Readin' and Writin' (1932)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Robert F. McGowan

Writer:

H.M. Walker (dialogue)

Release Date:

2 February 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Family | Comedy

Plot:

Tired of going to school, Breezy comes up with a plan to get himself expelled. |

Plot Keywords:

Smart Ass | First Day Of School | Practical Joke | Our Gang | Children

Cast

Sherwood Bailey	...	Spud
Carlena Beard	...	Marmalade
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard	...	Stymie
Harry Bernard	...	The fruit vendor
Dorothy DeBorba	...	Dorothy
Otto Fries	...	The blacksmith
Donald Haines
Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins	...	Wheezer
June Marlowe	...	Miss June Crabtree
Kendall McComas	...	Breezy Brisbane
Lyle Tayo	...	Breezy's mother
May Wallace	...	Wheezer's mother

Directed by
Robert F. McGowan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
H.M. Walker		dialogue

Produced by
Robert F. McGowan	....	producer
Hal Roach	....	producer

Cinematography by
Art Lloyd

Film Editing by
Richard C. Currier

Music Department
Leroy Shield	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hal Roach Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

USA:20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Arnaz Ranch - Robertson Blvd between Beverlywood St. & David Avenue, Rincon de Los Bueyes, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

'June Marlowe''s final Our Gang appearance as Miss Crabtree.

Quotes:

The blacksmith: I led my class in all my subjects. I really *wanted* to be president.
Breezy Brisbane: And all you turned out to be is a punk blacksmith!

one of the best Rascals films!!!!

Breezy Brisbane, real name Kendall McComas, gives an excellent performace. Breezy is a wise guy (smart ellecky) and is constantly nagged by his mother (Lyle Tayo) becuase she wants him to be president. But he wants to be a streetcar conductor becuase "Boy, do they pick up the nickels!". Breezy wants to be kicked out so he TRIES to get expelled. After doing several things the teacher Miss Crabtree (played by June Marlowe) tells Breezy that he has one last chance, but he was to recite Sherwood's silly poem in front of the class, but Breezy replies, "I wouldn't recite this junk in front of a group of calf!" so Miss Crabtree expells him. When Breezy thinks he has triumph, he realizes that he can't doing anything now that hes kicked out. He can't go home, theres no kids to play with. So with much regret and lots of tears he decides to recite the poem in front of the class, only to get laughed and teased at.

This a excellent short, one of the best of the Rascals shorts ever made. It's ironic that the blacksmith that Breezy passes by says that wise guys like him never amount to anything. Well, in 1982 i think Breezy killed himself. Sad. He only appeared in ten shorts of the 1932-33 season, he is one of my favorite Rascals, after Scotty Beckett and Spanky McFarland.