Product Description

Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 08/13/2002

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7647 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-05-15
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

From the Back Cover
The gang's all here—Our Gang, that is , with Spanky, Alfalfa, Jackie, Farina, Scotty, Buckwheat, Chubby, Stymie, Wheezer, Dickie, Tommy, Mary, Pete and more in uncut versions of some of their funniest episodes. A magic lamp turns two adults into new arrivals at the Happy Home Orphanage in Shrimps for a Day, while the Rascals show a thief how to Fly My Kite when he tries to send their beloved Grandma to the poor farm. The Gang is snubbed after saying Hi Neighbor to the new kid on the block, and Spanky has Beginners Luck during his debut on amateur night, before they mistake a hungry Kid from Borneo for Uncle George.

Customer Reviews

Affordable Good Stuff
Good collection of Rascals shorts. "Shrimps For A day" is the classic tale of Spanky and two midgets (Olive and Dick Brasno) who lead a kiddie revolt against a tyrannical orphanage owner. If seen in childhood, it will stay in your mind forever! "Hi Neighbor" and "Fly My Kite" are great, but easily available elsewhere (they seem to be on almost every Our Gang DVD). "Beginner's Luck" is a howl-fest about Spanky's misadventures at a kiddie talent show. Look for Alfalfa's debut in this one as well as the Five cabin Kids, a talented group of Black children who were quite popular at the time. Check the kiddie imitation of Louis Armstrong!

Then there's "The Kid From Borneo." One of the less "politically correct" Rascal epics, modern Black viewers may not take well to the story of the children's encounter with a Black "jungle savage". Stymie (of all people) is given lines referring to the title character as a "sissy cannibal" and a "gorilla ape." However, it does have moments of real humor and contains some great chase scenes. One has to really "leave your brains at the door" to enjoy this one and remember that the positive racial aspects of the Rascals far outweigh the negative, given the times that they were made. Personally, my reaction to the film veers between cringing and laughter, although I've seen far worse.

That aside, the transfers vary and youmay have to turn up the brightness on your tv to enjoy this set. But overall, a good collection, especially for longtime fans.

Nice selection of early Our Gang comedies
This inexpensive DVD presents the viewer with five great earlier Our Gang comedies.
The prints and transfer are fairly good, especially considering the age of these shorts.
Plenty of laughs and some tears here - "Fly My Kite" is touching, mixing both pathos and comedy.
"The Kid From Borneo" ("Yum, yum, eat 'em up!") is seldom seen anymore, probably due to its insensitive racial portrayals.
But if you judge this as a product of its time, there are plenty of laughs here.

The Rascals
Brings back memories of what REAL comedy is all about. You gotta love the Little Rascals