''Helping Hands'' is a 1941 ''

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 Edward Cahn. It was the 201st ''Our Gang'' short released (202nd episode, 113th talking short, 114th talking episode, and 33rd MGM-produced episode).

Plot

Spanky receives a letter from his recently drafted older brother. Inspired by the letter's patriotic sentiments, Spanky and the gang organize a "home guard," prepared to do battle should the Nazis invade California. This attracts the attention of Army Major Sanford, who informs the kids that they would be of even greater service to Uncle Sam by looking out for fire hazards, collecting scrap metal and paper, and encouraging their parents to buy war stamps and bonds.

Cast

The Gang

* Mickey Gubitosi as Mickey * Darla Hood as Darla * Billy Laughlin as Froggy *

George McFarland George McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in the ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' shorts were later syndicated ...

as Spanky * Billie Thomas as Buckwheat

Additional cast

* Vincent Graeff as Sentree * James Gubitosi as Nick * Edward Soo Hoo as Lee Wong * Harvard Peck as Boy examined by Froggy * Leon Tyler as Swedish boy * Freddie Chapman as Kid complaining in line * Mickey Laughlin as Kid hit with baseball bat * Margaret Bert as Mickey's mother * Sam Flint as Major Sanford * Byron Foulger as Mr. Morton, head of civilian counsel * Joe Young as Clerk * Raphael Dolciame as Kid * Ralph Hodges as Kid * Mickey McGuire as Kid * Michael Miller as Kid * Tommy Dee Miller as Kid * Emmet Vogan as Darla's father (scene deleted)

Note

The film marked the first of the wartime propaganda-themed shorts in the ''Our Gang'' series. Critics and fans both have cited that the wartime films marked a noticeable decline in the series.

References

External links

* 1941 films American black-and-white films Films directed by Edward L. Cahn Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films 1941 comedy films Our Gang films 1941 short films 1940s American films {{short-comedy-film-stub