Honky-Donkey

technical details:

Production G-22.

Release no. C-826.

Filmed probably in April 1934.

Title sheet prepared by William Terhune on April 28, 1934.

Cutting continuity submitted May 24, 1934.

Copyrighted May 25, 1934, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP4750. Renewed August 30, 1961, with registration no. R281108. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2029.

Released June 2, 1934. It was the 129th film in the series to be released.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Honky-Donkey".'

King World Productions episode no. 32b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed without the hyphen.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Gus Meins

This credit appears in the film.

Photography: Francis Corby

This credit appears in the film. The Blackhawk print adds the A. S. C. designation to his name.

Film Editor: Bert Jordan

This credit appears in the film.

Recording Engineer: Harry Baker

This credit appears in the film.

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.

NRA

The National Recovery Administration emblem is shown in both the opening and end titles.

studio personnel

general manager - Henry Ginsberg

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien

film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

process department - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Probably Gordon Douglas.

writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Frank Terry, Billy Gilbert, James Parrott, Charlie Hall, Robert McKenzie, Frank Tashlin and Gordon Douglas 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.

the kids:

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Spank"

Featured role. He and Scotty are giving plenty of funny dialogue throughout the film, as they serve as sideline observers.

Scotty Beckett as "Scotty" aka "Scott"

Featured role. He accompanies Spanky throughout the film, and has his fair share of dialogue.

Wally Albright as "Wallace"

Featured role. He's the rich kid who's pampered by his mother, but would rather drive down some alleys.

Matthew "Stymie" Beard

Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He's the only one who seems to have any influence over the mule.

Tommy Bond as "Tommy"

Supporting role. He has a few lines of dialogue, but is mostly an ensemble player.

Willie Mae Walton as "Buckwheat"

Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Willie Mae Taylor. She's given little of anything specific to do, but is \ present through most of the proceedings.

Philbrook Lyons

Supporting role. He's purely an ensemble player in this film, which was his last.

the animals:

mule 111 as "Algebra"

Featured role. Credited as Dinah the Mule by Maltin & Bann. She'll move only when somebody sneezes, and stop only when a bell is rung.

Leo

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

the adults:

Don Barclay as "Barclay," the chauffeur

Lead role. He's basically the star of the film, and sneezes at all the wrong times.

Julia Griffith as "Cynthia," the household servant

Supporting role. She tries to remove the mule from the house. The 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book, and Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts, credit the part to Natalie Moorhead.

Charles McAvoy as the cop

Small part. He helps Barclay put the mule in the car.

William Wagner as the realtor

Small part. He chases the kids out of the vacant lot.

Bess Flowers as the maid

Bit part. She appears briefly with Griffith when they first see the mule and the kids on the property.

Pete Gordon as the bike rider

Bit part. He rides his bike into a mailbox.

Mickey Daniels as the voice-over for the mule

Bit part. His distinctive laugh is used twice for the mule.

other adults

Supporting roles, small part, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The woman who plays Wallace's mother, seen pampering her son at the start of the film, and returning towards the end.

(2.) "Julius," the butler, who is unsuccessful at gaining control over the mule.

(3.) The doorman who lets Wally's mother into the department store.

(4.) The cab driver who drops Wally's mother off at the house.

(5.) Various pedestrians shown in the street scenes.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A14.) This is played over the opening titles and as we're introduced to Wally and his mother and Barclay. A small portion is repeated at the final scene at the fountain and during the end title.

the locations:

Bagley Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

In the longshot in which the car pulls into the alley, it's leaving Bagley Avenue just north of Venice Boulevard in Palms. The alley stretches between Bagley Avenue and Cardiff Avenue. Seen in the background on the corner of Bagley and Venice is Ayres Apparel Shop on the Northwest corner of Venice and Bagley. This building had been occupied by Turner's Style Shop when "The Smile Wins" (no. 66) was made. Also shown in this shot is a portion of the west side of Main Street in Culver City, with the top of the Culver Hotel rising above.

Hal E. Roach Studios

The shot of the mule chasing the woman into the studio pond was filmed in front of the administration building. It also appears that the remaining street scenes were shot on the New York exterior set at the studio.

miscellaneous:

Reel one ends with the line "Well, give him time."

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B454.

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 1 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume One (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 16:26. 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 the kids on the merry-go-round.

The Little Rascals Volume 1: Collector's Edition (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment

Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of The Little Rascals Volumes 1-5: Collector's Edition (5 VHS set) and The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's Edition (10 VHS set), both released Aug. 15, 2000.

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (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 Volumes 1-2 (DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment

Released Aug. 15, 2000. Same contents as the Cabin Fever DVD.

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 Book XXIII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video

This is a home movie print from Blackhawk entitled "Honkey-Donkey." The opening and end titles, and crew credits, are remade. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 15:48, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:30.

The Little Rascals: Honkey Donkey/Sprucin' Up (VHS) from Republic Pictures Home Video

Released May 1991. This is the Blackhawk print. The original footage in this version totals 14:12, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:30.

Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment

Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:03 is included, showing the mailman riding his bike into the mailbox. Another clip lasting 0:01 is included, showing Don Barclay getting kicked by the mule. A third clip lasting 0:07 is included, showing Barclay sliding down the banister. All three clips have music added.

© Robert Demoss.