Arbor Day
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Arbor Day
Plot
Spanky tries to escape his "command performance" at the Spring Street School's annual Arbor Day show, but local truant officer Smithers (George Guhl) is a little too fast for him. Meanwhile, a pair of wisecracking midgets (George and Olive Brasno) take an unauthorized day off from their performance schedule at a local sideshow. Disguised as children, the midgets are spotted by the indefatigable Smithers, who assumes that they're also trying to duck out of the Arbor Day festivities. Forceably dragged into the School, the midgets are told to sit down and keep quiet while the show proceeds. After an endearingly clumsy kiddie ensemble piece and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer's ear-piercing rendition of "Trees, the midgets decide to get even with Smithers by putting on a show that no one will ever forget. In addition to the aforementioned adult cast members, the film is also graced by the presence of Maurice Cass as the pompous principal, future Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel as the mother of Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas, and Rosina Lawrence in her first appearance as the Gang's pretty schoolteacher Miss Lawrence. Originally released on May 2, 1936, "Arbor Day" was the last two-reel "Our Gang" comedy; thereafter, with the special exception of "Our Gang Follies of 1938," all of the series' releases would be one reel (approximately ten minutes) in length. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviCast
- George "Spanky" McFarland - Spanky
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer - Alfalfa
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas - Buckwheat
- Eugene "Porky" Lee - Porky
- Darla Hood - Darla
Credit
Fred Newmeyer - Director, Louis McManus - Editor, Art Lloyd - Cinematographer, Hal Roach - Producer| Arbitrage (2012 Film), Araya (1958 Film) | |
| Arbor Daze (2003 Film), Arc (1991 Film) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Arbor Day (film)
| Arbor Day | |
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| Directed by | Fred C. Newmeyer |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | George McFarland Carl Switzer George Branso Olive Branso George Guhl Maurice Cass Darla Hood Billie Thomas Rosina Lawrence Hattie McDaniel |
| Music by | Marvin Hatley |
| Cinematography | Milton R. Krasner |
| Editing by | Bert Jordan |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | 2 May 1936 |
| Running time | 17' 14" |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Arbor Day is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer. It was the 145th Our Gang short that was released.
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Contents
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Plot
Spanky attempts to hide from the truant officer and avoid going to school, where he is being forced to participate in the Spring Street School's annual Arbor Day show. Alfalfa tries to talk him out of his fears, but truant officer Smithers happens along to personally usher both children to school himself.
Meanwhile, a husband and wife midget pair (George and Olive Brasno) walk out on their circus sideshow jobs. They disguise themselves as children to enjoy a day about town, but Smithers mistakes them for actual children and takes them to school. At school, the kids trudge through their Arbor Day recitals and songs (Alfalfa contributes a squeaky rendition of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" set to song (by Oscar Rasbach)). When the midgets-in-disguise offer to join in the show, they contribute a shimmy routine which shocks the entire audience of faculty and parents. The circus proprietor turns up to apprehend the two midgets, who, as they are carried away back to the circus, call out to the recital audience "Come by and see a good show sometime!" Principal Cass then informs Smithers he's fired, to Spanky and Alfala's delight.
Notes
- Arbor Day marks a return Our Gang appearance for George and Olive Brasno, a brother-sister midget team who appeared in Shrimps for a Day a year prior. George Guhl portrays their nemesis truant officer. The film also features future Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel as the mother of Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, and Rosina Lawrence in her first appearance as the Gang's schoolteacher Miss Lawrence. Arbor Day was the last regular two-reel Our Gang comedy. All further releases in the series—save for the special release Our Gang Follies of 1938—would be one reel (approximately ten minutes) in length.[1]
- While not edited substantially for inclusion in the Little Rascals television syndication package from the 1950s to the 1990s, Arbor Day was moderately edited for time constraints when broadcast as part of the American Movie Classics network's Little Rascals package from 2001 to 2003.
Cast
- Carl Switzer - Alfalfa
- Billie Thomas - Buckwheat
- George McFarland - Spanky
- Darla Hood - Darla
- Daniel Boone - Brown-haired boy in pageant
- George Brasno - Boy Midget
- Olive Brasno - Girl Midget
- Gloria Browne - Ballet dancer
- Maurice Cass - Principal Cass
- Bobby Dunn - Crowd Extra
- Betty Gay - Dancing girl
- George Guhl - Truant Officer Smithers
- Rosina Lawrence - Miss Lawrence
- Hattie McDaniel - Buckwheat's mother
- Dick Rush - Murphy, the side show barker
- Rolfe Sedan - Crowd Extra
- Kathryn Sheldon - Miss Argyle
- May Wallace - Autograph Seeker
- John Collum - Crowd Extra
References
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Arbor Day (1936)". NY Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/225685/Arbor-Day/overview. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
External links
- Arbor Day at the Internet Movie Database
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