This Hal Roach comedy short, Pups Is Pups, is the one hundredth in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" series and the twelfth talkie. In this one, Farina gets a job as a page in an animal show and he encourages the rest of the gang to enter their pets in. Wheezer himself has five puppies and plays hide-and-seek with them often using a bell to get them to come. I'll stop there and just say this was another funny ep of Hal Roach's Rascals involving some clever sound effects as well as a wonderful music score. Incidentally, this was the first short in the series to involve the music of one LeRoy Shield. His score would be in most of these Hal Roach entries providing such a pleasing background to the goings-on. This was also the first appearance of Dorothy DeBorba as part of the gang. So on that note, Pups Is Pups was quite an entertaining Our Gang short. P.S. I saw this on disc 2 of the Little Rascals Collection. It has a nice intro by a children's TV host named Tom Hatten who showed these shorts when he was on the air during the '50s and early '60s.
14 Reviews
Oh My
gavin69429 April 2016
The gang decides to enter their animals in a local pet show.
Due to perceived racism toward African-Americans, several scenes featuring Farina were edited out of the Little Rascals syndicated television prints in 1971. They remained in 16mm, VHS and DVD home video releases. The scenes were reinstated in 2001 in the prints shown on American Movie Classics until 2003.
The "perceived racism" is actually why I find the film interesting. Not that I like racism, but looking back now (2016), it is interesting to see the newspaper specifically ask for "colored" boys. The term is outdated, but more to the point: why only them? Could white boys not be pages? It is interesting to me how long the black community found work as servants, maids and so on... did the class divide ever really go away?
Due to perceived racism toward African-Americans, several scenes featuring Farina were edited out of the Little Rascals syndicated television prints in 1971. They remained in 16mm, VHS and DVD home video releases. The scenes were reinstated in 2001 in the prints shown on American Movie Classics until 2003.
The "perceived racism" is actually why I find the film interesting. Not that I like racism, but looking back now (2016), it is interesting to see the newspaper specifically ask for "colored" boys. The term is outdated, but more to the point: why only them? Could white boys not be pages? It is interesting to me how long the black community found work as servants, maids and so on... did the class divide ever really go away?
A slow start doesn't stop this episode from becoming a classic.
mark.waltz14 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Other than a pretty neighborhood girl who keeps changing her dress so she can jump into the mud while fully clean, nothing much happens here until weiser goes to feed his pet puppies by ring a bell. It seems that the pups are used to the bell so when they begin to hear bells coming from other places, they naturally chase after them. Farina gets a job as a page at a pet show and the other kids decide to bring their pets there and hoping that one of them will win a prize. That means that there are pigs, turtles, mice, a goose, and a couple of frogs which will create havoc when the show gets underway.
it's very cute to see the puppies running all over the city, crossing the tracks, and turning every time they hear a bell. then, there's a doctor's patient in the same building as the pet show told to keep looking up, and stopping outside which naturally causes everybody else to look up. It's silly but funny and give the children a chance to get past the doorman to take their pets into the arena. Of course, mayhem follows, and it is hysterical. and back at their hang out, the same little girl is preparing to jump into the mud once again as her mother, previously unseen comes out for the predictable final. It's sweet and adorable and obviously one of the most popular of the first set of talkie "Our Gang" shorts.
it's very cute to see the puppies running all over the city, crossing the tracks, and turning every time they hear a bell. then, there's a doctor's patient in the same building as the pet show told to keep looking up, and stopping outside which naturally causes everybody else to look up. It's silly but funny and give the children a chance to get past the doorman to take their pets into the arena. Of course, mayhem follows, and it is hysterical. and back at their hang out, the same little girl is preparing to jump into the mud once again as her mother, previously unseen comes out for the predictable final. It's sweet and adorable and obviously one of the most popular of the first set of talkie "Our Gang" shorts.
Wheezer, I Love You
Bucs196010 July 2002
What a great short this is from the early talking Our Gang series. It is so endearing that it will bring a tear to your eye. The centerpiece of the film is Wheezer and his puppies. It is obvious that his exuberance with the pups is natural and so delightful. He was such an absolutely darling child and a good little actor to boot. His "jingle, jingle, jingle" will steal your heart. If you love this one, see "Dogs is Dogs", also with Wheezer. It will make you cry.
