''Three Smart Boys'' is a 1937 ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' short

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Gordon Douglas. It was the 153rd ''Our Gang'' short to be released.

Plot

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 is 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 apart when, while visiting the doctor (

Sidney Bracey Sidney Bracey (born Sidney Bracy; 18 December 1877 – 5 August 1942) was an Australian-born American actor. Born into an acting family, he began a stage career in Australia, on Broadway and in Britain usually as leading men in musicals and ...

), the boys are led to believe that Buckwheat has been transformed into a monkey. They then find 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.

Cast

The Gang

* Eugene Lee as Porky *

George McFarland George Robert Philips McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' short ...

as Spanky *

Carl Switzer Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

as Alfalfa *

Billie Thomas Billie may refer to: People *Billie (given name), the given name Other * ''Billie'' (1965 film), a 1965 film starring Patty Duke * ''Billie'' (2019 film), a documentary about Billie Holiday * ''Billie'' (musical), 1928 Broadway musical by ...

as Buckwheat *

Darwood Kaye Darwood Kenneth Smith (September 8, 1929 – May 15, 2002), also known as Darwood Kaye, was an American child actor most notable for his semi-regular role as the bookish rich kid Waldo in the ''Our Gang'' short subjects series from 1937 to 1940. ...

as Waldo

Additional cast

as O.T. Hertz, the veterinary doctor * Nora Cecil as Miss Witherspoon, Superintendent * Jack Egan as The assistant *

Rosina Lawrence Rosina May Lawrence (December 30, 1912 – June 23, 1997) was a British-Canadian actress and singer. She had a short but memorable career in the 1920s and 1930s in Hollywood before she married in 1939 and retired from entertainment. She is best ...

as Miss Lawrence, Teacher *

Darla Hood Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979) was an American child actress, best known as the female lead in the ''Our Gang'' series from 1935 to 1941. As an adult, she performed as a singer in nightclubs and on television. ''Our ...

as Darla

Production notes

''Three Smart Boys'' marked the eighth and final appearance of

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.

References

External links

* 1937 films American black-and-white films 1937 comedy films Films directed by Gordon Douglas Hal Roach Studios short films Our Gang films 1930s American films 1930s English-language films Films scored by Marvin Hatley Films scored by Leroy Shield {{short-comedy-film-stub