Free Eats

film no. 112

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 13 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Three (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 19:03. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:02 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, which shows Dorothy reacting to the fidgets.
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 On Parade (VHS) from NTA Home Entertainment: Released Apr. 1991. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening titles and crew credits are remade, but the end title is original. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 18:29, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:20.
The Little Rascals Book VI (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is the Blackhawk print.
The Little Rascals: Roamin' Holiday/Free Eats (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video: Released May 1991. This is a home movie print from Blackhawk.

technical details:

Production G-5.

Filmed November 6 to 19, 1931. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted February 11, 1932, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP2839. Renewed March 5, 1959, with registration no. R232203. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2027.

Released February 13, 1932. It was the 112th film in the series to be released. This release date derives from both the 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book and Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts. The 1992 edition gives the date as February 11, 1912. Also, Richard Lewis Ward's A History Of The Hal Roach Studios lists the release date as February 18, 1932.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Free Eats".'

King World Productions episode no. 13, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach: This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."
Directed by Raymond McCarey: This credit appears in the film.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: This credit appears in the film.
Edited by Richard Currier: This credit appears in the film.
Dialogue by H. M. Walker: This credit appears in the film.
Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay: He was Pete's owner and trainer.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: Indicated in the opening title card.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
Western Electric System: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

the gang
Matthew "Stymie" Beard as "Stymie": Featured role. He's initially the only one who hears the 'fidgets' talk.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Supporting role. He's given an extended scene in which he tells a story, and is seen off and on after that with the monkey. This was his series debut.
Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas as "Brisbane": Supporting role. He's basically the leader of the gang, and is the one that must be convinced that the babies can talk. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Breezy."
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheeze": Supporting role. He seems to be second-in-command and is with Brisbane most of the time. Listed as "Wheezer" in the cutting continuity.
Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba: Small part. She has a few lines, and hears the babies talk as they're climbing through a window. Her name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but is indicated in the cutting continuity.
Sherwood Bailey: Small part. He has a few lines, but is mostly an ensemble player in this film. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but is indicated in the cutting continuity.
other kids
Donald Haines: Bit part. He's seen at a table getting cake shoved into his face.
girl 111a: Bit part. She's at the same table to the left of Donald.
Patsy Britten: Bit part. She seems to be the girl to the left of girl 111a. Her work permit indicates that she worked on this film.
other kids: Extras. There are probably at least fifteen more kids at the fete. Most notable would be the boy that shoves the cake in Donald's face.

the animals:

Joe the Monk: Small part. This is presumably Joe, but possibly a different monkey. He's seen with Spanky.
Pete the Pup III as "Petey": Small part. He's seen off and on throughout the film, but is given very little attention. Listed as "Pete" in the cutting continuity.
Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

the adults:

Tiny Lawrence as "Waldemar": Featured role. He's the midget that does most of the talking, and gets into a wrestling match with Mr. Moran.
Major Mite as "Elmer": Featured role. His real name was Clarence C. Howerton. He's the smaller of the two midgets, and has a John Wayne voice. He steals jewelry while cuddling with various women.
Lillian Elliott as "Mrs. Stanford L. Clark": Supporting role. Brisbane calls her "Old Lady Clark." She organizes the charity fete simply to advance her husband's political clout.
Billy Gilbert as the head of the family of thieves: Supporting role. He's the leader of the band of thieves.
Otto Fries as the detective: Supporting role. He's in charge among the cops, and loses his watch.
Paul Fix as "Elvira," the other thief: Small part. He's dressed as a woman and serves as the wife in the family of thieves.
Del Henderson as "Mr. Moran": Small part. He wrestles with Waldemar to get his hundred dollar bill back.
May Wallace as Mrs. Clark's friend: Small part. She's usually paired up with Mrs. Clark.
Harry Bernard as "Flaherty": Small part. He's the uniformed cop that arrests the bad guys in the end.
Estelle Ettere as "Estelle," one of the guests: Small part. The 1977 edition and Maltin's earlier book both list her as Belle Hare. She jumps up and down with Elmer.
Lilyan Irene as one of the guests: Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. I'm assuming they mean the woman with Estelle Ettere, since I'm not familiar with her face.
Eddie Baker as the assistant detective: Bit part. He's seen with Otto Fries early in the film.
other adults: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The man that provides the voice of Elmer.
(2.) The butler. There might also be a second butler.
(3.) The maid.
(4.) The two motorcycle cops and the detective doing the driving when the cops arrive at the thieves' campsite.
(5.) Probably at least fifteen guests at the fete.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A1.) This is played over the opening titles and as we're introduced to the kids. The second verse is repeated as the babies are revealed to be midgets and the end title appears.
"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. The fast version of this piece is heard partially as the kids are talking and get up to leave. The more common version is played as Mr. Moran wrestles with Waldemar for his hundred dollar bill.
"Frühlingslied" aka "Spring Song" by Felix Mendelsohn: No. 6, Allegretto grazioso in A major, from Opus 62, "Songs Without Words" for piano, Book 5. The six songs of this opus were written between 1842 and 1844. This is played on the piano by Mrs. Clark as she's talking with May Wallace.
"Nothing At All" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. A short part of the beginning of this piece is played as we're introduced to the thieves.
"Antics" by Leroy Shield: A short part of the beginning of this piece is played as Billy Gilbert considers having the midgets attend the fete. The same part is played as the thieves start arguing with each other. Most of the piece is played as Wheezer and Dorothy discover that the babies can talk.
"Hurry" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1931. This is briefly played as the cops arrive at the thieves' campsite.
"Dash And Dot" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted 1930. This is played as the midgets steal the detective's watch. Most of it is repeated as Mrs. Clark and her friend pick up Elmer. Half of it is repeated as the butler struggles with Elmer.
"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. A relatively slow version of this tune is played as the kids arrive at the thieves' campsite.
"Give Us A Hand" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 4, 1931. The beginning of this piece is played the first time Stymie tells Brisbane that the babies can talk. The same portion is repeated at the end of the scene with Elmer and Estelle and her friend.
"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield: Most of this piece is played as Brisbane first talks to Spanky.
"Wishing" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. The second half of this piece is played as Spanky finishes his story. A short part is repeated as Spanky cuddles with the monkey.
"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "All The World (To Me)." This is played during the initial shots at the fete. It's repeated as Elmer is with Estelle and her friend. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.
"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played twice through as Billy Gilbert retrieves Waldemar and rejoins the other thieves.
piece 111: This effect piece is played and repeated several times as everybody realizes their jewelry is missing.
"Sliding" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Also known as "Swells." This is played and partially repeated as the kids overtake the midgets.
"Prelude" by Leroy Shield: A portion of this is played as the cops arrive to arrest the thieves and the kids.

miscellaneous:

12 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Three and a half weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Readin' And Writin'" (no. 111). The studio was closed during one of those weeks. The 'start' date for "Free Eats" arrived on Nov. 6th, and shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Nov. 19th. No shooting took place on Nov. 8th or 15th, which were both Sundays. Ray McCarey directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, three and a half weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began shooting "Spanky" (no. 113). The studio was closed during one of those weeks.

The gang's club is called the Frog Pond Country Club.

Is the newspaper held by Brisbane at the beginning of the film the Examiner?

Reel two begins as Elmer is passed from one woman to the other.

A story version of this film, entitled "Free-Eats," appeared in the book Our Gang Annual in 1933.

©May 22, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 7/4, 7/9, 8/30, 12/19.
2006 updates: 1/8, 2/11, 5/16, 10/25, 11/2.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22.
2008 updates: 3/26, 4/25, 7/6, 7/12, 7/24, 8/11, 11/6.

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