School's Out (1930)

Director:

Robert F. McGowan

Writer:

H.M. Walker (writer)

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:

Man Dressed As Woman | Our Gang | Children

Cast

Jackie Cooper	...	Jackie
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins	...	Farina
Norman 'Chubby' Chaney	...	Chubby
Mary Ann Jackson	...	Mary Ann
Donald Haines
Douglas Greer
Buddy MacDonald	...	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		writer

Produced by
Hal Roach	....	producer

Original Music by
Leroy Shield

Cinematography by
Art Lloyd

Film Editing by
Richard C. Currier

Other crew
Hal Roach	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios Inc.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1930) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)

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 Inc.

Trivia:

Mary Ann Jackson's answer to "What Did George Washington Say....?" is a reference to the Helen Kane song "What Did Cleopatra Say?", which was introduced in "Paramount On Parade" (1930).

Movie Connections:

References The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923/I)

Follow up to "Teacher's Pet" hits the mark

Jackie, who has a crush on his teacher, Miss Crabtree, is afraid that she will get married and leave the school. When a strange man comes around the school asking for Miss Crabtree, Jackie and the gang are convinced he's going to marry her. They tell the stranger several stories about her -- saying she puts red stuff on her lips, has two sets of false teeth, one wooden leg, two husbands, and twenty-one kids. Unknown to the gang, the man is actually Miss Crabtree's brother! What will happen to the gang when Miss Crabtree finds out?

"School's Out" is a sequel to the Little Rascals film "Teacher's Pet," and is a fine follow-up for Hal Roach and company. The laughs are constant throughout the film, and the kids are so natural that you would swear you are watching a real situation. The feelings they display are genuine; they truly love their teacher and don't want to see here go anywhere.

Much of the dialogue in "School's Out" is hilarious; Roach dialogue writer "Beanie" Walker deserves the credit. Some lines slipped past the censors! When Miss Crabtree is driving the children to school, they are steadfast in saying they will never get married. Farina says, "I'm not getting married, and I'm raising my children the same way!" Mary Ann states, "I heard my mother say she made my father marry her!" Out of the mouths of babes...

Miss Crabtree's brother is played by Creighton Hale, an actor with greater silent screen credits than talkies ("The Cat and the Canary" is perhaps his most famous silent role). Most of his talkie career went unnoticed in uncredited roles. This appearance, and his two later Rascal roles in "Big Ears" and "Free Wheeling," are undoubtedly his most familiar talkie roles. He displays enough feigned surprise at the gang's comments about his sister to warrant laughter.

If you loved "Teacher's Pet," you'll love "School's Out." A finer comedy sequel would be tough to find in any decade. 9 out of 10.