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Spanky Debuts in The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Vol. 3 This October

This October 19th, eleven more restored Our Gang sound shorts are making way to Blu-ray in The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 3.

In the history of classic cinema, Hal Roach's Our Gang franchise is among the most well known and one of the most beloved. Within the gang, the most recognizable and iconic member, even today, is George 'Spanky' McFarland. Spanky's incredible natural talent and irresistible cuteness are on full display in our latest Little Rascal volume with the three-year-old tot appearing in 10 of the 11 shorts.

Every film in this must-have collection was newly scanned and restored (both image and audio) from original Hal Roach 35mm materials.

See below for full details as well as a video clip demonstrating the restoration quality of the shorts in the set.

Remastered, uncut, and beautifully restored, now you can see The Little Rascals like never before! With restorations so glorious, it will be like watching these iconic shorts for the first time!

From 1929 to 1931, Hal Roach's "Our Gang" series showcasing scruffy but lovable kids was among the studio's biggest successes in the new era of sound. But in 1932, the franchise would introduce one of the most beloved and durable members of the gang in George "Spanky" McFarland—so named because of his mother's constant admonitions of "Mustn't touch! Spanky, spanky!"

Director James Horne, having shot a reel's worth of test footage of the youngster (later recycled in Spanky [1932]), showed it to anyone and everyone on the Roach lot, and shortly afterward, "Spanky" made his modest debut in Free Eats (1932). But Roach, recognizing the cuteness and natural talent of McFarland, immediately promoted the three-year-old to major player status by titling the next short after the tot and using his allure for maximum mirth in classic outings like The Pooch, Hook & Ladder and Birthday Blues—all made in 1932 and all included in this set.

The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 3 contains the next 11 Our Gang sound shorts produced by Roach at the dawn of the "talkie era": Readin' and Writin' (1932) to Forgotten Babies (1933)—with each short newly scanned and restored from original Hal Roach 35mm film elements.

A must-have for any true Our Gang fan, Volume 3 features the talents of Dickie Moore, Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins, Dorothy DeBorba, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Kendall "Breezy Brisbane" McComas, and of course, George "Spanky" McFarland. This volume also includes a special treat with Our Gang alums Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb and Allen “Farina” Hoskins featured in Fish Hooky (1933)!

SHORTS:

1932

  • Readin' and Writin'
  • Free Eats
  • Spanky
  • Choo-Choo!
  • The Pooch
  • Hook and Ladder
  • Free Wheeling
  • Birthday Blues
  • A Lad an' a Lamp

1933

  • Fish Hooky
  • Forgotten Babies