Series: Our Gang Director: Edward L. Cahn Producer: Jack Chertok, Richard Goldstone Screenplay: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan Photography: Paul Vogel Editor: Ralph Goldstein Art director: Richard Duce Stars: Robert Blake, Darla Hood, George McFarland, Carl Switzer, Billie Thomas, Billy Laughlin, Juanita Quigley Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 27 April 1940 Length: 1 reel Production No.: 2677 Filming dates: February 7-10, 1940 Rating: 4/10

The New Pupil

Available on DVD:

Sally Stevens (JUANITA QUIGLEY) is the new girl in school and is introduced to the class by the teacher. Alfalfa makes the observation that she is really pretty and ends up punished with a dunce's hat! After Harold (BILLY LAUGHLIN) delivers his 1812 War speech for the class the teacher calls for lunch. Outside Darla sits on a bench waiting to share her food with Spanky and Alfalfa but finds they are sitting with the new girl. Sally quickly excuses herself when Alfalfa tries to tempt her with a disgusting sandwich. Sally goes to sit down next to Darla, who is initially reluctant to accept her company but when Sally tells her she has no interest in Spanky or Alfalfa, Darla forms a plan to teach them a lesson for breaking their luncheon with her. Sally invites both boys to her house later that afternoon to help her with arithmetic. Spanky shows up at 4pm as planned and the girl's plan is put into motion: Sally asks Spanky for help with a deliberately complicated question, which Spanky deflects. She then encourages Spanky to put on a dress and hold a toy baby as part of a game. A few moments later Alfalfa arrives to witness Spanky's humiliation. Despite his initial reservations, Alfalfa agrees to join in with Sally's game and dresses up too. She tells the boys to sing a lullaby to their plastic babies. Neither of the boys realize that the rest of their classmates are all hiding behind a bush watching every second of it! The next day at school all is seemingly forgiven until Darla gets cross when she sees that Mickey has now hooked up with Sally.

Favourite bit Spanky and Alfalfa's humiliation.

Trivia • Copyrighted April 22, 1940. • Release no. C-137. • Film #191 in the series. • This was Billy 'Froggy' McLaughlin's debut in the series, although here his character is called Harold. • The screeching 'Go to sleep my baaaaaaaaaaby' lullaby that Alfalfa and Spanky sing to their babies is the same one Oliver Hardy sings to the children in Brats. My opinion • If I'm honest, it's not bad.

	George McFarland Spanky
	Carl Switzer Alfalfa
	Juanita Quigley Sally Stevens
	Darla Hood Darla
	Robert Blake Mickey
	Billy Laughlin Harold
	Billie Thomas Buckwheat
	Patsy Currier Darla's friend
	Darwood Kaye Student
	Paul Hilton Student
	Tommy McFarland Student
	Joe Geil Student
	Harold Switzer Tall boy near slide
	Joan Blake Student
	Anne O'Neal School teacher
	May McAvoy Sally's mother

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: The Little Rascals: The Life And Times Of Our Gang by Leonard Maltin & Richard W. Bann (book) http://theluckycorner.com/mt/191.html (Robert Demoss/The Lucky Corner) Matthew Lydick (information) This page was last updated on: 27 April 2026