As anyone who's ever tried to skateboard up in Canadia well knows . . .
tadpole-596-91825620 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
. . . it's virtually impossible, because what passes for "sidewalks" in America's Northern Threat would be called "concrete whitecaps" anywhere else, suitable for baby buggy torture testing and little else. (A guy can be as sober as Clarence Thomas, and be diagnosed as a "stumbling drunk" trying to walk a line on a Canadia Pedestrian Path.) PUPS IS PUPS helps explain the reason for this deplorable state of affairs. As documented in the previous 11 episodes, "Little Rascals" is an anthropological study following a gang of juvenile delinquents up in Canadia as they try to prove that any act of vandalism or mayhem will go undetected at worse, or be an improvement much of the time. For instance, between 10 and 12 minutes into PUPS IS PUPS a rabid pack of canine criminals tear up the same square of wet pavement seven times. These malicious mutts would have been prevented from messing things up even once in the USA, by a border of yellow "Caution!" or "Crime Scene" tape. However, since nearly every inch of Canadia IS a crime scene, it never occurs to the hapless D.P.W. worker to cordon off his work zone. This puts one in mind of the old riddle: How many DPW guys up in Canadia does it take to screw in a light bulb? (Perhaps I'll have room for the answer when I review Our Gang Episode #13.)
Dorothy loves mud baths, Wheezer loves breaking glass and the Guy with neck trouble.
thejcowboy2227 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Spent many summers and free time at Elmont Road Park. They had a playground area toward the Elmont Road entrance and I spent hours in the sand box. One game my friends and I created was "Mummy Man". We would dig with a paddle and gardening shovel the imprint of a person's body. Usually a foot deep. Have the boy to lie face down into a cap in the sand and then we would cover him over with the sand. Count to 20 and then scatter within the confines of the playground. Meanwhile the boy who was covered would stand up and try to tag the first boy he catches. Then the boy who was caught would go next. This review of "PUPS IS PUPS" is the weirdest of the OUR GANG shorts in it's history. 1930 Newspaper article reads, TEN COLORED BOYS NEEDED for pages at pet show! Perfect position for Farina (Alan Hoskins) our token child of color/gang member. Meanwhile Dorothy takes her first jump into a Mud Puddle. Two Asian boys see this add as well and claim that that prize money would buy a lot of chop suey! Yes this episode is racially saturated for it's time. The Gang gathers their pets together from Hogs, frogs, mice and assorted vermin to the swanky high brow Hippodrome Pet show downtown. Meanwhile the gang has to watch mud loving Dorothy with not much success as she continues to swan dive into a mud puddle. Little Wheezer wants to enter his puppies who follow him around to the sound of his bell. Sort of like Famous Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov dogs and how they react to certain sounds. In a game of hide and seek. In a reverse turn of events, Wheezer has the dogs look for him and our k-9 group finds him in seconds and yank off his pants. Wheezer looses his pants and the bell is found by two black kids who ring it as the dogs chase them down the street. The youngsters discard the bell for safety. Meanwhile at the downtown pet show a uniformed clad Farina tries to let his motley gang into the show but his boss forbids the entry. Adjacent to the entrance is a Doctor's Office. The Doctor is tending his patient who has neck trouble. Tells the poor fellow to keep his head back and don't look straight. Personally this troubled me for years . Shouldn't the guy be in traction? The weird fellow walks out looking straight up at the sky as he passes the Pet show entrance. Everyone follows suit and looks up. The diversion is perfect as The Gang uses that opportunity to enter illegally and enter their strange pets into the show. Mice, frogs and other rodents get mixed up into everything reeking havoc with the main floor showcases and the orchestra. Farina gets an earful from his peers and is fired. The Gang storms out of the floor show area. Meanwhile Wheezer minus his bell searches feverishly for his pups. He sees a second floor fire alarm box by a window. Wheezer takes aim at the box but misses it and breaks an apartment window. First of many episodes where Wheezer and the problem of broken glass unite. Across town Dorothy jumps in for another mud bath session. Her Mom is blaming the Gang but in truth Mom should send Dirty Dorothy up the coast to the Napa Valley where the World famous Calistoga Hot springs are located. FYI, First episode for Dorothy DeBorba who recalls the enjoyment she had jumping in the mud puddle multiple times and loving every plunge. First our gang to have the familiar musical soundtrack provided by Marvin Hatley who also composed the famous Laurel and Hardy Theme. This was a strange experience to watch. As for the "Mummy Man" experience at the park. My Mom couldn't understand the large accumulation of sand that was collected in my pockets and ears.
One of the most endearing Rascals films of all time
jimtinder12 February 2001
"Pups Is Pups" was the first "Our Gang" film for the 1930-31 season. This was the beginning of what is considered by many Rascals fans to be the best period in the series (roughly 1930-34).
