Buckwheat, Froggy, Mickey as Benjamin Franklin, Janet, Happy
Production Notes[]
Length: One Reel
Producer: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Director: Herbert Glazer
Photography: Chales Schoenbaum
Editor: Leon Bourgeau
Titles:
Writer: Robert A. McGowan and Hal Law
Released: January 30, 1943
Studio: M-G-M
Main Cast[]
Supporting Cast[]
- Barbara Bedford - Janet's Mother
- Barry Downing
- Elena Slavona - Audience Member
- Ernie Alexander - John/Mickey's Father
- Frank Ward
- Margaret Bert - Martha/Mickey's Mother
- Richard Hall
- Valerie Lee
- Vincent Graeff
The Short[]
Plot: At the clubhouse, the gang shares their gripes and takes turns complaining about how the wartime shortages and hardships are making their lives unpleasant. Mickey, Buckwheat, Janet, Froggy, and Happy take it among themselves to address the issues and come up with a play based on American philosophy in Poor Richard's Almanack which Mickey has been reading. The play dramatizes the patriotism in dealing with the sacrifices and teaches the rest of the kids a brutal heavy-handed lesson.
Quotes:
- "The gang sure proved that squawking ain't right!" - Voice Unidentified
Notes/Trivia:
- As of this short, William Thomas Jr. is the last remaining Our Ganger from the Hal Roach Studios days.
- In this short Big Shot is clearly Buckwheat's little brother, agreeing with their parents that Buckwheat shouldn't use more than two spoonfuls of sugar on his breakfast cereal.
- This short is credited by Maltin and Bann as one of the "heavy-handed" moralizing lessons which "sealed the lid on the coffin of the series."
Sequence[]
- Previous Short: Unexpected Riches
- Next Short: Family Troubles