The Kid from Borneo
The Kid from Borneo is a comedy short subject; part of the Our Gang (Little Rascals) series. It was produced and directed by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach, and was originally released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on April 15, 1933.[1] It was the 122nd (34th talking episode) Our Gang short that was released.
| The Kid from Borneo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert F. McGowan |
| Produced by | F. Richard Jones Hal Roach |
| Written by | Carl Harbaugh Hal Roach H. M. Walker Hal Yates |
| Starring | Dickie Moore George McFarland Dorothy DeBorba Matthew Beard Tommy Bond Bobby Hutchins Dickie Jackson Henry Hanna Pete the Pup John Lester Johnson Harry Bernard Otto Fries Dick Gilbert May Wallace |
| Music by | Leroy Shield Marvin Hatley |
| Cinematography | Francis Corby |
| Edited by | William H. Terhune |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 18:41 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Dickie, Dorothy and Spanky's Uncle George is in town. Uncle George manages a show called "Wild Man from Borneo", featuring a tribally-attired man with the mentality of a seven-year-old child. The kids' father refuses to let the real Uncle George come over, so their mother has the kids visit him at the show's location. Their mother explains to the kids that Uncle George is the black sheep of the family.
The children arrive at the show, where a worker tells them that Uncle George will be right back. They mistake Bumbo, the Wild Man from Borneo, for their Uncle George. As the children attempt to talk with "Uncle George" and speculate that he might be a cannibal, Bumbo spots Stymie's candy and shouts "Yumm Yumm Eat-Em-Up, Eat-Em-Up!" In an effort to take the candy, Bumbo chases the children (who are now convinced that "Uncle George" is indeed a cannibal) back to their house. Once there, Bumbo repeatedly says “Yumm, yumm, Eat-Em-Up!” while chasing the kids throughout the house. While in the kitchen with Spanky, Bumbo consumes everything in the refrigerator (including an unopened can of sardines, metal opener and all) and a gallon of wine. The now drunk and knife-wielding Bumbo resumes chasing the children, demolishing much of the home's furniture, and repeatedly shouting "Eat-Em-Up, Eat-Em-Up". The children launch several counter-attacks against Bumbo, and after additional damage is done to the house Bumbo retires to a bedroom.
As the mother arrives and asks Spanky where "Uncle George" is, she is directed to the upstairs bedroom. Initially believing the occupant of the bed is the real Uncle George, she screams upon discovering instead the primitive tribesman Bumbo, and is so frightened she jumps out of the second-story window. When the father comes home soon after, Dickie says "Uncle George is upstairs." The dad rolls up his sleeves, vows to punch "Uncle George" in the head (to which Stymie replies, "Oh Yeah?!"), and heads upstairs. Expecting to find Uncle George he encounters instead Bumbo, who shortly thereafter throws the father out the window with apparently little effort. Spanky then blasts Bumbo out the same window with a Roman candle shot to the rear.
Cast
The Gang
- Matthew Beard as Stymie
- Tommy Bond as Tommy
- Dorothy DeBorba as Dorothy
- Bobby Hutchins as Wheezer
- George McFarland as Spanky
- Dickie Moore as Dick
- Dickie Jackson as Dickie
- Henry Hanna as Our Gang member
- Pete the Pup as Himself
Additional cast
- Harry Bernard as Sideshow manager
- Otto Fries as Kids' Dad
- Dick Gilbert as Worker
- John Lester Johnson as Bumbo, "The Wild Man from Borneo"
- May Wallace as Kids' Mom
See also
References
- "New York Times: The Kid From Borneo". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-09-19.