There are just so many exellent Little Rascal shorts out there. No,
this isn't one of the lesser ones. It's one of the better ones, in fact.
While it's missing the warmth and endearing qualities that make
the truly outstanding ones, this is totally enjoyable and fun, without
really being touching. The plot's fairly simple. The gang trades
clothes with orphans who are on a train trip. They get left behind,
but are brought along on the next train by the great - and largely
unremembered - Dell Henderson. And, as would be expected,
they make the whole trip a living hell for him and everybody else.
Ringletted Dorothy DeBorba is for once not a member of the gang,
and is instead traveling with Estelle Etterre (or is it Belle Hare?),
who was Dickie's nurse in Free Wheeling. Little Spanky steals all
his scenes, of course, and the scene where he keeps punching Mr
Henderson in the face as he tries to sleep is impossible not to
laugh at. The climax is not an expected one, and that makes it all
the more satisfying. *SPOILER* An inebriated novelty salesman
(Otto Fries) has a suitcase full of fireworks that is set ablaze by a
monkey (don't ask!) and they go whizzing through the sleeping
cabin, zapping people in the behind, causing a porter's cigar to
explode, etc. Definately a great one, never boring and never, ever
disappointing.
this isn't one of the lesser ones. It's one of the better ones, in fact.
While it's missing the warmth and endearing qualities that make
the truly outstanding ones, this is totally enjoyable and fun, without
really being touching. The plot's fairly simple. The gang trades
clothes with orphans who are on a train trip. They get left behind,
but are brought along on the next train by the great - and largely
unremembered - Dell Henderson. And, as would be expected,
they make the whole trip a living hell for him and everybody else.
Ringletted Dorothy DeBorba is for once not a member of the gang,
and is instead traveling with Estelle Etterre (or is it Belle Hare?),
who was Dickie's nurse in Free Wheeling. Little Spanky steals all
his scenes, of course, and the scene where he keeps punching Mr
Henderson in the face as he tries to sleep is impossible not to
laugh at. The climax is not an expected one, and that makes it all
the more satisfying. *SPOILER* An inebriated novelty salesman
(Otto Fries) has a suitcase full of fireworks that is set ablaze by a
monkey (don't ask!) and they go whizzing through the sleeping
cabin, zapping people in the behind, causing a porter's cigar to
explode, etc. Definately a great one, never boring and never, ever
disappointing.