The Gang wants to put their pets into the big pet show downtown. Wheezer wants to enter his puppies in the show, but the puppies have gotten lost. Knowing they respond to a bell, Wheezer rings every bell his can possibly find...bicycle bells, even a alarm bell (which he doesn't quite hit with a rock...he shatters a window instead). Can he find his puppies in time for the show?
If you saw "Pups Is Pups" on television growing up, you'll never forget it. The short is endearing, and the kids give natural performances. And the puppies are lovable. The one with the ring around its eye was to become the second Pete the Pup.
One of the best kids and animals movies ever. 10 out of 10.
The Gang wants to put their pets into the big pet show downtown. Wheezer wants to enter his puppies in the show, but the puppies have gotten lost. Knowing they respond to a bell, Wheezer rings every bell his can possibly find...bicycle bells, even a alarm bell (which he doesn't quite hit with a rock...he shatters a window instead). Can he find his puppies in time for the show?
If you saw "Pups Is Pups" on television growing up, you'll never forget it. The short is endearing, and the kids give natural performances. And the puppies are lovable. The one with the ring around its eye was to become the second Pete the Pup.
One of the best kids and animals movies ever. 10 out of 10.
Going To A Pet Show With The Little Rascals
Ron Oliver22 April 2000
An OUR GANG Comedy Short
Farina alerts Chubby, Jackie & the rest of the Gang about a fancy pet show taking place downtown, prompting the kids into entering their pig, goat, mice & toads. Meanwhile, little Wheezer is discovering that PUPS IS PUPS as he tries to keep his five rambunctious puppies from running all over town.
A funny little film, with lots of interaction between the Rascals & their animals. Recurring highlight: Dorothy & the mud puddle. That's Charlie Hall as the violin player.
Farina alerts Chubby, Jackie & the rest of the Gang about a fancy pet show taking place downtown, prompting the kids into entering their pig, goat, mice & toads. Meanwhile, little Wheezer is discovering that PUPS IS PUPS as he tries to keep his five rambunctious puppies from running all over town.
A funny little film, with lots of interaction between the Rascals & their animals. Recurring highlight: Dorothy & the mud puddle. That's Charlie Hall as the violin player.
Our Gang (of Animals)
Horst_In_Translation17 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Pups Is Pups" is an American movie from 1930, so this one is already over 85 years old. If you read the names of McGowan and Walker here, then you may already guess correctly that this is another film featuring the kids from Our Gang / The Little Rascals, this time featuring Jackie Cooper among others. And it is not just another. These 19 minutes are among their most known actually. But this does not exactly say something positive as this one here is honestly much more about the animals than the children. This film is an example of how the depiction of pets/animals in films became more frequent back then as people loved to see them. But there are also negative sides to it, for example looking at what Chubby does with the little pig. So yeah, in general, cuteness is dominating here. There is no real story and it's also not a funny watch despite being credited as a comedy. It's maybe worth seeing from the perspective of people who are interested in the early use of animal photography, but everybody else can skip it for sure. Not recommended.
If I Had To Choose My All-Time Favorite Our Gang Comedy...
Corr2811 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
...this might be my selection. I've always said that for me, it's impossible to pick a favorite short from the series but this is as close as I can come to a definitive choice. My memories from seeing this on TV during my childhood are so vivid that I can pretty much remember the day of the week it was, the weather conditions outside, etc. That's how impactful and memorable this short is. No wonder that in 2004 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
First off, this is the first Our Gang short to fully utilize the wonderful background music by LeRoy Shield that the series would become famous for. Let's face it, many people remember the music almost as much as the shorts themselves. Of particular note is the heavy use of the rousing theme "Hide And Go Seek" heard most often when the scenes included the pups and/or the pups and Weezer. This short also marked the debut of Dorothy DeBorba. There are pretty much four stories in one here. Weezer and his relationship with the pups. The gang entering their rag tag pets in a contest. DeBorba constantly jumping into puddles to the dismay of brother Jackie Cooper. The patient forced to leave his head/neck in a "looking up" position. All four of these stories are molded effortlessly into a fun, charming, endearing and briskly paced two-reeler. The kids are real, they are charming and they are funny. Weezer is a delight as his relationship with his puppies is genuine and heartwarming.
The aforementioned music score is most welcome and carries the action beautifully and seamlessly. Another wonderful aspect of this short are the sets. They are beautiful, particularly where the kids are happily at play. They are in some kind of backyard lot surrounded by their house which are themselves surrounded by imposing but breathtaking steel industrial buildings. Simply wonderful to look at.
This is a magnificent entry into the series. Maybe it's best and certainly, it's most important.
