Darla Hood Movies

In this animated story based on the adventures of Our Gang, the kids attempt to raise enough money to buy Spanky's mother a new coat for Christmas. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

This lively musical was made to capitalize on the popularity of calypso music and features some excellent production numbers. It all begins when a jukebox magnate tries to force his way into a record company. They succeed and this angers the labels biggest star, who doesn't want to change his style. He disappears and so does all of the company's profits. Musical chaos reigns for awhile, but eventually everything is set to rights and happiness ensues. Look for distinguished poet Maya Angelou singing "Run Joe" and actor Alan Arkin's performance with the folk group the Tarriers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The Our Gang kids are upset that WWII is causing them deprivations and inconveniences. Organizing a fact-finding committee, Gang members Mickey (Robert Blake), Froggy (Billy Laughlin), Buckwheat (Billy Thomas), and Janet Burston try to determine what to do about the present national crisis. With the help of a convenient copy of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, the kids stage a play in which they cathartically come to grips with the sacrifices indigenous to the war effor, and provide patriotic solutions to the situation. The one-reel Our Gang propaganda piece Benjamin Franklin Jr. was originally released on January 30, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Junior con man Freddie "Slicker" Walburn sells the Our Gang kids some "invisible rays," with which they hope to power their homemade mechanical robot. Miracle of miracles, the robot not only begins to move, but actually performs several of the gang's household chores. In truth, the robot is being manipulated by Slicker's cohort Billy Ray "Boxcar" Smith, but the kids don't find out until their rampaging mechanical man nearly lays waste to the entire neighborhood. The one-reel Our Gang comedy Robot Wrecks was originally released on July 12, 1941. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having read horror stories about wicked stepmothers, the Our Gang kids are determined to break up the marriage between Darla Hood's widowed father (Byron Shores) and his new bride (Barbara Bedford). Never bothering to find out (as Darla has) that the second Mrs. Hood is a wonderful woman, the kids pull off all sorts of pranks at the wedding ceremony, from playing the radio too loud to releasing a cylinder of laughing gas. This is one time that the climactic assembly-line spanking gag is thoroughly justified. Originally released on December 13, 1941, the one-reel Wedding Worries marked Darla Hood's final Our Gang appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Our Gang kids unintentionally wreak havoc at the gala Hollywood premiere of the adventure epic Gun Boats. Chased away by the angry authorities, the undaunted kids decide to stage their own movie premiere -- and they even film a movie for the occasion! Alas, the gang's cinematic effort, The Mysteeryus Mystery, isn't quite as entertaining as the efforts by Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas to remove his feet from a block of cement (he was merely trying to leave his footprints, à la Grauman's Chinese Theater). Like many MGM Our Gang one-reelers, this one ends with a song performed by Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer -- with the unsolicited assistance of a newly hatched chick. The Big Premiere was originally released on March 9, 1940. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Of the many MGM Our Gang comedies focused on whiny child actor Robert Blake, the one-reel All About Hash is often cited as the worst of the bunch. It seems that little Mickey (Blake) is upset over the fact that his parents (Louis Jean Heydt and Peggy Shannon) spend every Monday night arguing. The reason: Mickey's mom invariably serves hash from the Sunday-dinner leftovers, and Mickey's dad hates hash. To teach the two adults a lesson, the Our Gang kids stage a skit on a local radio program, ending with a heartfelt plea by Mickey to stop the quarrelling. All About Hash was originally released on March 30, 1940. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An unofficial reworking of such silent Our Gang comedies as Tire Troubleand Boys Will Be Joys, as well as the 1936 two-reeler Second Childhood, the one-reel talkie Kiddie Kure is a tour de force for that marvelous character actor Thurston Hall. While playing baseball near the home of wealthy hypochondriac Mr. Morton (Hall), the Our Gang kids inadvertently break one of Morton's windows. This mishap coincides with a plan hatched by Morton's wife (Josephine Whitell) to get her husband's mind off his imaginary illnesses by adopting some children. Hoping to prove that he'd be an unsuitable parent, Morton pretends that he's crazy, the better to scare away the gang and to dissuade Mrs. Morton from her adoption scheme. Instead, the kids prove to Morton that he doesn't need all his pills and poultices, thereby giving the old man a new lease on life and a better appreciation of children. Originally released on November 23, 1940, Kiddie Kure marked the final Our Gang appearance of series stalwart Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Our Gang member Mickey (Robert Blake) reads an article stating that one out of every four children born is Chinese, he begins to worry that his new baby brother will be Chinese as well. Spanky McFarland and the rest of the Gang put Mickey at ease by introducing him to the family of Spanky's new friend Lee Wong. Once he's learned that people are people no matter what their ethnic background, Mickey is mollified -- until he discovers that his much-anticipated "kid brother" is not only a girl, but twins to boot. Originally released on February 15, 1941, the one-reel Our Gang comedy Baby Blues might be regarded as patronizing and even offensive by contemporary viewers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Reprimanded for his poor grades ("Gee, Dad, don't 'F' stand for 'Fabulous'?"), Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer is told that, unless he improves his academic standing, he'll never get to college. But Alfalfa laughs this off, informing his dad that he intends to sail through college on a football scholarship. Dreaming about his future gridiron triumphs, Alfie is brought down to earth when he envisions himself being disqualified from the inevitable "big game" due to his lousy grades. Awakening from this nightmare, our hero vows to put football on the back burner in favor of cracking the books. A typically heavy-handed MGM "Our Gang" entry, the one-reel morality play Time Out for Lessons was originally released on December 2, 1939. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Upset that his youthful sweetheart Darla Hood has once again thrown him over in favor of neighborhood bully Tommy "Butch" Bond, Our Gang member Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer tries to forget his troubles by watching a sidewalk performance by famed hypnotist Professor William Delmore (John Davidson). Chosen as a subject, Alfalfa is hypnotized into believing that he is the fearless D'Artagnan, of Three Musketeers fame. Armed with this bold new personality, Alfie not only sweeps Darla off her feet, but also challenges the dumbfounded Butch to a duel. The results, while not deadly, are devastating for both Alfalfa and Butch. The one-reel Our Gang comedy Duel Personalities was originally released March 11, 1939. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Our Gang kids must raise 37 cents to pay off neighborhood bully Tommy "Butch" Bond. After earning a dollar for taking care of an injured dog, the kids hit upon a sure-fire moneymaking scheme; they'll "rescue" every dog in town, thereby collecting a dollar from each grateful owner. Naturally, the pet owners are upset when their pooches mysteriously disappear, and before long the gang is in hot water with the cops. Originally released on July 1, 1939, Dog Daze is a substandard Our Gang one-reeler that even the presence of guest star Scotty Beckett (repeating his "Cousin Wilbur" characterization) cannot rescue from mediocrity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Our Gang kids' hopes to win the upcoming Kidmobile Race Classic are nearly dashed when town bully Tommy "Butch" Bond arranges for the gang's pet pooch Whiskers to be picked up by the dog pound. But instead of demoralizing the gang, the impoundment of Whiskers merely gives them a stronger reason to win the race and claim the prize, with which they will pay the dog's license fee. Only temporarily foiled, Butch and his pal Sidney "Woim" Kibrick try every dirty trick in the book to sabotage the gang's homemade "auto." The one-reel Our Gang comedy Auto Antics was originally released on July 22, 1939. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide