The Pooch is a 1932 Our Gangshortcomedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 115th Our Gang short that was released.
Plot
Cheerful vagrant Stymie tries to get back in the good graces of the gang after stealing their pies. When a mean dogcatcher tries to round upPete the Pup because Stymie let the gang's dogs loose, Stymie comes to the rescue, earning the undying devotion of the kids and the animosity of the dogcatcher, who vengefully bundles Petey off to the pound after the kids bother the dog catcher with Stymie biting him, Spanky throwing a rock at him two times, one in the head, one in the neck with the dog catcher yelling loud, he gets pulled off the wagon by Stymie. Brisbane and Sherwood bring some rotten eggs, lettuce to throw at the dog catcher while Spanky throws a last rock but misses the dog catcher, intending to consign the poor pooch to the gas chamber. Desperately, Stymie prays for the five dollars necessary to spring Pete, whereupon a five-spot blows out of the hands of a lady shopper and lands at Stymie's feet. After out smarting a cop, with the help of Spanky, that was in pursuit to take it back he and the gang race to the dog pound. A former employee walks up to the dog catcher telling him that he can't get Pete gassed but he tells the employee that he is going to get those kids upset. After the employee walks back to the dog catcher, the dog catcher pushes the former employee away from him. Upon arriving the dog catcher says that he already gassed Petey and was dead. Stymie and the gang sulk as another employee of the pound tells them Petey isn't dead. It turns out there wasn't any gas in the cylinders and Petey was just sitting alive in the chamber when opened. It ends with Petey chasing the dog catcher for revenge with the gang following.
The Pooch is a semi-remake of the 1927 filmLove My Dog.
This is the last entry featuring the second Pete the Pup. His trainer was fired from Hal Roach studios. Other unrelated dogs aired as Pete the Pup until 1938.
This episode was edited for perceived racial content toward African Americans and the mistreatment of children by about five minutes from the syndicated Little Rascals television in 1971. The film was reinstated in its entirety on its AMC airings from 2001-2003.
