Cheap Little Rascals Vol. 3 (Video) (James W. Horne, Nate Watt, James Parrott, Gordon Douglas, Robert A. McGowan, Gus Meins, Fred C. Newmeyer, Robert F. McGowan) Price

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Customer Reviews of Little Rascals Vol. 3

Jackie has a big crush on the new teacher, Miss Crabtree
Volume 3 in the "Little Rascals" collection is quite different from the first two because the first three episodes focus on Jackie Cooper's infatuation with his new teacher, Miss Crabtree. "Teachers's Pet" (1930) finds the gang upset on the first day of school that their beloved Miss McGillicuddy has been replaced by a new teacher which the horrible name of Miss Crabtree. Of course she is a beautiful young blonde (June Marlowe) who happens to pick up Jack and Wheezer on the way to school. They proudly reveal some of the stunts they have for their new teacher: sneezing powder, red ants and a mouse. Fortunately, Miss Crabtree is not only good looking, she is pretty smart too. "Teachers' Pet" is a different type of "Our Gang" comedy, in that there it relies on the story rather than gadgets and action. This one has Jackie, Farina, Chubby, Wheezer, Echo, and Hercules. A fitting companion piece, "School's Out" (1930) is the next "Our Gang" comedy made but now it is the end of the school year and Jackie is passing around a "partition" for school to stay open all summer. Seems he likes Miss Crabtree a lot, which is why Jackie's crush makes him chase off the stranger who is asking after her. Jackie is not going to let this team get married and run away (but it is only her brother). There is a nice bit here involving a Miss Crabtree trying to give the kids a quiz. jackie, Farina, Chubby and Mary Ann have most of the action in this one.

Jackie's love for Miss Crabtree continues to get the better of him in "Love Business" (1931). But now he has some serious competition. Miss Crabtree is now a border at Jackie's house and when Chubby shows up to propose marriage the insanely jealous Jackie sabotages his friends every romantic effort (Chubby had been practicing on a cutout of Greta Garbo). What is interesting here is that Miss Crabtree plays along, actually kissing him when he tells she is pretty; I sure do not remember my teachers being like this. But the fun here is between the romantic rivals, Jackie and Chubby.

The final episode, "Spooky Hooky" (1936) offers up an entirely different set of Little Rascals: Buckwheat, Porky, Spanky, Alfalfa, and Von the Dog. However, school is still the common denominator, because the circus is coming to town and Spanky has a plan to get them out of class. Irony abounds, not only in that the plan almost backfires big time, but in that fiction comes true in the end. This is only a one-reeler from Roach Studios and the gang's teacher, Miss Jones (Rosina Lawrence) is not as cute as Miss Crabtree, but it does teach the lesson that honesty is the best policy. So, overall, Volume 3 is another first rate collection of Little Rascal comedies, even if they do try to convince young kids that school is an okay place to be during the day.