Movie Review: Boys of the City (1940)
Synopsis: After Danny, Muggs and the rest of the East Side Kids once again get in trouble with the police, they are given a choice - reform school or summer camp. They choose the latter and are put under the supervision of Danny's brother and ex-criminal, Knuckles. While traveling, a pair of car troubles result in them running into Judge Malcolm Parker and his niece, Louise, and an invitation to stay with them to stay in a creepy manor owned by his deceased wife's family. When the judge is murdered and Louise goes missing, the boys know Knuckles will be the one blamed and conduct an investigation to find the real culprit.
Who's in it? The movie stars Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Dave O'Brien, Inna Gest, Ernest Morrison and Forrest Taylor.
Review: It had been a few weeks since I last watched an East Side Kids/Bowery Boys movie and, when I came across Boys in the City last night, I decided to add it to my list and watch it this morning. As is often the case with films from this series, which are always a little hit or miss, I watched it with a bit of skepticism. However, the film exceeded my expectations.
I think the thing that impressed me most about this film was the murder mystery was a surprisingly solid one. The judge (Taylor) had a lot of enemies, ranging from the criminals he was going to testify against to avoid prison for bribery charges to those who were upset about the cruel way he treated his wife. And while he traveled out of the city to stay safe, the manor seemed like a place that would only make it easier to kill him, simply because it was so large.
The part about the East Side Kids crossing paths with Judge Parker was something I think the killers would see as a happy accident, especially when it was revealed Parker once sentenced Knuckles (O'Brien) to the death penalty before the latter was exonerated. It was a coincidental meeting that ensured Knuckles would be the primary suspect, to the point I was half expecting it to turn out to be part of the master plan.
Plus, while there were some clear suspects in the crime other than Knuckles, the movie succeeded in keeping me guessing, both with a surprise and with a solid red herring. It was impressive for a film that is primarily supposed to be a comedy.
As for the comedy parts of it, those were OK too. While the East Side Kids were still largely an ensemble at the time the movie was made, Muggs (Gorcey), Danny (Jordan) and Scruno (Morrison) were given their moments to stand out and shine. In fact, I was a bit surprised to see how much of a role Scruno played in this movie considering it was made in 1940, and he is the only character played by a Black actor. It wasn't anything that would make me consider him the star of the movie, but he wasn't a background character either.
My only real complaint about the movie is I did feel the romantic subplot between Knuckles and Louise (Gest) was a bit rushed, especially since she was abducted and absent for a good chunk of the film. They literally just met, and not under circumstances that bode well for a long-term relationship.
Final Opinion: This is a good movie that has a decent amount of comedy and a solid murder mystery. I enjoyed it and it is one of the East Side Kids/Bowery Boys movies I would recommend if you're trying to get a feel for why they were so successful.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other East Side Kids/Bowery Boys movies:
Movie Review: Paris Playboys (1954)
Movie Review: Fighting Trouble (1956)
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