Helping Hands (film)

Helping Hands
Helping Hands
Directed by	Edward Cahn
Written by	Hal Law ; Robert A. McGowan
Produced by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Starring	George McFarland ; Billie Thomas ; Darla Hood ; Mickey Gubitosi ; Billy Laughlin
Cinematography	Jackson Rose
Edited by	Leon Borgeau
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	September 27, 1941;
Running time	10:44
Country	United States
Language	English

Last updated July 27, 2025

Helping Hands is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 201st Our Gang short to be released.^[1]

Plot

Spanky receives a letter from his recently drafted older brother. Inspired by the letter's patriotic sentiments, Spanky and the gang organize a "home guard," prepared to do battle should the Nazis invade California. This attracts the attention of Army Major Sanford, who informs the kids that they would be of even greater service to Uncle Sam by looking out for fire hazards, collecting scrap metal and paper, and encouraging their parents to buy war stamps and bonds.

Cast

The Gang

Mickey Gubitosi as Mickey
Darla Hood as Darla
Billy Laughlin as Froggy
George McFarland as Spanky
Billie Thomas as Buckwheat

Additional cast

Vincent Graeff as Sentree
James Gubitosi as Nick
Edward Soo Hoo as Lee Wong
Harvard Peck as Boy examined by Froggy
Leon Tyler as Swedish boy
Freddie Chapman as Kid complaining in line
Mickey Laughlin as Kid hit with baseball bat
Margaret Bert as Mickey's mother
Sam Flint as Major Sanford
Byron Foulger as Mr. Morton, head of civilian counsel
Joe Young as Clerk
Raphael Dolciame as Kid
Ralph Hodges as Kid
Mickey McGuire as Kid
Michael Miller as Kid
Tommy Dee Miller as Kid
Emmet Vogan as Darla's father (scene deleted)

Production notes

The film marked the first of the wartime propaganda-themed shorts in the Our Gang series. Critics and fans both have cited that the wartime films marked a noticeable decline in the series.^[2]

References

↑ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0 . Retrieved 3 March 2024.
↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (2008). "New York Times: Helping-Hands". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.

External links

Helping Hands at IMDb

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[1] Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-517-52675-0 . Retrieved 3 March 2024.

[NY_Times-2] Van Gelder, Lawrence (2008). "New York Times: Helping-Hands". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.

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