Three Smart Boys is a 1937 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas. It was the 153rd Our Gang short to be released.[1]

Three Smart Boys
Directed byGordon Douglas
Produced byHal Roach
StarringGeorge McFarland
Carl Switzer
Billie Thomas
Eugene Lee
Darla Hood
Darwood Kaye
Shirley Coates
Rosina Lawrence
Sidney Bracey
Nora Cecil
Jack Egan
George the Monk
CinematographyArt Lloyd
Edited byWilliam H. Ziegler
Music byLeroy Shield
Marvin Hatley
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • May 13, 1937 (1937-05-13)
Running time
10:35
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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The boys are anxious to get out of school. They overhear the superintendent of the area's schools talking with Miss Lawrence who wants to close the school for a week to attend a sister's wedding. She was initially denied stating that only an epidemic would justify closing school. Spanky then decides to stage a phony epidemic with Alfalfa and Buckwheat. This time, it is the measles, requiring the boys to paint blotches on their faces. The plan comes a-cropper when, while visiting the doctor (Sidney Bracey), the boys are led to believe that Buckwheat has been transformed into a monkey. Spanky and Alfalfa think Buckwheat is still a monkey. That was when he found out that the superintendent changed her mind and decided to let Miss Lawrence to attend the wedding after all and the school would be closed for a week.[2]

Cast

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The Gang

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Additional cast

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  • Sidney Bracey as O.T. Hertz, the veterinary doctor
  • Nora Cecil as Miss Witherspoon, Superintendent
  • Jack Egan as The assistant
  • Rosina Lawrence as Miss Lawrence, Teacher
  • Darla Hood as Darla
  • Shirley Coates as Girl with Darla
  • George the Monk as Monkey

Production notes

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Three Smart Boys marked the eighth and final appearance of Rosina Lawrence as teacher "Miss Jones." The film was marginally edited due to perceived racism toward African Americans on the syndicated Little Rascals television package in 1971.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. pp. 203–204. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. ^ Hal Erickson (2008). "New York Times: Three Smart Boys". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
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