Fishy Tales

Released: August 28, 1937
Director: Gordon Douglas
Episode length: 10:08 (24/34)
Alfalfa's screen time: 5:03 (17/34) 50% (18/34)
Lines of dialogue spoken by Alfalfa: 29 (17/34)
Song: None
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Skip episode synopsis and go directly to commentary

Buckwheat approaches the gang's barnyard clubhouse, adjacent to which has been organized an archery exhibition:

See the Shooting of William Tell
Admisshun Free

...says a sign hanging on the door.

Buckwheat is carrying a fishing pole with a freshly-caught fish at the end. Six or seven cats are following along. Inside, the "shooting of William Tell" is actually Alfalfa, dressed in an odd-looking cowboy outfit. Off to the side are eight or ten neighborhood kids watching the proceedings (included in the audience is Harold Switzer and Spanky's brother Tommy McFarland). Phlegmatic little Junior is sitting in the "judge's booth". Some issues are solved concerning Porky's penchant for eating the apples placed on his head as target. Butch suddenly and unexpectedly enters the archery range, and Alfalfa accidentally shoots a suction-cup arrow on his nose. Spanky and Alfalfa talk Butch into forgetting the accident, and Butch does, until Junior shoots another arrow that hits Butch in the head. Alfalfa gallantly assumes responsibility, eager to keep Junior out of trouble.

Just as Butch is about to wallop him, Alfalfa pulls a fainting act. Butch, who has to leave for a previous engagement (his mother wants him), tells Spanky that as soon as Alfalfa comes to, he will return to let him have it. After Butch leaves, Spanky concocts yet another one if his ill-advised plans. He will place Alfalfa in bed, cut a hole through the mattress, and have Alfalfa drop his right leg through the hole. The leg will be replaced by one of the fish Buckwheat has caught. Spanky will wrap black stockings around both of Alfalfa's "legs". This way, he can explain to Butch that Alfalfa can't fight, because his leg is injured. In fact, Spanky further embellishes the truth by claiming that Alfalfa hurt the leg while defending Butch's honor to another kid.

Butch and Woim come over to visit Alfalfa, and are almost ready to believe the story until, from underneath the bed, Alfalfa's concealed foot is first tickled by Junior with a feather (causing Alfalfa to giggle uncontrollably), then bitten by some crabs Junior has let loose (causing Alfalfa to yelp in pain). In the confusion, Alfalfa's ruse is revealed, and he takes off with Butch and Woim in hot pursuit as the episode comes to an end.

Commentary
"Fishy Tales" is an inventive and solid, if uneven, entry within the Butch/Alfalfa series. Surprisingly, an archery exhibition is a subject not previously explored in depth in any Our Gang/Little Rascals film. This one is handled with interesting camera techniques, for example the shot where Alfalfa's arrow comes straight at us, temporarily blocking the lens, then seeming to "come out the other side" when we see the arrow from the opposite direction, heading for and landing on the apple planted on Buckwheat's head. During this sequence, Alfalfa seems uncharacteristically solemn as he takes aim at his target (Note: Up until recently, 4alfalfa.com thought Spanky was referring to Alfalfa as "Professor Eli" during his introductions. But thanks to alert Alfalfa fan Rob Rebar, we have been informed that Spanky actually calls Alfalfa "Professor Eagle Eye".)

And speaking of Spanky, he gives us a peek at the hatchet man within him when he abruptly decides to "fire" Porky for being unable to stop eating the props, and to hire in his place Buckwheat, who just happened to innocently wander into the proceedings while on his way back from fishing.

Once it becomes obvious that Alfalfa is again in trouble with Butch, he becomes extraordinarily whiny, complaining about the mess that Spanky has gotten him into, wailing at one point that he's going to escape danger by going to New York, and "maybe Brooklyn". And when Spanky first shows Alfalfa his plan to solve the Butch problem, Alfalfa launches into full "why does this have to happen to me" mode.

Alfalfa seems to hit his stride, though, as the episode draws to a conclusion. He does an excellent job of first giggling at the feather that Junior is tickling his foot with from underneath the bed, then abruptly yelping in pain when the crabs which have climbed out of Junior's pail take over and start nipping at his foot.

"Fishy Tales" contains few moments that stand out in one's memory, but it features enough unusual touches (including the weird-looking "fish foot" that Spanky has rigged up) to make this an interesting and generally well-done effort.

4alfalfa.com gives "Fishy Tales"

3 cowlicks (out of a possible 5)

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