Teacher's Pet (1930 short)
Encyclopedia
Teacher's Pet is a 1930 two-reel comedy short; part of the Our Gang
(Little Rascals) series. It was produced by Hal Roach
, directed by Robert F. McGowan
, and originally released to theatres by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
on October 11, 1930. It was the 101st Our Gang
short to be released.
. Then, the kids are to have their younger siblings — Wheezer, Dorothy
, and Hercules — come in and tell Miss Crabtree that they need to be excused to go home ..."and then, we're all goin' swimmin'!"
Jack
, the mastermind of the operation, asks Wheezer if he remembers what to say. Wheezer says "Mama wants Jack home right away; she's gonna shoot Papa!" Jackie says "No, that's too strong, just say "important business."
However, the plan falls apart when Jackie takes a ride to school from a beautiful young lady (June Marlowe
) with a shiny roadster
. Unbeknownst to Jackie, his benefactor is actually Miss Crabtree, and he tells her everything about the plan to harass the new teacher. She drops Jack off a mile from the school, and Jack tells her "y'know, you're almost as pretty as Miss McGillicuddy...all except in your nose."
After telling the gang about the beautiful lady that gave him the ride, Jack is shocked to find that the lady with the roadster and Miss Crabtree are one and the same. She spends the class period identifying Jack's co-conspirators (Farina, Chubby, and Buddy
), and suspends the foursome for the day just as some delivery boys (Baldwin Cooke
and Gordon Douglas
) bring in a wealth of cake and ice cream as a first-day treat for the class. After being shooed outside, the kids all turn on Jack, with an angry Farina remarking "yeah, my pal," making a throat-cutting gesture to accent his anger. Farina, Chubby, and Buddy decide to go back inside, apologize, and hope that they can "get in on that ice cream". Jack decides that he "can't ever go back; I'm too ashamed", and sits under a tree in the schoolyard and begins sobbing. After accepting the other three pranksters' apologies and giving them their treats, Miss Crabtree goes outside looking for Jack, and, upon finding him, quietly presents him with a plate of cake and a bowl of ice cream, showing that she forgives him. Amidst tears, Jack looks up at Miss Crabtree and tells her "gee, you're pretty, Miss Crabtree. You're even prettier than Miss McGillicuddy," and solemnly tries to eat his dessert.
, as the "lovely schoolteacher" Miss Crabtree, and of Matthew Beard, here identified as "Hercules
", and later called "Stymie".
The short was also the first in the series to use the now-popular Our Gang theme song, "Good Old Days", composed by Leroy Shield
and featuring a notable saxophone solo. Teacher's Pet was also the first of three Our Gang films in what is now considered the "Jackie/Miss Crabtree trilogy", which were the first sound Our Gang films to successfully balance comedy with drama and emotion. All three of the films (the other two are School's Out
and Love Business
) are opened not with text title cards, but with live-action title cards recited to the audience by two twin girls, Betty Jean and Beverly McCrane:
The same duo introduced one Laurel and Hardy
short, Another Fine Mess
(also produced in 1930) in the same fashion.
feature films such as Skippy and The Champ
; by the spring of 1931, Hal Roach had sold his contract to MGM so that Cooper could make features full-time. Miss Crabtree would go on to appear in five more Our Gang shorts, and remains today not only the most popular adult character from Our Gang, but also one of the most popular fictional schoolteachers of all time.
Teacher's Pet was remade by Hal Roach in 1936 as Bored of Education
. Directed by Gordon Douglas (who coincidently has a walk-on as a delivery boy in Teacher's Pet), and starring the mid/late 1930s Our Gang line-up of Spanky
, Alfalfa
, Buckwheat, Darla
, and Porky, Bored of Education won the 1937 Academy Award for Short Subjects (One-Reel)
.
The television syndication print distributed by King World was edited in 1971 to remove scenes considered in bad taste. These scenes were reinstated in the early 1990s.
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 by 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...
, 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:...
, and originally released to theatres 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 October 11, 1930. It was the 101st 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...
short to be released.
Plot
It is the first day of school, and the gang is less-than-happy about it. Their beloved teacher, Miss McGillicuddy, got married, and now the kids will have a new teacher for the upcoming school year. The kids know not what the new teacher will look like, only her name, a rather pungent moniker of "Miss Crabtree". They imagine this "Miss Crabtree" to be a dried-up old hag, and concoct a plan to disrupt the class with items such as a white mouse, red ants, and sneezing powderSneezing powder
Sneezing powder refers to a group of powders or powder-like substances that induce sneezing when someone is exposed to them. This is usually done as a practical joke or prank to an unsuspecting victim....
