You mean
this Philip MacMahon, he's always been a favorite of mine
Yes,
that Philip MacMahon. I like him too. But considering he had a small part in only in one short, he's not exactly someone I would use as a name to promote the series.
From the back cover of the old Brentwood DVD release:
"
Bear Shooters - Ordered by his mother to look after his kid brother Bobby, nine-year-old Spud (Leon Janney) is worried that he won't be able to join his pals on a hunting trip--while his pals know that if Spud doesn't go, Spud's mule Dinah can't go either. A compromise is reached whereby Bobby tags along with the rest of the gang as they seek out 'big game' in a nearby woods. But instead of capturing a bear, as they had hoped, the kids are confronted by a gorilla--actually a heavily costumed bootlegger who wants to scare the youngsters away from his hideout."
So what's wrong with this description?
* Wheezer is called "Bobby"
* Spud is said to be nine years old. That's not only false, but also unnecessary information.
* Way to give away pretty much the entire film.
* Perhaps the biggest goof, this film isn't even included in the collection. "Came the Brawn" is in its place!
"
Official Officers - The gang needs a place to play, so they block up the city streets. A bad cop on the take comes to shut them down and after a hilarious chase and food fight, the gang is nabbed. Instead of being sent to Sing-Sing, the gang is drafted into law enforcement. These junior bobbies cause some major chaos in the name of law and order!"
* At least they got most of the plot right.
"
Spook Spoofing - (sic) The gang decides to prove their bravery in the graveyard and undercover some real bandits trying to hide their treasures. The bandits try to spook the kids but get spooked themselves in the process! A hair-raising belly full of laughs occurs when some real ghosts show up!"
* The entire plot summary is false!
"
Lazy Day - (sic) It's a rough day on the farm for poor Farina. Those farm critters can sure tire a body out! Only the lure of winning money in baby contest bestirs the lazy girl. Chubby Joe rounds up the babies of the neighborhood to compete for various prizes. Who'll be the strongest, fattest, cutest, best behaved most handsome or homliest (sic) baby? Cash prizes are to be won and the gang goes off in pursuit of them."
* Wait, wait, wait, Farina's a girl? When did this happen?
* It feels like the writer got lazy towards the end of the summary (forgetting commas, misspelling "homeliest")
"
Mary Queen of Tots - (sic) Mary is locked away in a castle, a damsel in distress. Mary's friend, the gardener, gives her dolls resembling the gang to keep her company. When she goes to sleep, the dolls come alive to mare miniature mischief. When the real gang finds out about Mary's plight, they dress up as valiant knights and rush to the mad-cap rescue!"
* I guess the writer got bored with the film after watching the scene where the dolls "come to life", turned it off, and made up the rest of the plot.
"
School's Out - The gang members eagerly await each school day, so that they can bask in the beauty and charm of their new schoolteacher Miss Crabtree (June Marlowe). Little Jackie Cooper is so smitten by the teacher that he circulates a 'perdition' to keep school open all year round. When Miss Crabtree's brother Jack (Creighton Hale) pays a visit to the schoolhouse in his sister's absence, the kids begin to worry that Jack is actually the teacher's fiancé. Remembering that marriage was 'the way we lost Miss McGillicuddy' (their previous teacher), the youngsters hatch several schemes to get rid of Jack!"
* Like "Bear Shooters", "School's Out" is not included on this set. Instead, "Hi'-Neighbor!" is.
* A little nit-pick, but Jackie actually called his petition a "partition".
"
The Fourth Alarm - (sic) The gang is drafted into the fire service. The city's newest recruits construct the zaniest fire truck ever and dash through the streets causing chaos on the way to the big '4th alarm' fire. Their ingenious contraptions rescue the fire victims and save the day"
* When did the gang's 'ingenious contraptions' rescue victims, again?
"
Olympic Games - Having failed to qualify for the official Olympic Games, the gang stagest their own nutty games in the sacred spirit of the Olympics. However, these Olympics are specifically far more interesting than the original. Weever (sic) and Pete the Pup make their debut in this hilarious tribute to sportsmanship and silliness!"
* "Weever"?
* While this was Pete's debut (by production date, anyway), it wasn't Wheezer's.
"
Our Gang Follies - (sic) This one begins in the basement "theater" of Spanky McFarland, who serves as emcee of a lavish kiddy revue, built primarily around the tales of Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, 'King of the Crooners.' Alas, Alfalfa has decided to forego swing music in favor of grand opera, and to that end he walks out of the show and heads to the Cosmopolitan Opera House, where Mr. Barnaby, the troupe's bemused manger, jokingly signs Alfalfa to a contract-effective twenty years later. Falling asleep, Alfalfa begins dreaming of his future, envisioning his name in lights all over Broadway."
* Once again, this is a film that isn't actually on the set. "Spook Hooky" is included in its place.