First off, this is the first Our Gang short to fully utilize the wonderful background music by LeRoy Shield that the series would become famous for. Let's face it, many people remember the music almost as much as the shorts themselves. Of particular note is the heavy use of the rousing theme "Hide And Go Seek" heard most often when the scenes included the pups and/or the pups and Weezer. This short also marked the debut of Dorothy DeBorba. There are pretty much four stories in one here. Weezer and his relationship with the pups. The gang entering their rag tag pets in a contest. DeBorba constantly jumping into puddles to the dismay of brother Jackie Cooper. The patient forced to leave his head/neck in a "looking up" position. All four of these stories are molded effortlessly into a fun, charming, endearing and briskly paced two-reeler. The kids are real, they are charming and they are funny. Weezer is a delight as his relationship with his puppies is genuine and heartwarming.
The aforementioned music score is most welcome and carries the action beautifully and seamlessly. Another wonderful aspect of this short are the sets. They are beautiful, particularly where the kids are happily at play. They are in some kind of backyard lot surrounded by their house which are themselves surrounded by imposing but breathtaking steel industrial buildings. Simply wonderful to look at.
This is a magnificent entry into the series. Maybe it's best and certainly, it's most important.
Perhaps this was ghost written by Ivan Pavlov! Either way, it's adorable.
planktonrules28 November 2011
I give this Our Gang short a 9 simply because it's so dog-gone cute. Seeing Wheezer playing hide and seek with his five puppies makes this one worth seeing! Farina gets a job at the local society dog show. He and the gang misunderstand and plan on bringing their pets (pigs, goats, frogs and the like) to the show to win prizes. Much of the film, however, shows Wheezer playing with his puppies. He's taught them to respond to a bell--much like Pavlov's experiments. And, when they accidentally get loose, EVERY possible hell in town attracts the cute puppies. Of course they get into all kinds of trouble--as do the kids. It's all good fun and one of the better Our Gang comedies.
By the way, that's Charlie Hall with the violin late in the film. He was a familiar face in various Hal Roach films--especially ones with Laurel & Hardy (such as in "Tit For Tat" and "Them That Hills").
By the way, that's Charlie Hall with the violin late in the film. He was a familiar face in various Hal Roach films--especially ones with Laurel & Hardy (such as in "Tit For Tat" and "Them That Hills").
Madcap action with a litter of pups
Leofwine_draca19 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
PUPS IS PUPS is a frequently hilarious Our Gang short in which animals rule the roost. Numerous types of animal are on display in amusing anecdotal footage here, but the thrust of the plot is on a kid called Wheezer who has been playing hide and seek with a litter of pups.
The dogs featured here are among the cutest you'll ever see on screen: full of energy and mischief, they light up the comedy quite considerably. The climactic scenes, in which they escape their surrounds and end up running through the streets while responding to any bell that sounds, are an example of Pavlovian theory in action, and absolutely riotous.
The dogs featured here are among the cutest you'll ever see on screen: full of energy and mischief, they light up the comedy quite considerably. The climactic scenes, in which they escape their surrounds and end up running through the streets while responding to any bell that sounds, are an example of Pavlovian theory in action, and absolutely riotous.
Good
Michael_Elliott23 December 2008
Pups is Pups (1930)
*** (out of 4)
Our Gang short has Farina telling the others about a pet show taking place in town so the kid's get all their animals together so that they can win some money. What they don't realize is that this is a pet show for fancy ones and not their pets, which includes mice, frogs and wild puppies. I'd be lying if I said this short had me laughing from start to finish because it didn't. What the short did do is work well with its nice screenplay, which makes for some cute moments. The highlight of the film would have to be Wheezer and his puppies, which he is constantly playing with at the start of the film. Just seeing Wheezer smile as big as the moon will put a smile on your face because it's obvious the young actor is having a great time with the dogs. Chubby also gets a few nice moments as do the rest of the animals who eventually terrorize the clean cut women at the show.
*** (out of 4)
Our Gang short has Farina telling the others about a pet show taking place in town so the kid's get all their animals together so that they can win some money. What they don't realize is that this is a pet show for fancy ones and not their pets, which includes mice, frogs and wild puppies. I'd be lying if I said this short had me laughing from start to finish because it didn't. What the short did do is work well with its nice screenplay, which makes for some cute moments. The highlight of the film would have to be Wheezer and his puppies, which he is constantly playing with at the start of the film. Just seeing Wheezer smile as big as the moon will put a smile on your face because it's obvious the young actor is having a great time with the dogs. Chubby also gets a few nice moments as do the rest of the animals who eventually terrorize the clean cut women at the show.
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