''Bedtime Worries'' is a 1933 ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Robert F. McGowan Robert Francis McGowan (July 11, 1882 – January 27, 1955) was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the ''Our Gang'' short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933. Career Before moving to Los Angeles, ...

. It was the 124th (36th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short released.

Plot

On the day he is promoted to head clerk (or "head cluck," as Spanky mistakenly puts it), Spanky's father (

Emerson Treacy Emerson Treacy (September 17, 1900 – January 10, 1967) was a film, Broadway, and radio actor. Career Treacy was teamed with comedienne Gay Seabrook to form the double-act Treacy and Seabrook. The team was very successful on radio and in thea ...

) declares that it is time Spanky stopped sleeping in his parents' room and go to bed in his own room. Earlier, the gang asked Spanky if they could board Pete, their dog. Spanky could not do that. During his first night alone, Spanky envisions all sorts of imaginary horrors, from a bat (actually a moth) to "the boogeyman." Thus, when a burglar (

Harry Bernard Harry Bernard (January 13, 1878 – November 4, 1940) was an American actor and comedian best remembered for his appearance in numerous comedy films by Mack Sennett and Hal Roach. Harry Bernard appeared in over 150 films between 1915 and 1940, ...

) climbs into Spanky's window, the boy's dozing parents fail to believe his story. Passing himself off as

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...

, the burglar attempts to steal everything that is not nailed down. The homeless gang stop at Spanky's house to stay. He tells them Santa was visiting and when Stymie sees him, he realizes that this man is a burglar. The gang comes to the rescue and tackle down the burglar and the police arrive and take the burglar away.

Production notes

With

Bobby Hutchins Robert E. Hutchins (March 29, 1925 – May 17, 1945) was an American child actor who was a regular in the '' Our Gang'' short subjects series from 1927 to 1933. A native of Tacoma, Washington, he was given the nickname of Wheezer after running a ...

, Dickie Moore and Dorothy DeBorba having departed after the previous film ('' Mush and Milk''), Spanky is left to carry the next two films. New ''Our Gang'' members would not be introduced until 1934 ''Bedtime Worries'' was the first film since 1930 to employ only a minimal music score, relying more on dialogue than visual humor.

Cast

The Gang

* George McFarland as Spanky * Matthew Beard as Stymie *

Tommy Bond Thomas Ross Bond (September 16, 1926 – September 24, 2005) was an American actor, director, producer and writer. He was best known for his work as a child actor for two nonconsecutive periods on ''Our Gang'' (''Little Rascals'') comedies (fir ...

as Tommy * Jerry Tucker as Jerry * Georgie Billings as Georgie *

Pete the Pup Pete the Pup (original, 1924 – June 1930; second Pete, September 9, 1929 – January 28, 1946) was a character in Hal Roach's '' Our Gang'' comedies (later known as ''The Little Rascals'') during the 1930s, otherwise known as "Pete, the dog w ...

as Himself

Additional cast

as Emerson, Spanky's father *

Gay Seabrook Gay Seabrook (born Gladys Johnson; April 1, 1901 – April 18, 1970) was a film, Broadway and radio actress. Early years Seabrook was the daughter of Rufus Johnson, a newspaper circulation manager. Career In the mid 1920s, Seabrook portrayed M ...

as Gay, Spanky's mother *

as The burglar *

Billy Bletcher William Bletcher (September 24, 1894 – January 5, 1979) was an American actor. He was known for voice roles for various classic animated characters, most notably Pete in Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse short films and the Big Bad Wolf in Disney' ...

as Radio Voice (voice) *

Lee Phelps Lee Phelps (born Napoleon Bonaparte Kukuck; May 15, 1893 – March 19, 1953) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 600 films between 1917 and 1953, mainly in uncredited roles. He also appeared in three films that won the Acade ...

as Officer * Frank Terry as Radio voice (voice) * David Sharpe as Gay (double)

References

External links

* 1933 films American black-and-white films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films 1933 comedy films Our Gang films 1933 short films 1930s American films {{short-comedy-film-stub