While I think I saw the end of this when it was first broadcast in 1979, I just watched this thing in its entirety just now on YouTube. The gang (Spanky, Alfalfa, Darla, Porky, Stymie, and Pete) are trying to get Spanky and Porky's mom a new coat while also waiting for a toy train. That's all I'll say about that. This was quite a funny and touching animated version of Our Gang. Speaking of them, two of its former members have voices here. Matthew "Stymie" Beard is a butcher and Darla Hood is Spanky and Porky's mom. I also recognized Frank Nelson-best known for his work on "The Jack Benny Program" TV and radio show-as a store salesman. So on that note, if you ever stumble unto The Little Rascals' Christmas Special, I highly recommend it. P.S. This was Darla's last work as she'd pass away on June 13, 1979 before this aired. Stymie would do the same on January 8, 1981.
2 Reviews
Last Darla Hood Role
richard.fuller113 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Darla Hood is Mom, Stymie Beard is the butcher.
Buckwheat, by this time ruled a racist stereotype, even tho he was but a baby in the old shows, hence his speech difficulties, was replaced with Stymie in cartoon form.
Darling little cartoon adventure seeking to keep the kids in the 30s, as Spanky does what I don't think he ever did on the original shorts; he refers to the Depression.
Mom buys a blue electric and Spanky and baby brother Porky overhear and think she is getting them a blue electric train, when she was actually ordering a blue electric vacuum cleaner for the woman she worked for.
Mom decides to return her brand new coat she has saved up all year to get the electric train for the boys. Spanky has then recruited the gang to raise money for Mom to GET her a new coat, not realizing what she did.
The gang (Spanky, Alfalfa, Porky, Stymie and 'Hundreds and Thousands of Dollars' Darla, oh, and Pete the dog) do a bizarre chore of shoveling snow with feathers-substitutes, breaking the window in the process on the house intended.
Spanky then learns Mom traded in the coat for the train and he opts to return the train for the coat. Only the train is then stolen by Butch the bully.
And all the while, the disgruntled street corner Santa watches.
Charming in its quietness, a somewhat takeoff of Gift of the Magi (how many times can you see that story done?), the events end happily for all.
Three years later, the Saturday morning Little Rascals cartoon would turn up, now with Porky speaking gibberish like Buckwheat had done decades earlier.
Buckwheat, by this time ruled a racist stereotype, even tho he was but a baby in the old shows, hence his speech difficulties, was replaced with Stymie in cartoon form.
Darling little cartoon adventure seeking to keep the kids in the 30s, as Spanky does what I don't think he ever did on the original shorts; he refers to the Depression.
Mom buys a blue electric and Spanky and baby brother Porky overhear and think she is getting them a blue electric train, when she was actually ordering a blue electric vacuum cleaner for the woman she worked for.
Mom decides to return her brand new coat she has saved up all year to get the electric train for the boys. Spanky has then recruited the gang to raise money for Mom to GET her a new coat, not realizing what she did.
The gang (Spanky, Alfalfa, Porky, Stymie and 'Hundreds and Thousands of Dollars' Darla, oh, and Pete the dog) do a bizarre chore of shoveling snow with feathers-substitutes, breaking the window in the process on the house intended.
Spanky then learns Mom traded in the coat for the train and he opts to return the train for the coat. Only the train is then stolen by Butch the bully.
And all the while, the disgruntled street corner Santa watches.
Charming in its quietness, a somewhat takeoff of Gift of the Magi (how many times can you see that story done?), the events end happily for all.
Three years later, the Saturday morning Little Rascals cartoon would turn up, now with Porky speaking gibberish like Buckwheat had done decades earlier.
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