bubbling Troubles Edward Cahn May 25 - Filmed between Alfalfa's Double and The Big Premiere.
- Final appearance of Tommy "Butch" Bond.
191 Good Bad Boys Edward Cahn September 7 - First entry for the 1940 – 41 film season.
192 Waldo's Last Stand Edward Cahn
Steven GrangerOctober 5 - Final appearance of Darwood "Waldo" Kaye.
193 Goin' Fishin' Edward Cahn October 26 - With Paul Hurst.
194 Kiddie Kure Edward Cahn November 23 - With Thurston Hall.
- Final appearance of Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer.
1941
# Film Director Original release date Notes 195 Fightin' Fools Edward Cahn January 25 196 Baby Blues Edward Cahn February 15 197 Ye Olde Minstrels Edward Cahn
Bud MurrayMarch 18 - With Walter Wills.
198 1-2-3 Go Edward Cahn April 26 199 Robot Wrecks Edward Cahn July 12 200 Helping Hands Edward Cahn September 27 - First entry for the 1941 – 42 film season.
201 Come Back, Miss Pipps Edward Cahn October 25 - Filmed earlier in year, between Ye Olde Minstrels and 1-2-3 Go.
- With Sara Haden and Christian Rub.
202 Wedding Worries Edward Cahn December 13 - Final appearance of Darla Hood.
1942
# Film Director Original release date Notes 203 Melodies Old and New Edward Cahn January 24 - With Walter Wills.
204 Going to Press Edward Cahn March 7 - With Juanita Quigley and Darryl Hickman.
205 Don't Lie Edward Cahn April 4 206 Surprised Parties Edward Cahn May 30 207 Doin' Their Bit Herbert Glazer July 18 - With Walter Wills.
208 Rover's Big Chance Herbert Glazer August 22 209 Mighty Lak a Goat Herbert Glazer October 10 210 Unexpected Riches Herbert Glazer November 28 - First entry for the 1942 – 43 film season.
- Final appearance of George "Spanky" McFarland.
1943
# Film Director Original release date Notes 211 Benjamin Franklin, Jr. Herbert Glazer January 30 212 Family Troubles Herbert Glazer April 3 213 Calling All Kids Sam Baerwitz April 24 214 Farm Hands Herbert Glazer June 19 215 Election Daze Herbert Glazer July 31 216 Little Miss Pinkerton Herbert Glazer September 18 217 Three Smart Guys Edward Cahn October 23 1944
# Film Director Original release date Notes 218 Radio Bugs Cyril Endfield April 1 219 Tale of a Dog Cyril Endfield April 15 - Actually released as part of the MGM Miniatures series, not as an Our Gang comedy.
- Only entry for 1943 – 44 film season.
220 Dancing Romeo Cyril Endfield April 29 - Final film in series. Planned follow-up Home Front Commandos canceled during production.
- General Spanky (1936), a feature film produced by Hal Roach and directed by Fred Newmeyer and Gordon Douglas; a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release. Starring George "Spanky" McFarland, Phillip Holmes, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, Rosina Lawrence, and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, General Spanky was intended as a test film to move Our Gang into features, but did not perform to Hal Roach's and MGM's expectations at the box office.
- Curley (1947) and Who Killed Doc Robbin (1948), two featurettes produced by Hal Roach and Robert F. McGowan with a similar cast and tone as the Our Gang comedies. Both films starred Larry Olsen, Billy Gray, and Matthew "Stymie" Beard's brother Renee Beard. Roach forfeited his option to buy back the rights to the Our Gang trademark to produce these films.
- The Little Rascals (1994), a feature-length adaptation of Our Gang which includes gags and situations borrowed directly from several of the original shorts. Directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Travis Tedford as Spanky, Bug Hall as Alfalfa, Brittany Ashton Holmes as Darla, and Ross Bagley as Buckwheat, The Little Rascals was produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and released by Universal Pictures.
Cameos/appearances in other films
Our Gang as a unit appeared in a handful of other Hal Roach films, and in a few outside productions as well.
- The Stolen Jools (1931) (a.k.a. The Slippery Pearls) - promotional short subject intended to raise funds for the National Variety Artists tuberculosis sanitarium
- The Cracked Iceman (1934) - a Hal Roach Charley Chase short subject, featuring Chase as a schoolteacher and the Our Gang kids as his students.
- Kid Millions (1934) - an Eddie Cantor musical feature. The Our Gang kids appear among the children in the Technicolor fantasy sequence.
Home videos
Blackhawk/Republic releases
For many years, Blackhawk Films released 79 of the 80 Roach talkies on 16 mm film. The sound discs for Railroading' had been lost since the 1940s, and a silent print was made available for home movie release until 1982, when the film's sound discs were located in the MGM vault and the short was restored with sound. Like the television prints, Blackhawk's Little Rascals reissues featured custom-created title cards in place of the original Our Gang logos, as per MGM's 1949 arrangement with Hal Roach not to distribute the series under its original title.
