Pride of the Bowery

One of the earlier features in the 'East Side Kids' series, "Pride of the Bowery" has the usual solid combination of youthful antics, rivalries, and action, with a few more serious moments along the way. Like a number of the features, it can be interesting to take note of the ways that the characters and the overall approach were developing.

The setup has Leo Gorcey as Muggs letting Danny (Bobby Jordan) trick him into entering a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, to get in shape. The story that follows has Muggs in a running battle of words with the camp captain, in a running battle of fists with another camper, and getting involved in trying to help a desperate pal. Much of the plot is predictable, at least for anyone familiar with the series, but there are some good sequences.

As this was still relatively early in the 'East Side Kids' series, the camaraderie among the gang members is still developing, and Muggs is really the only character with more than one side to him. It's interesting that, contrary to what is often the convention in movies about such characters, he makes quite a few mistakes and is at times pretty unlikable and small-minded, which tends to make him also a little more believable.

It can also be interesting to watch the various movies in the series to see how the group of generally sympathetic roughnecks is viewed by the adult characters. Here the script calls for the captain to make repeated statements to the effect that 'Muggs is a good kid who just needs a lot of discipline', probably to make sure that viewers don't take all of his behavior as a model to follow. As the series progressed, this kind of commentary became less commonplace, and the characters more often spoke for themselves.

When they were still the east side kids. Pretty rough copy on tubi free streaming... and badly in need of restoration. Rough edits, washed out pictures. Sound quality to match. But it is free! Muggs (leo gorcey) shows up at a training camp, and tries to take over as lead dog. But the boys push back and put him in his place. The usual antics and arguements, that will be settled in the ring. Gotta learn some lessons. Right and wrong. Seems to be aimed at a younger crowd, but it's watchable. Bobbie jordan, sam morrison. Gorcey's brother david is in this one, but not his dad. Directed by joe lewis, who made three of these films with leo gorcey. From monogram pics. After this series, gorcey, hall and some of the crew started making the bowery boys films.

Joseph H. Lewis, who went on to become one of the leading directors of B movies in the 40s and 50s, here directed Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan and the East Side Kids as they head for the country as members of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps. The story is a pot-boiler about bad-boy Gorcey's reformation, which takes place more in the boxing ring than in the work camp. The boxing scenes are pretty weak, but the rapid editing and a long tracking shot suggest Lewis's later stylishness. Not that much of a movie, but a reasonably diverting way to spend 61 minutes.

It seems that as of late, I've gotten a sick addiction to the Bowery Boys. I'm actually starting to look FORWARD to seeing their movies. Although the movies don't really change from movie to movie (Leo Gorcy always begins tough but softens by the end, Huntz Hall is there to screech at Gorcy, and Bobby Jordan, the best looking one (he's a real hottie actually) is always there to neutralize everything. For some dumbass reason, and maybe I'm not the only one thinking this, I'm starting to detect a rather subtle homoerotic undertone to their movies too. That would be a real cool subject to study.

Anyways, on to the movie! In Pride Of The Bowery, for some odd reason, Huntz Hall is missing, not for the plot of the movie, just nada, he's not in the movie at all. It's just Gorcy and Jordan, plus a bunch of kids I didn't recognize. Anyways, Gorcy is training to be a boxer. And the gang decide the way to make some money is to go to a work camp. (smart move). Of course Gorcy is butting heads almost immediately with authority figures in the camp, and of course the obligatory boxing match between Gorcy and one of the authority figures there (who, coincidentally, is quite good looking) doesn't solve anything. But soon, yes, Gorcy's heart melts for a down-in-his-luck bunkmate's tale of woe about his Mom and how she needs money for something. So Gorcy agrees to fight for cash down at the stadium, and soon there's a goyle that wanders into the picture too.

So once again, hyper male-dominated situations, curious shirtless scenes (nearly all the Bowery Boys films has them) and suggestive dialogue.

Yeah, something is not quite right in Bowreyville

Plot - Along with the guys, Gorcey gets sent to a forestry camp where he comes to exercise both his pugnacious boxing skills and a better inner self.

Oh my, only one skirt in the whole 60-minutes, and she doesn't show up until minute 35. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining Bowery Boys entry, giving Gorcey a real chance to parade his talents, especially his swagger. The plot's more dramatic than most, probably because there's no Huntz Hall for Gorcey to trade comedic swats with. Nonetheless, the rest of the gang's all there, this time as members of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), a government program meant to employ idled city boys into rural betterment projects.

Here the guys work in para-military fashion on forrest projects, giving them a chance to improve their skills for later employment, that is, if Roosevelt's New Deal programs can revive the larger Depression Era economy. In fact, the movie's first part gives us a flavor of what those camps were like. Importantly, such look-sees provide a lingering advantage for old-movie fans like me.

Anyhow, the entry may be short on BB's usual slap-happy antics, but it still keeps eyes glued, thanks also to director Lewis's fast-moving camera. All in all, the flick shows how Gorcey's many talents have been unfortunately ignored by critics too often absorbed with good looks and bigger productions. Too bad. Then again, I can always hope.