''Spanky'' is a 1932 '' Our Gang'' short

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 113th (25th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. The film was based on ''Our Gang'' co-star George "Spanky" McFarland.

Plot

Although this is a remake of a 1920s silent ''Our Gang'' episode called '' Uncle Tom's Uncle'', the main character is Spanky. Early scenes of this film were part of Spanky's screen test taken back in April 1931 during his first visit to Hal Roach Studios, which included him "bug hunting." Meanwhile, Spanky's brother Breezy Brisbane and the rest of the gang are putting on a play of

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U ...

. At the same time, Brisbane is forced to babysit Spanky while their mother goes on a shopping trip. Also, Spanky's father refuses to spend money in order to keep the house clean, although he has an enormous amount of cash hidden in a secret door embedded in the wall. Spanky disrupts the play during 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 rotten 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, forcing them to give back the money. The gang helps pick up the money and the father promises to put the money in the bank and spend more on mom and the kids.

Cast

The Gang

* George McFarland as Spanky * Sherwood Bailey as Sherwood 'Spud' / Aunt Ophelia * Matthew Beard as Stymie / Uncle Tom / Topsy * Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy / Little Eva * Bobby Hutchins as Wheezer / Marks the Lawyer *

Kendall McComas Kendall McComas (October 29, 1916 – October 15, 1981) was an American child actor. Career Born in Holton, Kansas, McComas first appeared in the '' Mickey McGuire'' short subjects series as a member of Mickey McGuire's gang and stayed throug ...

as Breezy Brisbane / Simon Legree *

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 wi ...

as Petie

Additional cast

Douglas Greer Charles Douglas "Turkey Egg" Greer (May 21, 1921 – January 6, 2016) was an American child actor. Career and war service Greer was a semi-regular actor in '' Our Gang'' between 1930 and 1932, but also appeared in some feature films besides the ...

as Speck, tough kid in the audience * Bobby Mallon as Other tough kid in the audience *

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects ...

as Spanky's father

Production notes

''Spanky'' is a remake of the 1926 silent entry '' Uncle Tom's Uncle''. Bobby Mallon appeared in both films. On the syndicated television print, 12 minutes of this short, which are the scenes of ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', were edited out in 1971 making the film only nine minutes long. This was due to material deemed racially insensitive toward African Americans, as the play starts with a number of the children in blackface, and it includes Stymie getting horsewhipped by the slavemaster. ''Spanky'' has been released on VHS and DVD in unedited form.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0023497, Spanky 1932 films 1932 comedy films American black-and-white films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films Our Gang films 1930s American films 1930s English-language films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer short films