Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: The East Side Kids, minus Muggs, accept a job at an aviation factory run by Algy's father, Mr. Reynolds. The factory has been under attack from spies, who nearly kill test pilot Tom Larson by sabotaging his plane. Muggs, who spends his day wandering around the airfield while waiting to drive his gang home, begins to suspect Dr. Richard Nagel, the owner of a new air ambulance, of being the mastermind. However, Nagel's stellar reputation and Muggs' not-so-stellar reputation result in his theory immediately being dismissed, forcing him to find proof. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Dave O'Brien , Joan Barclay , George Pembroke and Ernest Morrison . Review: I forgot to pick out a movie for this morning so, since it had been a while since I last watched an East Side Kids/Bowery Boys film, I figured I'd just do a quick search for one. Flying Wild was one of the first I came across and it looked interesting, so I gave it a try. A...

Synopsis: After the Eastside Kids convince Mr. Wilkes to provide the race entry fee for a thoroughbred, Bluenight, Muggs Mahoney uses the opportunity to pursue his dream of being a jockey. He, however, soon learns it is more difficult than he imagined and a chance to redeem himself is put at risk by a crooked bookie tries to sabotage Bluenight. Who's in it? The movie stars Bobby Jordan , Leo Gorcey , Clarence Muse , Dave O'Brien , Milton Kibbee, Joyce Bryant . Review: It had been a few weeks since I last watched an Eastside Kids/Bowery Boys movie, so I figured I'd add one to my list and after searching, chose That Gang of Mine  primarily because the idea of Muggs Mahoney (Gorcey) riding a horse seemed interesting. I watched it this morning and it proved to be an OK choice. There were a couple things I liked about this movie. One of the main ones was the journey Muggs needed to take to be a jockey. The movie acknowledged a kid from New York probably wouldn't know anyt...

Synopsis: Things aren't quite right with the East Side Kids after Danny's sister, Ruth, testifies against one of their own for participating in a bank robbery and Danny himself collects a reward for capturing a wanted criminal, Butch Brocalli, and doesn't immediately share it. Their strained friendship is then put to the test when Butch breaks out of prison and puts Danny in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Huntz Hall , Gale Storm and Maxie Rosenbloom. Review: As has happened to me too often lately, I had planned on watching another movie this morning but then couldn't remember what it was (stupid old age). So, needing an alternative, I once again fell back on the East Side Kids with their movie, Smart Alecks . Overall, it was an OK film, though my opinion did end up being a bit mixed. The movie's plot, once it happened, was solid. The story focused on loyalty to your friends/gang and the d...

Synopsis: Mugs, Danny and the rest of the East Side Kids come to the rescue when they hear Sylvia crying for help because her abusive stepfather, Morley, is forcibly trying to force her to run away with him. Morley is left unconscious by the gang but is murdered by a crime boss, McGaffey, a short time later. When Danny is arrested for the crime, McGaffey uses evidence from the scene as a way to blackmail Mugs into helping him with a burglary.  Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Huntz Hall , Mark Lawrence, Dave O'Brien and Ann Gillis. Review: I have had 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge in my library for a few months because every time I planned to watch it, I ended up choosing something else instead. I finally did the opposite this morning, changing my mind about another film and selecting this movie as the alternative. Overall, it was an OK choice. While I would consider the majority of this movie a drama, there was a nice mix of comedy throughout to keep i...

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...

Synopsis: Friends Muggs McGinnis and Danny Breslin seemed destined to take different paths. Danny is a talented boxer and good student while the local authorities believe Muggs will eventually end up in prison. After Muggs and Danny get into a fight, Muggs is given the choice to become a boxer instead of going to reform school and starts straightening his life out. Danny, meanwhile, begins associating with Monk Martin, a juvenile criminal who tempts him down a path of crime. Both boys face a crossroads when Muggs is offered money to throw a fight, and Danny takes a bullet in a police shootout. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bobby Jordan , Warren Hull , Charlotte Henry and Bobby Stone. Review: It had been several weeks since I last watched a Bowery Boys/East Side Kids movie so, when I came across Bowery Blitzkrieg this morning, I decided to give it a try. This was one of the earliest films I've seen from this series, and it ended up surprising me in ...

Synopsis: Muggs and the rest of the East Side Kids are arrested and sent to summer camp. They learn there is a notorious killer in the area and suspicions fall on a strange man who recently moved into a remote home. Things appear to turn supernatural when Peewee is shot, and the rest of the gang believes he turned into a zombie. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bela Lugosi , David Gorcey , Dorothy Short and Bobby Jordan. Review: I decided to give Spooks Run Wild a try this morning because, while I'm still not a big East Side Kids fan, I noticed it once again featured Bela Lugosi. That, and I couldn't find much else to watch. It ended up being an OK decision. As was the case with Ghosts on the Loose , the movie the film relies a lot on sight comedy that tends to distract from the overall plot. Some of the scenes were humorous while others just seemed like they were there to fill time. Basically, it was a movie that was designed to showcase what the East Side Ki...

Synopsis: When Glimpy's sister, Betty, gets married to Jack, Muggs and the rest of the East Side Kids decide to surprise the newlyweds by fixing up their new home before they get back from the honeymoon. However, in doing so, Muggs and the gang stumble upon a Nazi plot after mistakenly entering the wrong house. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bela Lugosi , Ava Gardner and Bobby Jordan . Review: I'm not a big East Side Kids fan and probably would have skipped over Ghosts on the Loose under normal circumstances. However, I saw this film also had Bela Lugosi and Ava Gardner in it and since I like both of them, decided to give it a try while waiting for my daughter to get done with work. I didn't hate it, but it didn't do much to change my mind about the East Side Kids either. My biggest problem with this movie was, for a film that is only about an hour in length, there is quite a bit filler. Many of the sight gags were drawn out longer than ...