. Then, the kids are to have their younger siblings — Wheezer, Dorothy
Dorothy DeBorba
Dorothy 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:...
, and Hercules — come in and tell Miss Crabtree that they need to be excused to go home ..."and then, we're all goin' swimmin'!"
Jack
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
, the mastermind of the operation, asks Wheezer if he remembers what to say. Wheezer says "Mama wants Jack home right away; she's gonna shoot Papa!" Jackie says "No, that's too strong, just say "important business."
However, the plan falls apart when Jackie takes a ride to school from a beautiful young lady (June Marlowe
June Marlowe
June Marlowe , was an American actress, who appeared in six Our Gang short subjects as the lovely schoolteacher Miss Crabtree.-Career:...
) with a shiny roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
. Unbeknownst to Jackie, his benefactor is actually Miss Crabtree, and he tells her everything about the plan to harass the new teacher. She drops Jack off a mile from the school, and Jack tells her "y'know, you're almost as pretty as Miss McGillicuddy...all except in your nose."
After telling the gang about the beautiful lady that gave him the ride, Jack is shocked to find that the lady with the roadster and Miss Crabtree are one and the same. She spends the class period identifying Jack's co-conspirators (Farina, Chubby, and Buddy
Buddy McDonald
Thomas "Buddy"/"Bud" McDonald was an American child actor. He is perhaps best known as one of the Our Gang kids of the early sound period, and McDonald is prominently featured in the Our Gang shorts Teacher's Pet and School's Out...
), and suspends the foursome for the day just as some delivery boys (Baldwin Cooke
Baldwin Cooke
Baldwin Cooke, also known as Baldy Cooke , was a comedic American actor. Born in New York, Cooke and his wife, Alice, toured in vaudeville with Stan Laurel, remaining close friends over the years. He appeared in some thirty Laurel and Hardy comedies...
and Gordon Douglas
Gordon Douglas (director)
Gordon Douglas was an American film director, who directed many different genres of films over the course of a five-decade career in motion pictures. He was a native of New York City.-Hal Roach and Our Gang:...
) bring in a wealth of cake and ice cream as a first-day treat for the class. After being shooed outside, the kids all turn on Jack, with an angry Farina remarking "yeah, my pal," making a throat-cutting gesture to accent his anger. Farina, Chubby, and Buddy decide to go back inside, apologize, and hope that they can "get in on that ice cream". Jack decides that he "can't ever go back; I'm too ashamed", and sits under a tree in the schoolyard and begins sobbing. After accepting the other three pranksters' apologies and giving them their treats, Miss Crabtree goes outside looking for Jack, and, upon finding him, quietly presents him with a plate of cake and a bowl of ice cream, showing that she forgives him. Amidst tears, Jack looks up at Miss Crabtree and tells her "gee, you're pretty, Miss Crabtree. You're even prettier than Miss McGillicuddy," and solemnly tries to eat his dessert.
Notability
Teacher's Pet marks the first Our Gang appearances of June MarloweJune Marlowe
June Marlowe , was an American actress, who appeared in six Our Gang short subjects as the lovely schoolteacher Miss Crabtree.-Career:...
, as the "lovely schoolteacher" Miss Crabtree, and of Matthew Beard, here identified as "Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
", and later called "Stymie".
The short was also the first in the series to use the now-popular Our Gang theme song, "Good Old Days", composed by Leroy Shield
Leroy Shield
Leroy Shield was an American film score and radio composer.-Career:A native of Waseca, Minnesota, Shield was an employee of RCA Victor's National Broadcasting Company, for which he composed and conducted on-air musical pieces...
and featuring a notable saxophone solo. Teacher's Pet was also the first of three Our Gang films in what is now considered the "Jackie/Miss Crabtree trilogy", which were the first sound Our Gang films to successfully balance comedy with drama and emotion. All three of the films (the other two are School's Out
School's Out (1930 film)
School's Out is a 1930 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 102nd Our Gang short to be released.-Plot:...
and Love Business
Love Business
Love Business is a 1931 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 104th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
) are opened not with text title cards, but with live-action title cards recited to the audience by two twin girls, Betty Jean and Beverly McCrane:
- (in unison) "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen; Hal Roach presents, for your entertainment and approval, His Rascals, in their latest Our Gang comedy entitled Teacher's Pet.
- (first twin) Direction by Robert McGowan....
- (second twin) ...photographyCinematographyCinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
by Art LloydArt LloydArthur "Art" Lloyd was an American cameraman and cinematographer who worked for Hal Roach Studios and filmed many of the Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang comedies.- External links :...
