School's Out (1930)

Director:

Robert F. McGowan

Writer:

H.M. Walker (dialogue)

Release Date:

22 November 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Short

Plot:

The kids mistake Miss Crabtree's brother for a potential boyfriend, and plot to discourage him.

Plot Keywords:

Children | Brother Sister Relationship | Our Gang | Man Dressed As Woman | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Cast

Jackie Cooper	...	Jackie
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins	...	Farina
Norman 'Chubby' Chaney	...	Chubby
Mary Ann Jackson	...	Mary Ann
Donald Haines	...	Speck
Douglas Greer
Buddy McDonald	...	Buddy
Clifton Young	...	Bonedust (as Bobby Young)
Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins	...	Wheezer
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard	...	Stymie
Dorothy DeBorba	...	Echo
Bobby Mallon
June Marlowe	...	Miss June Crabtree
Creighton Hale	...	Jack Crabtree (Miss Crabtree's brother)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Betty Mae Crane	...	Talking titles
Beverly Crane	...	Talking titles
Mildred Kornman
Barbara Roach
Billy Seay
Lyle Tayo	...	Lady walking by stream

Directed by
Robert F. McGowan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
H.M. Walker		dialogue

Produced by
Hal Roach	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Leroy Shield		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Art Lloyd

Film Editing by
Richard C. Currier

Art Department
C.E. Christensen	....	construction supervisor

Sound Department
Elmer Raguse	....	recording engineer

Visual Effects by
Roy Seawright	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Stax Graves	....	still photographer

Music Department
Leroy Shield	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Charles Levin	....	laboratory supervisor
Harry Lucenay	....	animal trainer
Hal Roach	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1930) (USA) (theatrical)
• United American Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nostalgia Archive, The (1995) (USA) (VHS) (Included in "Laurel and Hardy and Friends Volume One" by Fast Forward Marketing)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• A-1 Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Arnaz Ranch - Robertson Blvd between Beverlywood St. & David Avenue, Rincon de Los Bueyes, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

Mary Ann Jackson tells Miss Crabtree ('June Marlowe') in one scene, "We hope you don't get married until you're 80 years old." Sadly, that's how old Marlowe was when she died in 1984.

Quotes:

Miss June Crabtree:[calls on Farina] Farina!
[Farina stands up]
Miss June Crabtree:What was Lincoln's Gettysburg Address?
Farina:1621 East Main Street.
[sits down when he realizes the answer is wrong]

Movie Connections:

References The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923/I)

It's am awfully cute little film

This is a pretty adorable short featuring the Little Rascals and I'm not usually a fan of their films. This film is not among the earlier Rascals films (they were silents) and this was done well before Spanky and Alfalfa joined the group.

The breakout star among the kids was Jackie Cooper--who later went on to great stardom. However, I was surprised to see that although Farina played a very stereotypical Black child (in this film, talking about wanting to eat watermelon as well as the fact that his dad is in and out of jail--two awful stereotypes), he was actually the highest paid member of the group at the time according to IMDb--so I guess he had the last laugh! Also featured is "Chubby" Chaney--a very, very sad individual indeed. Although he was very, very obese and appeared to be about 8 or 9, he was actually 16 at the time this was made and died a few years later of some glandular condition!!

As for the plot, Jackie is concerned that now that summer vacation is approaching, their beloved teacher might not come back next year--since she's pretty and probably plans on getting married. About the same time, the teacher's brother is in town and the kids mistake him for her boyfriend and play some mean tricks on him to try to chase him away and keep her single! The whole routine is awfully funny and considering how cute the kids act, you can't help but like this film. Unlike many of the later films that had a lot of action, this one is slower paced but much higher on the charm scale.