Series: Our Gang Director: Robert F. McGowan Producer: Hal Roach, Robert F. McGowan Dialogue: H.M. Walker Photography: Art Lloyd Editor: Richard C. Currier Sound: Elmer Raguse Stars: Matthew Beard, Bobby Hutchins, Dorothy DeBorba, Sherwood Bailey Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 10 October 1931 Length: 2 reels Production No.: G-2 Filming dates: June 29 - July 9, 1931 Rating: -/10

Shiver My Timbers

Available on BLU-RAY & DVD:

We begin with dozens of sword-waving pirates storming a ship before we cut to a sideburn-wearing sea captain (BILLY GILBERT) who is telling the kids stories of his days at sea. But when his words begin to sound a little graphic (chopping off the pirate's heads etc.), some of the kids get scared. The second story is about the captain's voyage to the Pole when Stymie pipes up with a story about his pole cat. Echo (DOROTHY DEBORBA) runs off to tell Miss Crabtree (JUNE MARLOWE) that the children are playing hooky from school by listening to the captain's stories down by the docks. Crabtree puts Echo in charge of the empty classroom as she goes to investigate. Meanwhile, the captain and Stymie continue to engage in confusing conversation over polar bears and malaria. Crabtree goes to see the sea captain and all the kids run and hide, with the exception of Marmalade (BETTY JANE BEARD). The teacher remonstrates with the captain and threatens to tell the children's parents that he is keeping them from going to school on account of his stories. Pete's barking gives away the kids' hiding places and Crabtree tells them she is going to inform their parents. Stymie hits back with such naivety when she threatens to tell his father: "Well you'll have to wait ten days because he's in jail".

The captain takes the teacher aside and tells her he has a plan to set things right so that the kids lose interest in sailing with him and becoming pirates and treasure hunters. Later that night the gang show up at the docks all dressed up in pirates costumes and ready to go off with the captain. Once they get on board they find themselves at the mercy of a group of pirates, all acting out the captain's wishes to scare the children out of wanting to go to sea. REVIEW COMPLETE TO 8:44

Trivia • The 109th film in the series. • Copyrighted October 1, 1930. • When Stymie questions the sea captain on the polar bears at a funeral, he is of course referring to pallbearers. • The children all meet up on the docks at night with the intention of going off with Billy Gilbert on his boat. Just what parent(s) would allow their young child to do such a thing unaccompanied by an adult - at night?!

	Matthew Beard Stymie
	Bobby Hutchins Wheezer
	Dorothy DeBorba Echo
	Sherwood Bailey Spud
	Jerry Tucker Jerry
	George Ernest Georgie
	Betty Jane Beard Marmalade
	Jerry Madden Boy
	Perry Glass Boy
	Billy Gilbert Sea captain
	June Marlowe Miss June Crabtree
	Charles Oelze Pirate with funny glasses
	Harry Bernard Pirate
	Dick Gilbert Pirate
	Cy Slocum Cy, pirate
	Jack Hill Pirate
	Leo Sulky Pirate

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

POSTER (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: The Little Rascals: The Life And Times Of Our Gang by Leonard Maltin & Richard W. Bann (book) http://www.theluckycorner.com/rmt/109.html (Robert Demoss/The Lucky Corner) http://ourgang.wikia.com/wiki/Shiver_My_Timbers (Our Gang Wiki) Matthew Lydick (identification of Betty Jane Beard) This page was last updated on: 10 October 2023