Choo-Choo!

technical details:

Production G-7.

Release no. C-437.

Filmed January 25 to February 4, 1932. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared on March 14, 1932.

Cutting continuity submitted March 31, 1932.

Copyrighted May 2, 1932, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP3005. Renewed May 19, 1959, with registration no. R236742. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2027.

Released May 7, 1932. It was the 114th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

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

King World Productions episode no. 4, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed without the exclamation point.

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 Robert F. McGowan

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

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.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Recording Engineer: James Greene

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

general manager - Henry Ginsberg

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien

sound department - Elmer Raguse

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 - Probably Don Sandstrom.

writing - Robert F. McGowan probably headed story development, while Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Frank Terry, Raymond McCarey, Billy Gilbert and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom, Thomas Benton Roberts and Bob Saunders were probably involved in this capacity.

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

animation - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Supporting role. His character is silent, except for the special introductory title reading 'With Spanky,' in which he says 'Hello, folks!' It's possible that he plays the toddler among the runaways, since that character is only seen in longshot, and Spanky switches clothes with him.

Matthew "Stymie" Beard

Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He brings Pete to bed with him, and accidentally releases the monkey.

Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas

Supporting role. Neither nickname was used in this film, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "Breezy." He's basically the leader of the gang.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy"

Supporting role. She switches clothes with Sherwood.

Sherwood Bailey as "Spud"

Supporting role. He switches clothes with Dorothy. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Sherwood."

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He points out the toupee to the other passengers, plays with the fountain pen, and turns on the steam.

Harold "Bouncy" Wertz

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't turn up in the dialogue. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Bouncer." He has no dialogue and doesn't do anything specific.

Donald Haines

Small part. He's the spokesman among the runaways.

Georgie Billings as "George"

Small part. He's one of the runaways, and has a bit of dialogue.

Wally Albright

Small part. He's one of the runaways, and has a couple of lines of dialogue. This was his series debut.

Jackie Williams

Small part. He's Spanky's counterpart among the runaways.

Reggie Streeter and Clayton Lawrence

Small part. These are the two remaining runaways, who are only seen in longshot.

Patsy Britten

Extra. She's one of the orphans on the train in the early scene, sitting about midway on the right side.

other kids

Initially, there are about twenty additional orphans on the train, including one named "Kenneth." A casting directory lists this film in the credits for Bruce and Edward Cooke without specifying which of the two brothers appeared. Among the orphans, it appears that at least one of the brothers is present, but familial resemblence makes it difficult to say which one. And lastly, the scene at the station shows a kid running past.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III as "Pete" aka "Petey"

Supporting role. The kids keep bringing him out of the animal car, much to the annoyance of the conductors.

Joe the Monk

Small part. This is presumably Joe. He lets loose the rest of the animals and starts the fireworks.

Leo

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

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.

(1.) The bear, which appears to be quite young.

(2.) The mule.

(3.) The pony.

(4.) The cow (more like a calf).

(5.) Two goats.

(6.) Two ducks.

(7.) Two chickens.

the adults:

Del Henderson as "Mr. Henderson"

Lead role. It's his job to transport the boys, even though he hates kids.

Harry Bernard as one of the pullman conductors

Supporting role. He warns Henderson several times.

Hayes Robertson as the porter

Supporting role. This is the black man that tries to keep Pete out of the Pullman car. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Porter."

Estelle Ettere as Dorothy's mom

Supporting role. The 1977 edition lists her as Belle Hare. She has a perpetual headache, which isn't helped when her daughter switches clothes with Sherwood.

Otto Fries as the novelties salesman

Small part. He's drunk, and gives the boys noisemakers in the middle of the night.

Lyle Tayo as the secretary

Small part. She assigns Henderson with the task of transporting the boys.

Silas D. Wilcox as one of the pullman conductors

Bit part. He's only seen from a distance in the terminal scene, but it looks reasonably like him.

Eddie Baker as the cop

Bit part. He turns the boys in at the station.

Oliver Hardy as the voice-over for Otto Fries

Bit part. This is heard as Fries reacts to the bear.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The woman in charge of the orphans.

(2.) The man delivering the telegram.

(3.) The woman assisting with the orphans.

(4.) At least 18 additional passengers shown inside the passenger car, which may or may not be all of the same people shown in the Pullman car. Among them, according to Maltin & Bann, are Bud Fine and Baldwin Cooke, but I haven't been able to verify this.

(5.) A doctor and three nurses shown at the end of the film.

(6.) Various passengers and pedestrians seen in the background of exterior shots at the train station and in the terminal.

the music:

"Fanfare" by Leroy Shield

This is played over the MGM lion.

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A1.) Most of this piece is played over the opening titles and as we're introduced to the boys.

"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. Most of this piece is played during the scene on the train with the orphans.

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

This is played as the gang meets the runaway orphans.

"Candy Candy" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. A very short bit of this piece is played as the gang switches clothing with the runaways.

"Bride's Song" by Leroy Shield

Most of this is played during the scene inside the terminal.

piece 108

This is played over the end title.

the locations:

Santa Fe Railroad Station

This is near the 1st Street Viaduct, and is used during the outdoor scenes.

miscellaneous:

10 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Five weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Spanky" (no. 113). The studio had been closed for about a week and a half during this period. The 'start' date for "Choo-Choo!" arrived on Jan. 25th, and shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Feb. 4th. No shooting took place on Jan. 24th or 31st, which were both Sundays. After this, five weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "The Pooch" (no. 115). The studio was closed during one of those weeks.

The original script for this film reveals that, prior to what we see at the beginning, the kids are shooed off of a stationary train car where they've been pretending to be taking a ride.

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

Presumably, the scene inside the terminal was filmed on Tuesday, January 26th, since this is what the calendar on the wall says. The scene showing all the orphans on the train was probably shot on the 26th as well, since this is the only date from this period on Patsy Britten's work permit.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B380.

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 8 (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 lasts 20:26. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs. There's also a clip lasting 0:12 included in the opening advertisement of all the Cabin Fever VHS releases, which shows Dorothy pulling Spud's hair.

The Little Rascals Volume 8: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment

Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), released Aug. 15, 2000.

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 7 & Vol. 8 (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 Digitally Remastered - Collector's Edition III (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment

Released Nov. 15, 2005. This derives from the Cabin Fever release.

The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products

Released Oct. 28, 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version.

Little Rascals: Choo-Choo! & Pay As You Exit from Cabin Fever

Canadian release.

The Little Rascals Book XII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video

This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. Entitled "Choo-Choo" without the exclamation point. The opening and end titles and the crew credits are remade. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 19:42, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:36.

The Little Rascals: Choo-Choo/Fishy Tales (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video

Released May 30, 1991. This is the Blackhawk print.

The Best Of Spanky (DVD) from Genius Entertainment

Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set). This is a Famous Kids Comedies print from Official Films, included both as a colorized print, and in the original black-and-white. The copyright year is given as 1935. The original footage totals 19:43, while the original soundtrack totals 20:18. The picture quality is very good.

Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment

Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. Four clips from this film are included. The first, shown during the opening sequence, lasts 0:07, and shows Pete with the sparkler in his mouth. The second lasts 0:02, and shows Mr. Henderson getting ink on his face. The third lasts 0:04, and shows Henderson slapping and getting slapped by Estelle Ettere. The fourth lasts 0:41, and shows the fireworks. These clips have music added.

Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor

A clip lasting 4:01 is included, showing various bits of the early part of the film, with narration added.

© Robert Demoss.