Bargain Day

Wheezer has the "Peddlin' craze" again, according to Jackie. Little Wheezer cleaned out the Gang's trunk of stuff and is selling the items door to door with Stymie. When they get to "Poor Little Rich Girl" Shirley's house, she invites them to come inside because she is lonely. The rest of the Gang arrive at the house to track down Wheezer, and the usual brand of Rascals mayhem occurs!!

"Bargain Days" (originally titled "Bargain Day"; the "s" was added when the film went into TV syndication) was filmed towards the end of the excellent 1930-31 "Our Gang" release season. Many of the film's highlights occur when Chubby is on the screen. First, Chubby is shopping for a new hat; the Gang helps him out, until he finally settles on a top hat! Second, when Chubby discovers a hot steam reducing machine, he ventures inside, wanting to shed a few pounds. Unfortunately the Gang forgets he is there, and the only things the reducing machine reduces are Chubby's clothes and top hat, which is now just a tiny covering on his head! This ending represents one of the most memorable endings in Our Gang/Little Rascals history.

Another highlight is the exchange between Shirley and Wheezer and Stymie. When Wheezer asks where Shirley's mother is, she tells them "Watt Street." Wheezer answers, "What street?" This exchange goes back and forth, for solid laughs.

Sharp viewers will discover that Jackie Cooper and Donald Haines disappear in the middle of the film, replaced by two doubles seen from the back. Cooper and Haines left the Hal Roach Studios to make "Skippy" at Paramount during the making of this film. "Bargain Day/s" proved Cooper's last Our Gang film, a void that was felt in the series until the debut of Spanky McFarland the following year.

Paced well, with lots of good humor and verbal gags, "Bargain Days" is another solid entry in the 1930-31 release season. 9 out of 10.