Framing Youth

Released: September 11, 1937
Director: Gordon Douglas
Episode length: 10:15 (14/34)
Alfalfa's screen time: 5:28 (20/34) 53% (12/34)
Lines of dialogue spoken by Alfalfa: 27 (18-t/34)
Song: "Just An Echo In the Valley"
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Skip episode synopsis and go directly to commentary

Alfalfa and Spanky have a kind of crooning establishment set up for themselves. Alfalfa is getting ready for a big performance: An amateur talent contest whose first prize is a brand-new football (why is it that most of the Little Rascals talent contest prizes are football-related?)


Porky and Buckwheat are 1st and 2nd Offis Boys; Darla is switchboard operator. Porky has brought his frog to the office, and Spanky is not too happy about it. As Spanky reports to work, he grabs Porky's frog and then deposits it into the wastebasket in his inner "offis" (hey, maybe there were some animals harmed during the making of this motion picture!")

Soon Butch arrives on the scene. Turns out that Butch has a second career as a violinist, and he is anxious to win the football, so he threatens Spanky, as Alfalfa's manager, into making sure Alfalfa doesn't get a chance to perform in the contest. Spanky concocts a scheme whereby he will claim not to be able to hear Alfalfa's voice, keeping him out of the contest. To clinch the deal, he retrieves Porky's frog from the wastebasket (cancel that call to the A.S.P.C.A.) and slips it into Alfalfa's scarf, and when the animal "ribbits", Alfalfa is further convinced that he has a frog in the throat.

The contest starts, and the boys listen to it on the radio. During this sequence we see a very interesting double-exposure montage of Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat, and Porky each listening to the other performers, with the radio speaker superimposed over each of their faces.



Alfalfa is depressed over the situation. He is most disappointed, he says, at letting down his friends. This makes Spanky realize that he has made a mistake, and he bundles up Alfalfa and the rest of the crew and makes a beeline for the contest studio.

As they arrive, Butch has just been awarded first prize, but Spanky begs for Alfalfa to get a last-minute chance to compete. The MC agrees to let Alfalfa croon. Alfalfa takes his place behind the microphone. In the commotion, the frog, which has been transported to the studio in Alfalfa's scarf, has somehow
now climbed into Alfalfa's shirt.

A confused look comes over Alfalfa's face as he feels "something" in his shirt. As Spanky takes the scarf away, he realizes that it no longer has the frog in it. As Alfalfa begins his performance of "Just An Echo In the Valley" (visit Alfalfa's Greatest Hits now, or stop by later), Butch motions to Spanky to step outside. Alfalfa's performance is interrupted several times by the sound of the frog, and Alfalfa becomes increasingly frustrated, at one point flopping his fedora over the microphone angrily while he tries to regain his composure. But as so often happens during Alfalfa's performances, his struggles only serve to enchant his audience, which become more appreciative of his efforts than they might otherwise have been.

As Alfalfa finishes to enthusiastic applause, Spanky returns with a shiner, courtesy of Butch the violin virtuoso. As the audience continues responding, the MC announces that Alfalfa's performance has prompted a change in the voting, and he hands first prize to Alfalfa.

As the audience continues cheering, a taunting Buckwheat does a little victory jig as he and Porky move past Butch. Alfalfa and Spanky shake hands in joyous celebration as the episode fades to black.

Commentary
"Framing Youth" presents a new twist on the classic Alfalfa vs. Butch rivalry. This time, Alfalfa is never in any physical danger at the hands of Butch; instead, it is Spanky who Butch has directly threatened with harm. In fact, Butch and Alfalfa scarcely have any direct contact in the entire episode at all. And we find out that Butch has a secret life as a violin prodigy—who knew?!

If ever a Little Rascals episode could be called "introspective", it is this one. The most effective sequence in this episode takes place about halfway through when Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat, and Porky listen thoughtfully to the amateur talent contest in which Alfalfa was scheduled to appear. It is very unusual indeed to see these youngsters in silent contemplation, one at a time, and it is a very effective and (dare we say?) moving sequence.

When Alfalfa finally speaks, very softly, about having let his friends down by "losing" his voice, Buckwheat turns to Spanky and gives him a look that seems to say, "This has gone far enough, tell him the truth". Which Spanky does, sort of. After being bundled up and shuttled off to the contest (which apparently is nearby) they make a dramatic, last-minute entrance and almost literally grab the trophy out of Butch's hands. When the MC announces that Alfalfa will be given his chance to perform before the trophy is awarded, keep an eye on Butch: He gives a priceless, almost imperceptible sneer as he leaves the stage.


Tommy "Butch" Bond

Alfalfa's performance when singing "Just An Echo" is also very good. At one point, he forgets the words (as his wont) and he angrily covers the microphone with his hat in frustration so convincingly that it would not be surprising if this were a "real" reaction by Alfalfa during filming of this sequence.

The segments of "Framing Youth" leading up to the climactic events are equally effective, especially the kids' complicated system of communicating with each other and with their "boss" Spanky. This bit of office beauracracy culminates with a switchboard manned by the efficient Darla, who serves as Spanky's secretary/ receptionist.

This is an all-around solid entry, with the core Little Rascals cast of the era (Alfalfa, Spanky, Darla, Buckwheat, Porky, and Butch) all chipping in with understated and enjoyable performances.

4alfalfa.com gives "Framing Youth"

4 cowlicks (out of a possible 5)


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