General Spanky
Synopsis
Orphaned shoeshine boy Spanky is working on a Mississippi riverboat during the Civil War. There he befriends young runaway slave Buckwheat. After wronging a vicious gambler, Spanky and Buckwheat are forced to jump ship. Finding solace at a nearby house, the two are picked by Marshall Valiant for an important mission. This inspires Spanky to organize the local kids to form a small army of their own.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
General Spanky - Feature ClipOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2016-01-19
Top Cast
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George McFarland
Spanky Leonard
Phillips Holmes
Marshall Valient
Ralph Morgan
Yankee General
Irving Pichel
Simmons
Rosina Lawrence
Louella Blanchard
Billie Thomas
Buckwheat
Carl Switzer
Alfalfa
Hobart Bosworth
Colonel Blanchard
Robert Middlemass
Overseer
James P. Burtis
Boat Captain
Louise Beavers
Cornelia
Willie Best
Henry
Ernie Alexander
Boat Passenger
Hooper Atchley
Slavemaster at Meeting
Harry Bernard
Bit
John 'Uh huh' Collum
Kid Army Member
Jack Cooper
Bit
Richard DeNeut
Kid Army Member
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 11, 1936
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gordon Douglas, Fred C. Newmeyer
- Screenplay & Story
- Hal Yates, Richard Flournoy, John Guedel
- Original Score
- Marvin Hatley
- Original Title
- General Spanky
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 11m
- Production Studios
- Hal Roach Studios
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gordon Douglas, Fred C. Newmeyer
Hal Yates, Richard Flournoy, John Guedel
Marvin Hatley
Art Lloyd, Walter Lundin
Ray Snyder
Hal Roach
Department Leadership Roster
Gordon Douglas
Director
Hal Yates
Writer
Richard Flournoy
Writer
John Guedel
Writer
Fred C. Newmeyer
Director
Ray Snyder
Editor
Art Lloyd
Director of Photography
Marvin Hatley
Original Music Composer
Walter Lundin
Director of Photography
Hal Roach
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for General Spanky.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring General Spanky.
War: American Civil War
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Frequently Asked Questions About General Spanky
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is General Spanky about?
Orphaned shoeshine boy Spanky is working on a Mississippi riverboat during the Civil War. There he befriends young runaway slave Buckwheat. After wronging a vicious gambler, Spanky and Buckwheat are forced to jump ship. Finding solace at a nearby house, the two are picked by Marshall Valiant for an important mission. This inspires Spanky to organize the local kids to form a small army of their own.
Who directed General Spanky?
General Spanky was directed by Gordon Douglas, Fred C. Newmeyer.
Who stars in General Spanky?
The principal cast of General Spanky includes George McFarland, Phillips Holmes, Ralph Morgan, Irving Pichel, Rosina Lawrence.
When was General Spanky released and how long is it?
General Spanky was released in 1936 with a total runtime of 1h 11m.
Who composed the musical score for General Spanky?
The original motion picture soundtrack for General Spanky was composed by Marvin Hatley.