Here Come the Marines

Slip gets a draft notice from the government. He joins the Marines but it's a lot tougher than expected. Sach and the boys follow him into the Marines. Sach gets promoted by his father's war buddy and he becomes the boys' superior. It's good clean fun from the Boys during the depths of the Korean War. It is simple Bowery Boys silliness and nothing more.

Sam Katzman never did worry about continuity for his Bowery Boys. Before Here Come The Marines the guys were in the army and navy both. But military service comedies are always good for laughs and the Bowery Boys were naturals for them.

As the Marine Corps recruiting slogan goes, the Marines are looking for a few good men. So why would the Marines consider drafting the Bowery Boys? Don't those other armed forces talk to each other?

The commandant of the base discovers that Huntz Hall's father was his sergeant in World War I and immediately makes Sach a sergeant. Like that sits well with Leo Gorcey given his natural leadership abilities. I don't think it takes much imagination to see where this is going.

Guest performers include Paul Maxey who runs a gambling clip joint where Marines lose their hard earned pay and the beautiful Myrna Dell who is the come-on.

No new ground for the series broken here.

After 175 years, the United States Marine Corps decides it's time to bring "The Bowery Boys" into the fold. First contacted is loquacious leader Leo Gorcey (as Terrence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney), but pals Huntz Hall (as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones Jr.), Gil Stratton (as "Junior"), David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck), and Benny "David" Bartlett (as "Butch") are quickly called up for duty. We see no basic training or hazing, unfortunately; but, comedy takes charge as Mr. Hall is given a whistle and made "Sergeant" of his Bowery-populated barracks. Meanwhile, Mr. Gorcey suspects a beaten Marine is connected to a crooked gambling ring.

One of many military-themed Bowery adventures, "Here Come the Marines" proves the law of diminishing returns is alive and well in this feature film series. Most obvious is probably that Hall works hard with the material; he demonstrates fine comic abilities and entertainingly carries the movie. At one point, Hall is asked, "Don't you know a dud when you see one?" At least, Hall gives this rather dull story his best, with few re-takes (Leo needs to watch his head when getting out of the lower bunks). Also notable is that this is the last appearance of Mr. Stratton, a two-time "Bowery Boy" member who would soon fine better character roles.

**** Here Come the Marines (6/29/52) William Beaudine ~ Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Gil Stratton, Hanley Stafford

One thing for sure, THE BOWERY BOYS were put to good use by Uncle Sam! The gang always got caught up in the military, someway or another, and it made good sense the screw up the "by the book" orders, if not drive a sergeant or even a colonel nuts. Here the Bowery Boys go after a gambling ring that's stealing marines paychecks. A lot of fun, particularly between Huntz Hall and veteran actor Hanley Stafford (famous on radio; BABY SNOOKS and BLONDIE) who plays a colonel who thinks that Sach's father was a legendary marine, Hard Hat Jones! Sach becomes a sergeant and theres a running gag with Stafford getting into all kinds of trouble, including falling into a thinly disguised fox hole. Exasperated Slip exclaims, "If you could break a couple of the colonel's ribs, he'll make you a captain!" Rotund Paul Maxey makes a solid bad guy, the head of the gambling ring and there's also lovely Myrna Dell as LuLu Mae, out to get the gang in big trouble. Series writer Tim Ryan also has a part as the corrupt sheriff. Lots of familiar faces and and you can tell Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall are having fun, or at least throwin' out one liners! Gorcey has a good closing line. Box set dvd by Warner brothers.

In an earlier film, the Bowery Boys found themselves in the army. Well, now, once again, they are in the service...though by this point the films were less about a group of fellows but mostly about Sach (Huntz Hall) and Slip (Leo Gorcey). Considering they are not exactly kids any more (both were approaching mid-life) and how amazingly bone-headed the characters were, as you watch you are amazed that the US military would be THIS desperate for soldiers!

When the film begins, Slip is drafted. Soon, his friends volunteer and Slip spends much of the early part of the film trying to keep them out of trouble...but to no avail. However, it turns out that Sach is the son of 'Hardhead' Jones--a sergeant who was apparently quite the soldier. In fact, based JUST ON THIS, Sach (who's IQ approaches that of a grapefruit) is made a sergeant and he spends most of the film lording this over his friends and making their lives miserable. However, despite his being a total dope, he's also much like Curious George...and every mistake turned out to be mistakenly GOOD and he kept getting promoted! But, when a nearly dead marine is discovered, Slip shows some amazing deduction skills and fans of the series would be shocked to see that he's actually pretty competent in getting to the bottom of all this. As for Sach, well, he's still Sach...

This is a film that is far from the best material for the Bowery Boys plus the idea of a group of friends is all but gone. Instead of the usual friends, two completely forgettable guys are there but contribute nothing to the film. As a result, it's entertaining but really a film for the die-hard fans and the average viewer would be hard-pressed to see a reason to watch this one.