Wiggle Your Ears

film no. 84

availability:

The Little Rascals XVIII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video

This copy is a home movie print from Blackhawk, and includes a textual introduction. The inter-titles and the soundtrack are original. The picture quality is good. The print totals 20:51, with 19:56 of it original footage. Almost all of the original film is included.

Our Gang Volume #13 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This copy is also the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out and a non-original soundtrack. The picture isn't quite as sharp as on the other copy. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film probably credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit probably appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Probably indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

• director-general - Leo McCarey
• general manager - Warren Doane
• assistant general manager - L. A. French
• secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
• assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien
• construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
• laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
• optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• editing - Bert Jordan and William Terhune were among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Hal Yates and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll.
• animal training - Harry Lucenay and Tony Campanaro were probably among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Mary Ann Jackson as "Mary"

Lead role. She's rejected by Harry, only to end up with Joe.

Harry Spear as "Harry"

Featured role. He leaves Mary for Jean, but his ears get cramped.

Jean Darling as "Jean"

Featured role. She marries Harry and ends up henpecking him.

Joe Cobb as "Joe" aka "Joseph"

Supporting role. He spends the film trying to learn how to wiggle his ears.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. He helps Joe and gives the raspberries repeatedly.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Small part. He suggests to Mary that she become a vamp.

boy 082

Bit part. The preacher in the dream sequence. Previously seen as the boy that ends up with Joe's dollar in "Noisy Noises" (no. 82).

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Petie"

Supporting role. He appears off and on, most notably retrieving Harry for Mary Ann.

cat 080

Bit part. This is the cat that licks Harry's face.

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

other animals

Bit part. The white rabbit that gives Joe his inspiration.

bugwatch

There are various flies buzzing around, including the one around the limburger and the one that lands on Mary's cheek.

the adults:

the music:

"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson

Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. This version is an instrumental. This is played over the opening titles. It would be heard several more times through the first talkie season.

piece 084a

This is played while Harry kicks Mary's rear end, and while Mary fixes the wheel. A second version is played as Harry is ordering Mary to buy him ice cream.

"My Man" by Maurice Yvain

Originally titled "Mon Homme." English lyrics were added by Channing Pollack in 1920. Performed in the Ziegfeld Follies by Fanny Brice in 1921. An instrumental version is played while Mary pushes Harry in the cart and cracks a nut for him. A second version is played as Mary cracks some more nuts. It's played again as Harry takes the ring from Mary.

piece 084c

This is played during the scene where Joe tries to wiggle his ears and Farina smells the limburger.

piece 084d

This is played as Harry rides down the hill. A second version is played as Harry and Jean ride down the hill.

piece 084e

This is played while Jean and Harry flirt, and as Mary shows up with the ice cream. A shorter version of this piece is played as Harry shakes the ice cream out of his clothes and Pete eats it.

"Jealous" by Jack Little, Tommy Malie and Dick Finch

This is played as Jean and Harry eat their ice cream, while Mary pushes them in the cart. The song was featured in Hugh J. Ward's Christmas Fairy Pantomime Cinderella. It was a number three hit for Marion Harris in 1924.

piece 084g

This is played as Jean invites Harry to her house.

piece 084h

This is played as Mary laments and Pete sympathizes.

"The Whistler And His Dog" by Arthur Pryor

Published in 1905. In this film, a portion of this song is played as Pete retrieves Harry. This is a different section than the familiar part heard in "The Pinch Singer" (no. 143).

piece 084j

This is played as Harry requests Mary to sew his pants. Part of it is replayed as Harry tells Mary he's gonna wiggle his ears for Jean from now on.

piece 084k

This is played as Mary sews Harry's pants.

piece 084l

This is played as Mary cries and eats Joe's donut.

piece 084m

This is played as Mary talks with her mouth full.

piece 084n

This is played as Mary leaves and Joe vows to wiggle his ears. Another part of this piece is played as Joe demonstrates his ear wiggling for Mary. The two parts don't sound like the same piece until one watches "Bear Shooters" (no. 98), in which the whole piece is played.

piece 084o

This is played as Harry wiggles his ears and Mary erases the love message on the fence.

piece 084p

This is played as Farina suggests that Mary become a flapper. Meanwhile, Jean pets Harry's hair. It's replayed as Mary gets into her flapper outfit.

"Me-ow" by Mel B. Kaufman

This is played as the cat licks Harry's face.

"The Vamp" by Byron Gay

Published in 1919. Also known as "Vamp A Little Lady." Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra had a number 3 hit with this song in 1919, with vocals by Billy Murray and Harry Macdonough. This is played while Mary puts on her makeup, and continues as Harry and Jean get engaged, and as Mary vamps Harry. There's a wedding bell effect included in this edit.

"Here Comes The Bride" by Richard Wagner

Music written in 1841 as the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin." Played while Harry and Jean get married.

piece 084r

This is the solemn organ music played while Harry and Jean exchange their vows.

"Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

From "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from 1842. A very short piece of this is played as Harry and Jean walk from the altar.

piece 084s

This is played as Mary laments. It's very much in the style of "Wishing" by Leroy Shield.

piece 084t

This is played as Joe hits upon the idea of using string to wiggle his ears.

piece 084u

This is played as Harry discovers his ears are cramped.

piece 084v

This is the tune with the baby effects that's played as Jean orders Harry to take care of the baby.

"Toddling" by Erno Rapee and Dr. William Axt

This is played as Joe pushes Mary and wiggles his ears for her, and continues as Harry starts pushing Jean. It's played again as the two couples give each other looks and Joe wiggles his ears.

piece 084x

This is the carhorn bit that's played as the two couples first meet.

piece 084y

This is the brass bit that plays as the film irises out.

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