Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Sach Jones buys an old lamp at the pawn shop and is surprised to discover it contains a genie willing to grant his every wish, something his friend Slip Mohoney quickly tries to capitalize on as well. However, the lamp is soon stolen by a group of gangsters working for Duke Dolan who, after learning the genie can only grant wishes made by Sach and Slip, attempt to abduct the pair as well. Meanwhile, a pair of Arabs are also hunting for the lamp and join in the chaos. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bernard Gorcey , Eric Blore and Robert Bice. Review: When I came across Bowery to Bagdad this morning, I had quite a few doubts about the film. Bowery Boys movies, especially some of the later ones, have always been a bit hit-or-miss for me and this seemed like one that was taking things a little too out of the realm of believability. However, I watched it this morning and it turned out to be one of my favorites. As is the case with other later films...

Synopsis: After Louie's window is once again broken by a stray baseball, Slip Mahoney and Sach travel to Dr. David Gravesend's home to convince him to let the neighborhood kids use one of his Bowery commercial properties as a baseball diamond. When they arrive, they discover a home filled with eccentric relatives, an ape, a man-eating plant and vampires. They also discover Gravesend plans to use Slip's head for a robot he and his relative, Anton, are building. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bernard Gorcey , Lloyd Corrigan and John Dehner. Review: I hadn't planned on watching a movie this morning because it was foggy outside and I figured I should leave for the office a bit earlier as a result. However, when I came across The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters , I decided to give it a try. I am happy to report I still made it to the office safely. My opinion about the movie, however, was a bit mixed. I'll start by saying, even though it isn...

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: When their friend Danny loses his job and faces jailtime over $200 in missing money, Sach and Duke attempt to help him by entering one of Sach's photos in a newspaper contest. They learn the contest is already over, but the city editor offers them an opportunity to earn the money by photographing New York gangster Frankie Arbo and learning more about his criminal activities.  Who's in it? The movie stars Huntz Hall , Stanley Clements , Adele Jergens , Thomas Browne Henry and Queenie Smith . Review: I came across Fighting Trouble about a week ago and added it to my library knowing it was one of the later Bowery Boys movies, post Leo Gorcey , and was interested in seeing how the film was. Overall, I think I'd describe it as not being one of my favorites but also an OK comedy. I think, even by the later films that still had Gorcey, the whole Bowery Boys description was there for name recognition only. Hall was clearly the breakout star with Gorcey falling into mo...

Synopsis: Horace "Sach" Jones is invited to an estate in London, England, to visit a distant relative, a wealthy but elderly earl who wants to meet all his potential heirs before he dies. Sach accepts the invitation and travels across the ocean with his four friends in tow. The earl takes a shine to Sach and wants to make him his primary heir but when the rest of the relatives find out, they plot to kill both the earl and, if needed Sach. Who's in it? The movie stars Huntz Hall , Leo Gorcey , Bernard Gorcey , Angela Greene and Walter Kingsford. Review: I came across the Bowery Boys film Loose in London last night and decided to watch it this morning. Since I've had mixed opinions of the previous films I've watched, I wasn't really sure what to expect but this did turn out to be an OK film to watch. As is the case with most later Bowery Boys movies, the film does the bare minimum to keep the concept alive by having a smaller "gang" but with the f...

Synopsis: When noted French chemist Maurice Gaston LeBeau goes missing while working on a top-secret rocket fuel, Sach's resemblance to the scientist makes him the perfect choice as a double/decoy to drive the real scientist out of hiding. While it seems to be the perfect opportunity for a Paris vacation with Slip and Louie, Sach soon learns his life is in danger from spies. Who's in it? The movie stars Huntz Hall , Leo Gorcey , Bernard Gorcey , Veola Vonn and Steven Geray . Review: I ended up watching Paris Playboys this morning for the same reason I pick many of my early-morning films, the shorter runtime. My experience with Bowery Boys films has been a bit hit or miss, though I have found just enough gems to keep giving them a try. Unfortunately, this one fit better in the "miss" category. Ironically, while my biggest complaint about Bowery Boys films usually is the result of too much going on, this film was much more on the opposite side with not much substan...

Synopsis: A case of mistaken identity leads to Terence "Slip" Mahoney believing he has inherited a seaside manor when it is in fact another Terence Mahoney who was the heir. He and the rest of the Bowery Boys visit the estate and discover a diamond smuggling operation being run out of it.  Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Martin Kosleck , Amelita Ward and Paul Harvey . Review: While I'll stop short of calling myself a fan, Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys have grown on me just enough to be willing to give their movies a chance when I come across one, including this morning. They are still a bit hit or miss for me though, and Smuggler's Cove falls a bit into that latter category. The overall plot of this movie isn't terrible and there are a few funny moments that made me laugh. For one, I enjoyed watching Slip (Gorcey) walking through the house and pricing out the various items at a fraction of what they were worth. It was the kind of c...

Synopsis: When Sach delivers a sandwich to a hotel lobby, a guest at the front desk offers him a job escorting a poodle to London and is offered nearly $3000 as advanced payment. The rest of the Bowery Boys, believing the deal is too good to be true, stowaway on the boat to look after him. It's a good thing they did too, as it turns out, the dog is being used to smuggle stolen diamonds and Sach is about to get into trouble with the Scotland Yard. Who's in it? The movie stars Huntz Hall , Stanley Clements , Patricia Donahue , David Gorcey and Paul Cavanagh. Review: I wound up watching In the Money this morning despite having quite a few doubts about it. After all, I've never been a die-hard Bowery Boys fan and this film, the last in the franchise, didn't even have the underappreciated Leo Gorcey in it. As it turns out, however, this wound up being my favorite of the Bowery Boys movies I've seen. I think the thing I liked most about this film is it corrected one ...