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