Pups Is Pups

"Pups Is Pups" was the first "Our Gang" film for the 1930-31 season. This was the beginning of what is considered by many Rascals fans to be the best period in the series (roughly 1930-34).

The Gang wants to put their pets into the big pet show downtown. Wheezer wants to enter his puppies in the show, but the puppies have gotten lost. Knowing they respond to a bell, Wheezer rings every bell his can possibly find...bicycle bells, even a alarm bell (which he doesn't quite hit with a rock...he shatters a window instead). Can he find his puppies in time for the show?

If you saw "Pups Is Pups" on television growing up, you'll never forget it. The short is endearing, and the kids give natural performances. And the puppies are lovable. The one with the ring around its eye was to become the second Pete the Pup.

One of the best kids and animals movies ever. 10 out of 10.

I give this Our Gang short a 9 simply because it's so dog-gone cute. Seeing Wheezer playing hide and seek with his five puppies makes this one worth seeing! Farina gets a job at the local society dog show. He and the gang misunderstand and plan on bringing their pets (pigs, goats, frogs and the like) to the show to win prizes. Much of the film, however, shows Wheezer playing with his puppies. He's taught them to respond to a bell--much like Pavlov's experiments. And, when they accidentally get loose, EVERY possible hell in town attracts the cute puppies. Of course they get into all kinds of trouble--as do the kids. It's all good fun and one of the better Our Gang comedies.

By the way, that's Charlie Hall with the violin late in the film. He was a familiar face in various Hal Roach films--especially ones with Laurel & Hardy (such as in "Tit For Tat" and "Them That Hills").

The gang decides to enter their animals in a local pet show.

Due to perceived racism toward African-Americans, several scenes featuring Farina were edited out of the Little Rascals syndicated television prints in 1971. They remained in 16mm, VHS and DVD home video releases. The scenes were reinstated in 2001 in the prints shown on American Movie Classics until 2003.

The "perceived racism" is actually why I find the film interesting. Not that I like racism, but looking back now (2016), it is interesting to see the newspaper specifically ask for "colored" boys. The term is outdated, but more to the point: why only them? Could white boys not be pages? It is interesting to me how long the black community found work as servants, maids and so on... did the class divide ever really go away?

What a great short this is from the early talking Our Gang series. It is so endearing that it will bring a tear to your eye. The centerpiece of the film is Wheezer and his puppies. It is obvious that his exuberance with the pups is natural and so delightful. He was such an absolutely darling child and a good little actor to boot. His "jingle, jingle, jingle" will steal your heart. If you love this one, see "Dogs is Dogs", also with Wheezer. It will make you cry.

An OUR GANG Comedy Short

Farina alerts Chubby, Jackie & the rest of the Gang about a fancy pet show taking place downtown, prompting the kids into entering their pig, goat, mice & toads. Meanwhile, little Wheezer is discovering that PUPS IS PUPS as he tries to keep his five rambunctious puppies from running all over town.

A funny little film, with lots of interaction between the Rascals & their animals. Recurring highlight: Dorothy & the mud puddle. That's Charlie Hall as the violin player.