...this might be my selection. I've always said that for me, it's impossible to pick a favorite short from the series but this is as close as I can come to a definitive choice. My memories from seeing this on TV during my childhood are so vivid that I can pretty much remember the day of the week it was, the weather conditions outside, etc. That's how impactful and memorable this short is. No wonder that in 2004 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
First off, this is the first Our Gang short to fully utilize the wonderful background music by LeRoy Shield that the series would become famous for. Let's face it, many people remember the music almost as much as the shorts themselves. Of particular note is the heavy use of the rousing theme "Hide And Go Seek" heard most often when the scenes included the pups and/or the pups and Weezer. This short also marked the debut of Dorothy DeBorba. There are pretty much four stories in one here. Weezer and his relationship with the pups. The gang entering their rag tag pets in a contest. DeBorba constantly jumping into puddles to the dismay of brother Jackie Cooper. The patient forced to leave his head/neck in a "looking up" position. All four of these stories are molded effortlessly into a fun, charming, endearing and briskly paced two-reeler. The kids are real, they are charming and they are funny. Weezer is a delight as his relationship with his puppies is genuine and heartwarming.
The aforementioned music score is most welcome and carries the action beautifully and seamlessly. Another wonderful aspect of this short are the sets. They are beautiful, particularly where the kids are happily at play. They are in some kind of backyard lot surrounded by their house which are themselves surrounded by imposing but breathtaking steel industrial buildings. Simply wonderful to look at.
This is a magnificent entry into the series. Maybe it's best and certainly, it's most important.
First off, this is the first Our Gang short to fully utilize the wonderful background music by LeRoy Shield that the series would become famous for. Let's face it, many people remember the music almost as much as the shorts themselves. Of particular note is the heavy use of the rousing theme "Hide And Go Seek" heard most often when the scenes included the pups and/or the pups and Weezer. This short also marked the debut of Dorothy DeBorba. There are pretty much four stories in one here. Weezer and his relationship with the pups. The gang entering their rag tag pets in a contest. DeBorba constantly jumping into puddles to the dismay of brother Jackie Cooper. The patient forced to leave his head/neck in a "looking up" position. All four of these stories are molded effortlessly into a fun, charming, endearing and briskly paced two-reeler. The kids are real, they are charming and they are funny. Weezer is a delight as his relationship with his puppies is genuine and heartwarming.
The aforementioned music score is most welcome and carries the action beautifully and seamlessly. Another wonderful aspect of this short are the sets. They are beautiful, particularly where the kids are happily at play. They are in some kind of backyard lot surrounded by their house which are themselves surrounded by imposing but breathtaking steel industrial buildings. Simply wonderful to look at.
This is a magnificent entry into the series. Maybe it's best and certainly, it's most important.