Teacher's Pet (1930)

Director:

Robert F. McGowan

Writer:

H.M. Walker (dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

11 October 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Short

Plot:

Jackie prepares a series of elaborate jokes for his new teacher.

Plot Keywords:

Children | First Day Of School | Our Gang | Practical Joke | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Cast

Jackie Cooper	...	Jackie
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins	...	Farina
Norman 'Chubby' Chaney	...	Chubby
Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins	...	Wheezer
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard	...	Hercules
Dorothy DeBorba	...	Echo
Buddy McDonald	...	Buddy
Mary Ann Jackson	...	Mary Ann
Donald Haines	...	Speck
Artye Folz	...	Girl Hit With Pea
Bobby Mallon	...	Kid in Front of Jackie
June Marlowe	...	Miss June Crabtree
Baldwin Cooke	...	Caterer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Courtright	...	Old man
Betty Mae Crane	...	Talking titles
Beverly Crane	...	Talking titles
Gordon Douglas	...	Caterer
Mildred Kornman
Barbara Roach
Billy Seay

Directed by
Robert F. McGowan		(as Robert McGowan)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert F. McGowan		story (uncredited)
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		(as Richard Currier)

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

Sound Department
Elmer Raguse	....	sound recording engineer

Visual Effects by
Roy Seawright	....	optical effects

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

Other crew
Charles Levin	....	laboratory supervisor
Hal Roach	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Runtime:

20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

Director Robert F. McGowan approached June Marlowe for this role when he spotted her in a Los Angeles department store. He later suggested the she wear a blond wig, to match co-star 'Jackie Cooper''s light-coloured hair (she was a brunette in real life).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Miss Crabtree "sends" Buddy home with the others, even though no-one has come to say that he needs to go home, unlike the rest.

Quotes:

Miss June Crabtree:I hope the children like me.
Old man:Oh, they'll like you alright. We'll have the cake and ice cream down to the school right on time.
[Miss Crabtree drives away]
Old man:Ummm... Wow! I wouldn't mind going back to school myself!

Movie Connections:

Remade as Bored of Education (1936)

Cute...and a nice chance for Jackie to show he was quite the actor.

The gang's beloved teacher is leaving because she's getting married. When they hear that their new teacher is named Miss Crabtree, they assume she's a nasty old prune--and the kids plan a series of horrible pranks to play on her to get her to leave. However, Jackie meets the new teacher and doesn't realize it's her--and he's infatuated with her! Won't he be surprised when he goes to school! But what about all those nasty pranks?!

Jackie Cooper has his best opportunity to shine as a member of Our Gang in this one. And, quite frankly, he's adorable and very good in the lead. Also, this film is important because it marks the first appearance by Stymie Beard's--who would eventually replace Farina and become one of the more beloved members of this ensemble cast. It also gives Wheezer a chance to upstage them all in his small appearance near the end. Overall, one of the more entertaining episodes of Our Gang--and one well worth seeing. It's sweet and fun from start to finish.