Reunion in Rhythm

One thing I've sure noticed as I sit here watching my Our Gang DVD collection is that in the Alfalfa era (starting around 1935) the series took a major hit. With the addition to Alfalfa and Darla, the Hal Roach Studio suddenly changed the style of the films--adding LOTS of singing and dancing--just the sort of things the kids NEVER did before that time. However, despite hating this, I loved seeing "Reunion in Rhythm" simply because it featured some wonderful cameos by older members of the cast who had outgrown the films. So, look closely and you'll see the likes of Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb, Stymie Beard and Mary Kornman. Sadly, however, aside from a small bit with Mickey, the rest just sit there and don't even get any lines! What a waste...

This film consists of the older gang members coming to school for a graduation party. Unfortunately, a major portion of this consists of the newer members entertaining them by putting on a pageant. Porky was great in it because he didn't sing. As for the rest, although it's supposed to be a school production and the audience is very tiny, the costs of the sets must have been astronomical!!! In fact, it looked a bit like a Busby Berkeley musical in childish proportions. Fortunately, Buckwheat did his best to mess up the pageant--breathing a bit of comedy into this otherwise bizarre and dull musical.