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.
Previewed in Santa Monica around early-to-mid March 1932, this according to The Long Beach Sun of March 23rd in their story about Harold Wertz.
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 - Clarence "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!' He mostly
punches Del Henderson in the nose throughout the film.
- 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.
- Betty Allgrunn
- Extra. She's one of the orphans on the train in the early scene, sitting to the left in the front row aisle seat. She was Bob McGowan's niece.
- Patsy Britten
- Extra. She's also one of the orphans, 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.
- Adele Watson as the woman in charge of the orphans
- Small part. She's frantic at having to leave without the missing children.
- 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.
- Eleanor Fredericks
- Bit part. She's the woman assisting with the orphans on the train.
- other adults
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The man delivering the telegram.
- (2.) 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.
- (3.) A doctor and three nurses shown at the end of the film.
- (4.) 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.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.