technical details:
Production K-22.
Release no. C-740.
Filmed May 11 to 14, 1938. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Title sheet prepared by Elmer Raguse on May 31, 1938.
Cutting continuity submitted June 1, 1938.
Music cue sheet prepared June 11, 1938.
Copyrighted June 16, 1938, by Loew's Incorporated. Registration no. LP8125. Renewed December 2, 1965, with
registration no. R374808. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2033.
Released June 18, 1938. It was the 169th film in the series to be released. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of
MGM set a projected release date for this production of May 21, 1938.
All-talking one-reeler.
Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Hide And Shriek".'
King World Productions episode no. 46b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Credited in the film as a presenter.
- Production Manager: S. S. Van Keuren
- Maltin & Bann state that the original script credits S. S. Keuren.
- Directed by Gordon Douglas
- This credit appears in the film.
- Assistant Director: Lawrence Tarver
- This credit derives from studio documentation.
- Photography: Norbert Brodine
- According to Maltin & Bann. This credit doesn't appear in the film.
- Film Editor: William Ziegler
- This credit appears in the film.
- Sound: William Randall
- This credit appears in the film.
- Script Clerk: Morton
- This credit derives from the daily film reports, which don't reveal his first name.
- 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.
- Approved by the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
- Certificate no. 4315.
- studio personnel
- vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren
- secretary-treasurer - Mat O'Brien
- Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver
- assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber
- film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse
- story department - Jack Jevne
- property department - W. L. Stevens
- process department - Roy Seawright
- still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
- musical director - Marvin Hatley
- men's wardrobe - Harry Black
- paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- school teacher - Fern Carter
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - James Parrott, Hal Law, Felix
Adler and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze was probably
involved in this capacity. He's specifically referred to in the script, which makes use of the term 'Oelze gag.'
- animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably
among the animal trainers.
the kids:
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa" aka "X-10, Sooper-Slooth"
- Lead role. He runs a detective agency and leads himself and his assistants into an amusement park haunted house.
- Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky" aka "X6"
- Featured role. He and Buckwheat become Alfalfa's assistants and join him at the haunted house.
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat" aka "X6 1/2"
- Featured role. He accompanies Porky through most of the film.
- Leonard Landy
- Small part. He's accused of stealing Darla's candy. The "Percy" moniker does not turn
up in the dialogue. However, this is the name given to him in both the script and the press release. He also appears in a
photograph during the opening titles in the location previously occupied by Spanky.
- Gary Jasgur
- Small part. He accompanies Leonard throughout the film. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. They
also indicate that the "Junior" moniker was used, but it doesn't turn up in the dialogue. He's referred
to as "Gary" in the script. He also appears in a photograph during the opening titles in the location previously
occupied by Baby Patsy May.
- Darla Hood
- Small part. She thinks that the little kids have stolen her candy.
the animals:
- Jiggs as "X20"
- Small part. He helps Buckwheat and Porky to catch the criminals. Maltin & Bann list Von the Dog, but
this is a different dog.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- Pete the Pup IV
- He's not actually in the film, but his photo is shown during the opening titles.
- other animals
- The press release mentions a dog named Major in addition to Jiggs, but if he was involved, then he
didn't wind up in the film.
the adults:
- Billy Bletcher as the voice on the record
- Small part. The boys think he's real, rather than just a recording.
- Fred Holmes as the janitor
- Small part. He's at the doorway to the haunted house.
- other adults
- Bit parts. The only other adults in the film are the two moving men, including one named
"Al." One of them is referred to in the script as "Driver," while the other one is
referred to as "2nd Driver." There are also various people shown in photographs, clippings and posters on the
walls of Alfalfa's detective agency.
the music:
- "Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
- Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
- (A17.) A small portion of this piece is played over the opening titles. The very end is played over the end title.
- "The Ghost Frolic" by T. Marvin Hatley
- Copyrighted Oct. 1, 1935. A portion of this piece is played by the skeleton at the organ. The actual
performer was Chauncey Haines. There were actually three takes recorded. Take 1, at 250 feet, was no good. Take 2,
at 230 feet with a 'moderato' tempo, was deemed to be okay. Take 3, at 170 feet and played moderately fast, was
also deemed to be okay.
- unused music
- "Finn's Saloon" by T. Marvin Hatley
- Copyrighted Mar. 20, 1937. This is another piece recorded by Chauncey Haines. Take 1, at 200 feet, was no
good. Take 2, at 195 feet and played in a 'mysterioso' style, was deemed to be okay.
- "Grab The Deed" by T. Marvin Hatley
- Copyrighted Mar. 20, 1937. This is another piece recorded by Chauncey Haines. Take 1, at 65 feet, was no
good. Take 2, at 180 feet and played at a fast tempo, was deemed to be okay.
- "Welcome Home"
- A May 8th memo reveals that this song was considered for use in this film. Presumably, it's the 1913
Irving Berlin composition.
