Alfalfa's Double

1940 film

January 20, 1940 (1940-01-20)

Running time

10:42CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Alfalfa's Double is an Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 186th Our Gang short to be released.^[1]

Plot

Alfalfa comes face to face with his wealthy lookalike Cornelius (also played by Carl Switzer). This fateful meeting provides a golden opportunity for both boys: By trading places with his double, Alfalfa will be able to weasel out of his yard work and live a life of luxury, while Cornelius will be able to escape the rigors of dancing lessons, baths, and the like, and briefly enjoy the benefits of being a "regular kid." But the consequences of the boys' identity-trading serves only to lend credence to the old saying "Stay in your own backyard." Alfalfa is not used to the dancing lessons, formal meals, having to behave like a gentleman, minding table manners (where his meal is taken away and replaced with an artichoke), reading lessons, and an afternoon nap. Cornelius fares as bad when he has yardwork to do and finds that the rough play is not for him. In the end they secretly switch back and Alfalfa comes back to a messy yard that the gang cleaned up earlier but messed up due to the lack of help from his double.^[2]

Cast

The Gang

Carl Switzer as Alfalfa/Cornelius
Mickey Gubitosi (later known as Robert Blake) as Mickey
Darla Hood as Darla
George McFarland as Spanky
Billie Thomas as Buckwheat
Leonard Landy as Leonard

Additional cast

Barbara Bedford as Alfalfa's mother
Hank Mann as Railroad attendant
Anne O'Niel as Governess
Milton Parsons as Willoughby

References

^ Maltin, Leonard; Bann, Richard W. (1977). Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals. Crown Publishers. pp. 233–234. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ Hal Erickson. "New York Times: Alfalfa's-Double". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2008-10-08.