''Sprucin' Up'' is a 1935 '' Our Gang''

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

Gus Meins Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

. It was the 137th ''Our Gang'' short that was released.

Plot

Hoping to get on the good side of the new truant officer (

Dick Elliott Richard Damon Elliott (April 30, 1886 – December 22, 1961) was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death. Early years Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Career Elliott p ...

), the gang goes out of their way to impress the man's cute daughter (

Marianne Edwards Marianne Edwards (December 9, 1930 – November 8, 2013) was an American child actress who appeared in the ''Our Gang'' film series from 1934 to 1936. She also appeared in several feature films in the 1930s, including ''Gold Diggers Of 1933'', ...

), even unto making such sacrifices as taking baths, combing hair, shining shoes, and washing behind the ears. Both Spanky and Alfalfa pay a social call on Marianne, and before long, the two lifelong pals have become romantic rivals. Ultimately, Spanky and Alfalfa stage an athletic competition to determine who is the better man, an undertaking with prickly results.

Note

''Sprucin' Up'' was originally going to be known as ''Good Night Ladies''. According to The Lucky Corner Web Site, the boys can be identified in the scene where they are sitting on the curb, from left to right as: Harold Switzer, Robert Lenz, Alvin Buckelew, Scotty Beckett, George "Spanky" McFarland, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, and Donald Proffitt.

Cast

The Gang

* George McFarland as Spanky * Carl Switzer as Alfalfa *

Scotty Beckett Scott Hastings Beckett (October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor in the ''Our Gang'' shorts and later costarred on ''Rocky Jones, Space Ranger''. Early life and career Born in Oakland, Califo ...

as Scotty *

Billie Thomas Billie may refer to: People * Billie Allen (1925-2015), American actress * Billie Bird (1908-2002), American actress and comedian * Billie Burke (1884-1970), American actress * Billie Joe Armstrong (born 1972), American singer and guitarist for ...

as Buckwheat * Alvin Buckelew as Alvin * Donald Proffitt as Our Gang member * Robert Lentz as Our Gang member *

Harold Switzer Harold Frederick Switzer (January 16, 1925 – April 14, 1967) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing in the ''Our Gang'' short subjects series as an extra. He was the older brother of gang member Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, one ...

as Harold *

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 Himself

Additional cast

as Miss Jones, the new girl * Jerry Tucker as Percy *

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, ...

as Officer Riley * James P. Burtis as Real estate agent *

as Mr. Jones, father *

Bess Flowers Bess Flowers (November 23, 1898 – July 28, 1984) was an American actress best known for her work as an extra in hundreds of films. She was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in more than 350 feature films and numerou ...

as Scotty's mother *

Leota Lorraine Leota Lorraine (1899–1974) was an American film actress. A leading lady and supporting player of the silent era. After the introduction of sound she generally played minor, often uncredited, parts. A stint as Mary Boland's stand-in led to h ...

as Spanky's mother *

Lillian Rich Lillian Rose Rich Woodland, more commonly known as Lillian Rich (1 January 1900 – 5 January 1954) was an English-born actress of the silent era. She appeared in more than 60 films between 1919 and 1940. Biography Rich was born in Herne ...

as Mrs. Jones, mother * Gertrude Sutton as Alfalfa's mother * Viola Richard as Second pedestrian * Lester Dorr as First pedestrian *

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 Disne ...

as Scotty's father (scenes deleted) *

Blanche Payson Blanche Payson (born Mary Elizabeth Bush, September 20, 1881 – July 4, 1964) was an American film actress. Biography Payson was born as Mary Elizabeth Bush to Thomas and Sarah Bush. She first attracted public notice when she served as p ...

as Scotty's mother (scenes deleted)

References

External links

* 1935 films American black-and-white films 1935 comedy films Films directed by Gus Meins Hal Roach Studios short films Our Gang films 1935 short films 1930s American films {{short-comedy-film-stub