- "Ups And Downs"
- This is another song mentioned in the May 8th memo, but I have no idea what it is.
the locations:
- Hal E. Roach Studios
- All of the indoor footage was shot on Stage 4, whether involving the haunted house or the basement. All
of the outdoor footage was shot on the New York Street set.
miscellaneous:
Four shooting dates went into the making of this film. Here's a breakdown of the activity, deriving from the call
sheets, daily film reports, and various memos:
May 8 - A Raguse memo from this date to Van Keuren states that availability and clearance of "Welcome Home"
and "Ups And Downs" were being requested for possible use in this production, at the request of Hal Roach,
Jr.
May 9 and 10 - A surviving script dated May 11th reveals that it was written by the staff on these two dates.
May 11 - This was the first day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Gary Jaspar
(sic), Leonard Landy, and Jiggs. Shooting was to take place on the interior basement set on Stage 4. The daily
film report spells Gary's last name "Jasquer," and also mentions an 'animal man' to handle the dog.
About half of the basement footage was shot on this date. A Collum memo from this date to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber
and Cash, requests that Alfalfa, Darla, Porky and Buckwheat, be 'started' as of this date.
May 12 - This was the second day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Gary Jasper
(sic) and Leonard Landy. Shooting was to take place on the interior basement set in the morning, and the exterior
basement set on the New York Street set in the afternoon. Time permitting, activity would then move to the entrance to the
haunted house. The daily film report spells Gary's last name "Jasquer," and also mentions an 'animal
man' to handle the dog. The interior basement and exterior basement door and street sets were used, with this type of
footage being virtually finished, including the tag end of the film when the boys return to the basement.
May 13 - This was the third day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Gary Jasgur
(sic), Leonard Landy, 1 truck driver (bit), 1 truck driver (extra) and Fred Holmes (bit).
Shooting was to take place at the exterior entrance to the haunted house and the interior haunted house set, as well as
the New York Street set and Stage 4. Written into the call sheet is 'NY St. basement.' The daily film report again
spells Gary's last name "Jasquer." The bits are listed as 1 truck driver, 1 truck operator, 1 janitor, and 1
dog. Also mentioned is the animal man. Shooting took place on the exterior street, interior haunted house, and exterior
haunted house sets.
May 14 - This was the final day of shooting. Scheduled were Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, 1 truck driver
(bit), 1 truck driver (extra) and Fred Holmes (bit), but 'no dog.' Shooting was to take
place on the interior haunted house set on Stage 4. The daily film report reveals that Holmes and the two truck drivers
were not needed. It also mentions the presence of Billy Bletcher for a voice recording, and Chauncey Haines for an organ
recording. However, another document reveals that Haines was present between 9:15 pm and midnight. He recorded three
Marvin Hatley compositions. See the 'music' section above for details. Most of the haunted house footage was shot
on this date, and the production was considered completed.
May 16 - A Collum memo from this date to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, requests that Alfalfa, Porky, Darla
and Buckwheat, be 'closed' as of May 14th.
May 28 - Film costs for the previous week were $199.08, bringing the total to $2067.39 so far.
Alfalfa's business is called the Eegle Eye Detektive-Agency.
The press release claims that Buckwheat was not scared during the shooting of this film. However, another press item
refutes this. At one point during the haunted house shooting, a master fuse had blown, bringing shooting to a halt and
leaving cast and crew in total darkness. It describes four frightened children grasping onto director Douglas's knees,
though as we know, there were actually three. Wanting to ease the tension, Douglas began whistling the first tune that
came into his head: "Danse Macabre." He knew this was a mistake when Porky began pinching his leg, so he
began to whistle the next tune that came to mind: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Alfalfa then began to
whistle "Lead, Kindly Light."
A document prepared at the beginning of the film season gave projected dates for all of the one-reelers to be
released. Editing on this film was to begin on Apr. 23rd, with the negative cut on May 4th and shipped to MGM on May 7th,
and the film released on May 21st.
The script submitted to MGM was given the number B447.
A Van Keuren memo states that Roach loaned out Alfalfa to MGM from May 13th to 18th. This, of course, partially
conflicts with his appearance in "Hide And Shriek," but it's possible that some adjustment was made to the
dates after the memo had been written.
The bogeyman shown in the haunted house was left over from the Laurel & Hardy feature "Babes In
Toyland."
This was the second-to-last Roach film delivered to MGM, with Laurel & Hardy's
"Block-Heads" following it.
availability:
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 12
(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 nearly original print,
missing only the MGM lion. The picture quality is excellent. The total footage lasts 10:30. This version has appeared
on numerous bootlegs.
- 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 Book IX (VHS) from
Blackhawk Video
- This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title and crew credits are remade, but the end
title is original. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 10:19, but the original soundtrack
lasts an additional 0:13.
- The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 3
(VHS) from Spotlite Video
- This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. It was also included as part of a 6
VHS boxed set.
- The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection
(8 DVD set) from Genius Products
- Released late Oct. 2008. This is the Blackhawk print. There is also a clip from this film included in the
documentary The Story Of Hal Roach And Our Gang.
- The Best Of Our Gang (DVD) from
Genius Entertainment
- Released Mar. 27, 2007. Also included as part of
The Little Rascals In Color! (3 DVD set).
This is a home movie print from the Famous Kids Comedies series from Official Films, included both as a colorized
print, and in the original black-and-white. The original footage totals 10:17, while the original soundtrack
totals 10:27. The picture quality is very good.