Mush and Milk
Encyclopedia
Mush and Milk is a comedy short subject
; part of the Our Gang
(Little Rascals) series. It was produced and directed by Robert F. McGowan
for Hal Roach
, and was originally released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
on May 27, 1933. It was the 123rd (35th talking episode) Our Gang short that was released.
, where they are yelled at, punished, and browbeaten by the ghastly old headmistress. The day begins with the headmistress waking the boys up and telling them to get their chores done or they will get a beating and nothing to eat. In school, however, they are taught by the headmistress's husband, the gentle and lovable Old Cap, who runs the school in an informal manner. Cap wants to do something nice for the children, since their school meals usually consist of mush and milk
. Just as the headmistress leaves the boys' sleeping quarters Old Cap comes in to say hi to them. At that time, he promises that when he gets his back pension they will all leave that place and live well with tons of presents for the children. After the boys are up the headmistress tells the boys to milk the cow and that they will be thrashed if they spill any.
They spill the milk and use plaster of paris to substitute the milk. They warn the other classmates, by passing a message at the breakfast table. Stymie warns his neighbor to not drink the milk. This message is passed in this manner around all the breakfast tables. Then Spanky innocently warns the headmistress to not drink the milk, who in turn, scolds the children and demands that milk be put on their oatmeal without issue and eaten immediately. This results in the forming of a hardened plaster mix in their bowls, and leaves them banging their spoons against the "spoiled" mush and milk, in a futile attempt to do as they are told.
Then after an amusing class session of foolish answers, Cap allows them an impromptu talent show
. The kids do a dance, Spanky speaks a poem, Stymie plays a harmonica, and Tommy belts out a scowling rendition of "Just Friends (Lovers No More)", replete with adult-oriented lyrics.
During class, the phone rings and is answered by Spanky. The call is from Mr. Brown at the bank and the two engage in one of the funniest scenes in the series. Then the phone call brings news that Cap's back pension
has finally arrived. Ecstatic, Cap treats the children to toys, a day at an amusement pier, and a meal at a fancy restaurant. They decide to order an exotic-sounding French
dessert, which turns out to be mush and milk, which is thrown at the waiter.
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
; part of the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
(Little Rascals) series. It was produced and directed by Robert F. McGowan
Robert F. McGowan
Robert Francis McGowan was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the Our Gang short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933.-Career:...
for Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
, and was originally released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
on May 27, 1933. It was the 123rd (35th talking episode) Our Gang short that was released.
Plot
The children live in the Bleak Hill boarding schoolBoarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, where they are yelled at, punished, and browbeaten by the ghastly old headmistress. The day begins with the headmistress waking the boys up and telling them to get their chores done or they will get a beating and nothing to eat. In school, however, they are taught by the headmistress's husband, the gentle and lovable Old Cap, who runs the school in an informal manner. Cap wants to do something nice for the children, since their school meals usually consist of mush and milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
. Just as the headmistress leaves the boys' sleeping quarters Old Cap comes in to say hi to them. At that time, he promises that when he gets his back pension they will all leave that place and live well with tons of presents for the children. After the boys are up the headmistress tells the boys to milk the cow and that they will be thrashed if they spill any.
They spill the milk and use plaster of paris to substitute the milk. They warn the other classmates, by passing a message at the breakfast table. Stymie warns his neighbor to not drink the milk. This message is passed in this manner around all the breakfast tables. Then Spanky innocently warns the headmistress to not drink the milk, who in turn, scolds the children and demands that milk be put on their oatmeal without issue and eaten immediately. This results in the forming of a hardened plaster mix in their bowls, and leaves them banging their spoons against the "spoiled" mush and milk, in a futile attempt to do as they are told.
Then after an amusing class session of foolish answers, Cap allows them an impromptu talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
. The kids do a dance, Spanky speaks a poem, Stymie plays a harmonica, and Tommy belts out a scowling rendition of "Just Friends (Lovers No More)", replete with adult-oriented lyrics.
During class, the phone rings and is answered by Spanky. The call is from Mr. Brown at the bank and the two engage in one of the funniest scenes in the series. Then the phone call brings news that Cap's back pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
has finally arrived. Ecstatic, Cap treats the children to toys, a day at an amusement pier, and a meal at a fancy restaurant. They decide to order an exotic-sounding French
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
dessert, which turns out to be mush and milk, which is thrown at the waiter.
Cast
- George McFarlandGeorge McFarlandGeorge Robert Phillips "Spanky" McFarland was an American actor most famous for his appearances as a child in the Our Gang series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s...
- Spanky - Dickie Moore - Dickie
- Matthew Beard - Stymie
- Tommy BondTommy BondThomas Ross "Tommy" Bond was an American actor. A native of Dallas, Texas, Bond was best known for his work as a child actor for two different nonconsecutive periods on Our Gang comedies, and also for being the first actor to portray the role of "Superman's pal" Jimmy Olsen on screen.-Early years...
- Tommy - Dorothy DeBorbaDorothy DeBorbaDorothy Adelle DeBorba was an American former child actress who was a regular in the Our Gang series of short subjects as the leading lady from 1930 to 1933.-Early life:...
- Dorothy - John CollumJohn CollumJohn K. Collum was an American child actor of the 1930s.-Career:Born in Illinois, Collum was the son of Hal Roach's casting director, Joseph Collum, and appeared in twenty-six of Roach's Our Gang comedies from 1932 to 1938...
- Uh huh - Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer
- Olga Therkow - Olga
- Dickie Jackson - Our Gang member
- Marcia Mae JonesMarcia Mae JonesMarcia Mae Jones was an American actress whose prolific career spanned 47 years.-Career:Jones made her film debut at the age of two in the 1926 film Mannequin...
- Our Gang member - Bill Farnum - Billy
- Edith FellowsEdith FellowsEdith Marilyn Fellows was an American actress who began her professional career at age 6.-Personal life:When she was a year old, she and her father and grandmother moved to Charlotte, North Carolina...
- Our Gang member - Pete the PupPete the PupPete the Pup was a Pit Bull character in Hal Roach's Our Gang comedies during the 1920s and 1930s...
- Petie - Gus LeonardGus LeonardGus Leonard was a French-born American film actor. He appeared in 150 films between 1916 and 1937.Modern audiences will recognize Leonard from his appearances in the Our Gang comedies Mush and Milk, Teacher's Beau and The Lucky Corner.Leonard died in Los Angeles, California on March 27,...
- Cap - Louise Emmons - The Headmistress
- Jimmy FinlaysonJimmy FinlaysonJames Henderson "Jimmy" Finlayson was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson had many trademark comic mannerisms and is famous for his squinting, outraged, "double take and fade away" head reaction, and characteristic expression...
- Mr. Brown, the banker - Rolfe SedanRolfe SedanRolfe Sedan was an American character actor.Born Edward Sedan in New York City, his mother was a Broadway theatre fashion designer and his father a symphony conductor....
- Waiter
Quotes
-
- Cap: "Uh-Huh, can you use the word "isthmus" in a sentence?"
- Uh-Huh: “Uh-huhhhhh… Isthmus be my lucky day!"
-
- Spanky (cheerily): "Hellooooooooooo!"
- Mr. Brown: "Who is this?"
- Spanky (looking into receiver): "I don't know, I can't see ya!"
- Mr. Brown (reacting) "This is Mr. Brown of the First National Bank. Who is this?"
- Spanky: "Mister Brown of the First National Bank! That's whatcha just told me!"
- Mr. Brown: "What number is this?"
- Spanky: "How many guesses?"
- Mr. Brown (squinting, outraged): "What's the big idea anyway?"
- Spanky: "I dunno! You started it!"