In 1983, with the VHS home video market growing, Blackhawk began distributing Little Rascals VHS tapes available through catalogue only. 69 of the 80 sound shorts were made available across twenty-three VHS volumes, three shorts to a tape. Half a dozen silent episodes were also available across two VHS volumes.
National Telefilm Associates(later renamed Republic Pictures) purchased Blackhawk in 1983, and continued the catalogue releases while also making The Little Rascals available on retail home video collections in 1984. 30 Little Rascals shorts were released in a set of five VHS compilations, with six shorts to a volume: Little Rascals Comedy Classics 1, Little Rascals Comedy Classics 2, Best of the Little Rascals, Little Rascals on Parade, and Adventures of Little Rascals. Each of these tapes contained two volumes of the 1983 catalogue releases, making each tape contain six episodes. In addition, Republic made the first two catalogue volumes available for retail.
Twelve Little Rascals shorts made their way to home video through Spotlite Video in 1986. These also were all previously released on the catalogue Blackhawk releases and contained none of the ones that had been excluded. These were available through retail. Meanwhile, MGM released 20 of its 52 Our Gang shorts in a five-volume VHS set with four shorts per tape.
In 1991, Republic repackaged 30 Little Rascals shorts for a fifteen-volume VHS set, with two shorts per tape. Out of the 30 episodes released, only one of them had been previously unreleased.
Cabin Fever/Hallmark releases
In 1993, Republic sold the home video rights to the 80 sound Roach shorts and some of the available silent shorts to Cabin Fever Entertainment. Cabin Fever also acquired the rights to use the original Our Gang title cards and MGM logos; for the first time in over 50 years, the Roach sound Our Gang comedies could be seen in their original format. In June 1994, Cabin Fever released a 12-volume set of Little Rascals VHS tapes, hosted by Leonard Maltin. With four shorts per tape, Cabin Fever made 48 Roach sound shorts available for purchase, uncut and with digitally restored and remastered picture and sound.
Due to the success of these volumes, Cabin Fever released nine more volumes in June 1995, which made the other 32 Roach talkies available for purchase (some of which had never been available on home video before). Five of these volumes contained four sound shorts, while the other four featured three sound shorts and a silent short.
Cabin Fever began pressing DVD versions of their first 12 Little Rascals VHS volumes (with the contents of two VHS volumes included on each DVD), but went out of business before the release was announced in late 1998. Early in 1999, they sold their catalog to Hallmark Entertainment.
In April 2000, Hallmark cleared out their warehouse, making all of the Little Rascals DVDs and VHS tapes available for retail, but never did an official launch of the Cabin Fever Little Rascals DVDs. In August, the first 10 volumes were re-released on VHS with new packaging, and the first two volumes were released on DVD as The Little Rascals: Volumes 1-2.
In 2003, the VHS tapes went out of print. That spring, Hallmark issued a DVD called Little Rascals Vols. 3–4, which actually did not completely compile volumes three and four of the Cabin Fever VHS set, but included ten Our Gang shorts. On November 13, 2005, ten more Little Rascals shorts were issued on a DVD entitled Little Rascals Collectors Edition III.
In 2006, Legend Films released colorized versions of fifteen Our Gang comedies (most of which are public domain), which were released across three Little Rascals DVDs. Fourteen of these shorts were Hal Roach talkies, while the remaining film is Waldo's Last Stand, a public-domain short from the MGM era. These DVDs went out of print in the summer of 2008.
RHI Entertainment and Genius Products released a DVD box set entitled The Little Rascals - the Complete Collection on October 28, 2008. This set includes all of the Hal Roach sound short films in the Our Gang series (1929–1938), encompassing all of the Our Gang shorts distributed to TV as The Little Rascals (save for a handful of silents). Sixty-four of the shorts are sourced from the Cabin Fever restorations, while the remaining sixteen shorts utilize older Blackhawk Films transfers without their original title cards. Other than that issue, the actual footage remains unedited.
Until recently, only a handful of MGM Our Gangs were available on DVD. Waldo's Last Stand, which is in the public domain, is one of only five MGM Our Gangs available on DVD. The other four—Party Fever, Dog Daze, Duel Personalities and The Big Premiere—have been released as bonus features in DVD releases of vintage Warner Bros. DVD releases. The former two are on the Warner Home Video release of The Marx Brothers Room Service and At The Circus DVD, while the latter two are on Warner's Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection: Babes In Arms DVD and Broadway Melody Of 1940 DVD, respectively.
On September 1, 2009, Warner Bros. released the 52 MGM Our Gang shorts in a compilation as part of their Warner Archive Collection mail-order series. The collection, Our Gang Comedies 1938–1944, is available for DVD and digital download only by mail order on the Warner Bros.' Studio Online Store. General Spanky remains out of circulation.
