The Pooch

While it is usually pointless to choose favorite episodes of any continuing series, it is also irresistible. "The Pooch" happens to be my favorite movie from the OUR GANG/LITTLE RASCALS short subject series. Its blend of tear-jerking melodrama, comedy and social commentary epitomizes the strength of Hal Roach's RASCALS series.

While there is undeniable racial stereotyping in many of the OUR GANG shorts which makes for uncomfortable viewing today, the usual intent of the films (besides belly laughter and the occasional tear) was to break down barriers: both racial and socio-economic. Never was this more obvious than in "The Pooch" in which a black kid (Stymie) appears to be the older brother of a white kid (Spanky). And where both, quite poor and hungry (but never grim or humorless), explain to a counterman when he asks how they expect to get food with no money, "Well, we don't 'specks it, we just want it."

On a side note, this was also the last appearance of a descendent of the original Petie (the bull terrier with a circle around his eye). For whatever reason Petie's trainer and Hal Roach parted company after this short, and all future Peties were in fact impostors.

This Our Gang short takes it's time. The film opens with Stymie and Spanky searching for some food and eventually leads into a plot involving the gang trying to save Pete from the dog catcher. A scene involving Stymie trying to peel an artichoke is a classic. Another highlight is a scene in which Spanky plays with Pete the pooch. No doubt this was just a case of letting the camera role while the little boy played with the dog, but it sure is funny. You'll laugh, just be patient with it.