The 1931-32 release season of the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" was a transitional season for several reasons. First, Jackie Cooper, the Gang star of the 1930-31 releases, left the Roach studio for MGM. Chubby Chaney and Mary Ann Jackson, two other Gang stalwarts, also left the series. For a time, until Spanky McFarland joined the cast, the slack was taken up by Wheezer Hutchins and Stymie Beard.
The first short of the '31-'32 release season starring Hutchins and Beard, "Big Ears," was a misfire. "Shiver My Timbers," however, puts the series back on track and is one of the funniest Rascals films of this era. Character actor Billy Gilbert is blustering, hammy, and terrifically funny as the sea dog that enjoys telling the Gang pirate stories. The only problem is that the children are constantly late for school, and Miss Crabtree, the teacher, complains to him. Gilbert and Miss Crabtree hatch a scheme to make the gang disinterested in becoming pirates. The Gang dress up as pirates and arrive late that night at Gilbert's scow to set sail, only to be frightened left and right by the "bullying" pirates! Will they set out to sea, or go back to school?
Some of the funniest dialogue of any Rascals film appears in "Timbers." In one memorable scene, Gilbert is barking orders to his men. When he asks two of them, "What are ya doin' over there?" they reply, "We don't know, Captain!" Gilbert replies, "Oh, ya don't know, huh?" and pretends to beat the tar out of them! Other memorable lines are exchanged between Gilbert and Stymie. Longtime Roach writer Beanie Walker is to be credited for much of the witty dialogue of this period.
Funny throughout - a definite laugh romp! 10 out of 10.