... - (first twin) ...editedFilm editingFilm editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
by Richard Currier... - (second twin) ...recording by Elmer Raguse...
- (in unison)...and dialogueScreenwritingScreenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
by H.M. Walker. We thank you!
The same duo introduced one Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
short, Another Fine Mess
Another Fine Mess
For the comedy short starring Laurel and Hardy, see Another Fine MessAnother Fine Mess is the first major live release by British folk metal band Skyclad...
(also produced in 1930) in the same fashion.
Release and legacy
Teacher's Pet is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, Our Gang comedies ever made. Jackie Cooper's performance in this film paved the way for his roles in major ParamountParamount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
feature films such as Skippy and The Champ
The Champ
The Champ is a 1931 American film written by Frances Marion, Leonard Praskins and Wanda Tuchock, and directed by King Vidor. The movie stars Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper , and tells the story of a washed up alcoholic boxer who tries to put his life together for the sake of his young son.The...
; by the spring of 1931, Hal Roach had sold his contract to MGM so that Cooper could make features full-time. Miss Crabtree would go on to appear in five more Our Gang shorts, and remains today not only the most popular adult character from Our Gang, but also one of the most popular fictional schoolteachers of all time.
Teacher's Pet was remade by Hal Roach in 1936 as Bored of Education
Bored of Education
Bored of Education is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 146th entry in the Our Gang series to be released.-Plot:...
. Directed by Gordon Douglas (who coincidently has a walk-on as a delivery boy in Teacher's Pet), and starring the mid/late 1930s Our Gang line-up of Spanky
George McFarland
George 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...
, Alfalfa
Carl Switzer
Carl Dean "Alfalfa" Switzer was an American child actor, professional dog breeder and hunting guide, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series' most popular and best-remembered characters.-Early life and family:Switzer was born in Paris,...
, Buckwheat, Darla
Darla Hood
Darla Jean Hood was an American child actress, best known as the leading lady in the Our Gang series from 1935 to 1941. She was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of James Claude Hood and Elizabeth Davner...
, and Porky, Bored of Education won the 1937 Academy Award for Short Subjects (One-Reel)
Academy Award for Live Action Short Film
This name for the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film was introduced in 1974. For the three preceding years it was known as "Short Subjects, Live Action Films." The term "Short Subjects, Live Action Subjects" was used from 1957 until 1970. From 1936 until 1956 there were two separate...
.
The television syndication print distributed by King World was edited in 1971 to remove scenes considered in bad taste. These scenes were reinstated in the early 1990s.
Cast
- Jackie CooperJackie CooperJackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
– Jackie - Allen Hoskins – Farina
- Norman Chaney – Chubby
- Bobby Hutchins – Wheezer
- Matthew Beard – Hercules
- 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:...
– Echo - Buddy McDonaldBuddy McDonaldThomas "Buddy"/"Bud" McDonald was an American child actor. He is perhaps best known as one of the Our Gang kids of the early sound period, and McDonald is prominently featured in the Our Gang shorts Teacher's Pet and School's Out...
– Buddy - Mary Ann JacksonMary Ann JacksonMary Ann Jackson was an American former child actress who appeared in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1928 to 1931. She was a native of Los Angeles, California.-Career:...
– Mary Ann - Donald HainesDonald HainesDonald Haines was an American child actor who had recurring appearances in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1929 to 1933.-Our Gang:...
– Donald - Artye Folz – pea-shooter victim
- Mildred KornmanMildred KornmanMildred Kornman , also known as Ricki VanDusen, is a former American child actress.Mildred, the younger sister of Mary Kornman, leading lady of the silent film Our Gang series, was featured as a regular in the series from 1926–1928 and made more appearances from 1929 until 1935...
– classroom extra - Bobby Mallon – classroom extra
- Billy Seay – classroom extra
- June MarloweJune MarloweJune Marlowe , was an American actress, who appeared in six Our Gang short subjects as the lovely schoolteacher Miss Crabtree.-Career:...
– Miss June Crabtree - William Courtwright – old man
- Baldwin CookeBaldwin CookeBaldwin Cooke, also known as Baldy Cooke , was a comedic American actor. Born in New York, Cooke and his wife, Alice, toured in vaudeville with Stan Laurel, remaining close friends over the years. He appeared in some thirty Laurel and Hardy comedies...
– caterer - Gordon DouglasGordon Douglas (director)Gordon Douglas was an American film director, who directed many different genres of films over the course of a five-decade career in motion pictures. He was a native of New York City.-Hal Roach and Our Gang:...
– caterer - Beverly and Betty Mae Crane – title readers
External links
- Teacher's Pet at TheLuckyCorner.com