The First Seven Years

film no. 96

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Two (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage is 19:57. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:01 shown during the opening advertisement on all of the Cabin Fever VHS releases, which shows Mary Ann reacting.
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 11 & Vol. 12 (DVD) from Cabin Fever: Same contents as the Cabin Fever VHS releases. Also released as part of The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited (6 DVD set).
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.
The Little Rascals Volume 2 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: Released 1985. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title and crew credits are remade and the end title derives from one of the one-reelers from around 1936 or 1937. The picture quality is good. The original footage totals 19:19.
The Little Rascals Book X (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. Four clips from this film are included. The first clip, lasting 0:17, shows Jackie and his mother, with music and narration added. The second clip, lasting 0:03, shows Jackie flirting with Mary Ann. The third clip, lasting 0:04, shows Mary Ann accepting Jackie as her boyfriend. The last clip, lasting 0:51, shows Kennedy advising Jackie, and Mary Ann rejecting him, with music and narration added.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - Memories From Little Rascals Family Theater (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 0:04 is included, showing Jackie and Mary Ann.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 0:04 is included, showing a closeup of Chubby, with narration added.
The Our Gang Story (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: VHS released 1994. DVD released May 21, 2002. Also included as part of Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack (4 DVD set), released Mar. 21, 2001, Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack (5 VHS/DVD set), released Feb. 2002 (VHS) and Mar. 2004 (DVD), and The Best Of Our Gang Volume 1 (DVD) released June 1, 2004. A clip lasting 1:54 is included, showing Jackie's caveman scene. Another clip lasting 1:51 is included, showing Wheezer rolling down the hill. Both clips have narration added.

technical details:

Production G-30.

Filmed October 28 to November 16, 1929. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Also filmed in Spanish as "Los pequeños papas" with the same production number. Reportedly, there were also French and German versions made. The picture negative for the Spanish version survives, but not the soundtrack. The Spanish version is 1,945 ft.

Copyrighted January 20, 1930, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP1004. Renewed June 24, 1957, with registration no. R194353. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2025.

Released March 1, 1930. It was the 96th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler. (In actuality, there is a little bit of silent footage in this film.)

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "The First Seven Years".'

Opening title in Spanish version: 'Hal Roach presenta Sus Actores Chiquitos en "Los Pequeños Papas".'

King World Productions episode no. 18, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: This is how Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, and designates it as "A Robert McGowan Production."
Directed by Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. He's also credited in the Spanish version.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.
Film Editor: Richard Currier: This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.
Story Editor: H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.
Story by Robert F. McGowan: This credit doesn't appear in the film.
Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.
Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay: He was Pete's owner and trainer.
Teacher: Fern Carter
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title card.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
A Victor Recording, Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Jackie Cooper as "Jackie" aka "Jack": Lead role. He's in love with Mary Ann, and fights a duel over her. He's identified by his full name in the cutting continuity. He plays "Juanito" in the Spanish version. According to the press release for this film, Cooper replaced Harry Spear as the latest 'good little bad boy' of the gang.
Donald Haines as "Speck": Featured role. He's Jackie's rival. Studio publicity for this film indicates that he was not a regular member of the troupe. He's identified in the cutting continuity as "Donny." He plays "Pecas" in the Spanish version.
Mary Ann Jackson: Supporting role. She's the girl being fought over. She's identified as "Mary Ann" in the cutting continuity, though her name doesn't show up in the dialogue. She plays "Maria" in the Spanish version.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Supporting role. The nickname isn't used in this film, but it appears in the cutting continuity. He's Speck's trainer, and is involved in many of the gags. His usual character name was used in the Spanish version.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer": Supporting role. His big scene is the one where he rolls down a hill in some metal piping. He plays "Chico" in the Spanish version.
Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby": Supporting role. He's Jackie's trainer and his best friend. He plays "Gordito" in the Spanish version.
other kids: Bit parts.
(1.) The girl who plays Farina's 'wife.' Maltin lists her as Jannie Hoskins in his earlier book, The Great Movie Shorts. She's listed in the cutting continuity as 'Colored Girl.'
(2.) The black baby parented by Farina and his 'wife.'
(3.) A baby shown with a woman in a picture on the wall of Farina's house. This is clearly shown in publicity photos.

the animals:

Pete the Pup (no. 1) as "Petie": Supporting role. He's present through most of the film, but is given only a few gags here and there. The spelling of his nickname derives from the cutting continuity. He's listed in studio publicity for this film as "Pete, the pup."
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

Edgar Kennedy as "Mr. Kennedy" aka "Kennedy the Cop" aka "Officer Kennedy": Supporting role. He advises Jackie on how acquire a wife. He's listed as "El Policia" in the Spanish continuity.
Joy Winthrop as "Granny": Supporting role. She gives Jackie some fancy duds to wear, and later pummels Speck's dad.
Otto Fries as Speck's father: Small part. He holds Jackie's arms so his son can beat him up.
Emma Reed as Farina's mom: Bit part. She swallows her clothes pins when she sees what's happening to her clothes. She's identified in the cutting continuity as "Colored Mammy." She's listed as "Negrita" in the Spanish continuity.
other adults: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) Jackie's mother. She's identified in the cutting continuity only as "Mother."
(2.) The stunt double for Granny.
(3.) The person driving the car as Wheezer rolls down the hill.
(4.) Somebody in the background putting up laundry as Wheezer goes into the pipe.
(5.) A pedestrian shown in the background as Jackie's face is against the fence.
(6.) A woman shown in a picture on the wall of Farina's house. Another picture shows another woman, this one with a baby. These are both clearly shown in publicity photos.

the music:

music in alternate prints
"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson: Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon. This is an instrumental version that's played over the opening titles. Maltin & Bann say that there isn't any music at all, so it may have been added later. The version in the Blackhawk print has been shortened, so this also suggests that it wasn't an original part of the film.

the locations:

Maltin & Bann state that this was filmed in the residential backyards of Culver City, but they're not specific.

the house: The house used in the scene with Mary Ann, Jackie and Donald, has the number 3415 on it, as revealed in publicity photos.
the park bench: Not the same as on the northwest corner of Motor Avenue and Woodbine Street. It advertises Midway Auto something on Sepulveda Boulevard.

miscellaneous:

18 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after shooting finished for "Shivering Shakespeare" (no. 95), the 'start' date arrived for "The First Seven Years" on Oct. 28th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Nov. 16th. No shooting took place on Oct. 27th, Nov. 3rd, or Nov. 10th, which were all Sundays. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, almost two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "When The Wind Blows" (no. 97).

Reel two opens with Jackie fencing with the dummy.

Studio documentation sometimes identifies this film as "The 1st Seven Years."

According to studio documentation, this film ran 20 minutes and 9 seconds. The Spanish version was 21 minutes and 6 seconds.

©May 6, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 5/16, 7/4, 7/9, 8/27, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/3, 1/8, 1/16, 2/11, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 1/19, 2/26, 7/6, 7/12, 7/20, 11/6.
2009 updates: 5/17, 7/23.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.