On June 14, 2011, Vivendi Entertainment re-released 7 of the 8 DVD's from RHI/Genius Products' The Little Rascals - The Entire Collection. This would include all 79 episodes but would exclude the disc featuring the extras. Each of the volumes would be in chronological order and sold individually. Unlike the box set, these discs featured all of the Cabin Fever MGM restorations, eliminating the older Blackhawk Films transfers. Each featured about 10 episodes, while the 7th disc featured more episodes due to the fact the later episodes were shorter.
Public domain
The following Our Gang comedies are in the public domain, and have appeared on several different VHS and DVD releases over the years (somewhat questionably, some other titles have turned up in unauthorized VHS and DVD editions.)
- 1922: Our Gang; Fire Fighters; Young Sherlocks; One Terrible Day; A Quiet Street; Saturday Morning
- 1923: The Big Show; The Cobbler; The Champeen; Boys To Board; A Pleasant Journey; Giants Vs. Yanks; Back Stage; Dogs of War; Lodge Night; Stage Fright; July Days; Sunday Calm; No Noise; Derby Day
- 1924: Fast Company; Tire Trouble; Big Business; The Buccaneers; Seein' Things; Commencement Day; It's a Bear; Cradle Robbers; Jubilo, Jr.; High Society; The Sun Down Limited; Every Man for Himself; The Mysterious Mystery!
- 1925: The Big Town; Circus Fever; Dog Days; The Love Bug; Ask Grandma; Shootin' Injuns; Official Officers; Mary, Queen of Tots; Boys Will Be Joys; Better Movies; Your Own Back Yard; One Wild Ride
- 1926: Good Cheer; Buried Treasure; Monkey Business; Baby Clothes; Uncle Tom's Uncle; Thundering Fleas; Shivering Spooks; The Fourth Alarm; War Feathers
- 1928: Playin' Hookey
- 1930: Bear Shooters, School's Out
- 1937: Our Gang Follies of 1938
- 1940: Waldo's Last Stand
In-print Little Rascals DVDs (excluding public domain releases)
- Little Rascals Complete Collection: All Hal Roach talkies, with Barnum, Ringling, Inc., Dog Heaven, and Spook Spoofing as bonus shorts.
- Little Rascals Volume One: featuring the first 10 hal Roach talkies from Small Talk to Bear Shooters with the Cabin Fever restorations on the entire collection.
- Little Rascals Volume Two: Featuring the second 10 Hal Roach talkies from A Tough Winter to Big Ears with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom.
- Little Rascals Volume Three: Featuring the third 10 Hal Roach talkies from Shiver My Timbers to Birthday Blues with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom.
- Little Rascals Volume Four: Featuring the next 10 Hal Roach talkies from Aladan A Lamp to The First Round Up with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom.
- Little Rascals Volume Five: Featuring the next 10 Hal Roach talkies from Honky Donkey to Little Papa with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom.
- Little Rascals Volume Six: Featuring the next 13 Hal Roach talkies from Little Sinner to Glove Taps with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom. Due to the last 6 episodes being only 10 minutes, this disc featured 13 episodes instead of 10.
- Little Rascals Volume Seven: Featuring the final 17 Hal Roach talkies from Hearts Are Thumps to Hide and Shriek with the cabin Fever Restorations on the entire collectiom. Due to all except one episode being only 10 minutes, this disc featured 17 episodes instead of 10. Also, while Hearts are Thumps was made before Three Smart Boys, the latter was featured first on this release. Also, while Hide and Shriek was the last episode made, Canned Fishing, which was made prior to the last 6 episodes was featured last on this release.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Demoss, Robert (2008-11-09). "The Lucky Corner". http://www.theluckycorner.com/. Retrieved 2008-11-19.. This is the copyright date for this film. The dates given for shorts 131 through 135 in the Leonard Maltin/Richard W. Bann book The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang were based on data prepared at the beginning of the film season as projected release dates. Our Gang director Gus Meins stepped in to take over direction of Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland in mid-1934, leaving him unavailable to direct Our Gang. When Babes ran over schedule, James Parrott was called in to direct short #131 Washee Ironee; the others were delayed in shooting until after Babes wrapped in October, pushing the shooting and release dates for much of the 1934 – 35 season back several months from the projected and planned dates. This is based upon information from the Hal Roach Studios archives and the Library of Congress, including filings of documents (cutting continuity, title sheets, film copyright) done during the processes of production.
References
- Maltin, Leonard & Bann, Richard W (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life & Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 051-758325-9.
- Demoss, Robert (2008-11-28). "The Lucky Corner". http://www.theluckycorner.com/. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
External links
Categories:- Our Gang films
- Filmographies
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