Hot Shots

Hot Shots (1956)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

The forty-third film in the Bowery Boys series or the second in the Gorcey-less series depending on how you want to look at it. Sach (Huntz Hall) and Duke (Stanley Clements) become involved with an 8-year-old TV star (Philip Phillips) after he tries stealing their car. Soon the boys realize that the kid is being used and taken advantage of by his uncle so they try to put a stop to it but the mean uncle has planned the kids kidnapping. HOT SHOTS is the second film in a row to fall flat on its face and it's easy to see that the series has ran out of gas and the new cast and director simply can't put any spark into it. Once again we're dealing with a very bad screenplay that is clearly written for kids in mind but I'd say the slapstick is a lot less than in some of the later Gorcey pictures and it's clear that the writers didn't know how to put a story around the new leads. Hall was a very capable actor when he was supporting Gorcey and at times the earlier films would allow him to be the lead but the screenplay here simply doesn't know how to use him. Quite often his brand of comedy just comes across so forced and out-of-place that you can't help but wonder what he's doing. Hall is giving the same old Sach performance but it simply doesn't mix with the other comics. Clements once again doesn't mix with Hall as the two have no chemistry and it's impossible for the two to act together as a comic team. It also doesn't help that Phillips is without question very annoying here. The kid comes off as such a little brat that you can't help but not care about anything that is going on with him. Even worse is how unfunny the guy is. Robert Shayne is decent in his role and blonde bombshell Joi Lansing is actually pretty good in her bit. HOT SHOTS lasts just 61-minutes but it feels much longer and that's never a good thing when you're watching a "B" picture. There are four more films in the series so lets hope it redeems itself somewhat because this and the previous picture were clear signs that they should have pulled the plug.

The Bowery Boys made several dozen movies from the mid-1940s to late 1950s. However, after the death of Leo Gorcey's father, Bernard (who played 'Louie' the malt shop owner in most of the group's films), Leo tired of the movies and quit. Now you'd THINK this would spell the end of the series, as Leo was the unquestioned star of the movies. But the studio was greedy and went on to make a few more films....with Huntz Hall in the lead and Stanley Clements doing a Leo Gorcey immitation of sorts. None of these films are particularly good...which makes you wonder why I bothered watching "Hot Shots". I do wonder myself. Perhaps it was because the movie featured gorgeous Joi Lansing in a leading role.

When the story begins, a bratty kid is trying to steal Sach's car. But the kid is very clever and creates a long lie--about how he was an abused kid and was starving. Soon they are feeding and caring for the kid. However, soon afterwards some private detectives arrive and announce that Joey is a famous TV star! But instead of admitting he ran away, he says he was kidnapped!! What a jerky kid! Fortunately, the studio folks soon realize what really happened and they inexplicably offer Sach and the gang a job....to care for bratty little Joey and be his pal. The thinking is that perhaps Sach and Duke (Clements) can get him under control. Soon the pair realize that the kid is a pretty miserable tike, as he's never given a chance to be a kid. But what they don't soon realize is that the kid is being exploited...and the same crooks are stealing him blind.

This is actually much better than the average Bowery Boys film....mostly because Sach isn't as stupid and annoying as usual. On top of that, it's well written and enjoyable...something I usually don't say about the team's films.

Just watching goofy Huntz Hall get even goofier with Joi Lansing is a MUST. A terrific PR stunt, and it worked well. Joi at the time was very popular on tv, a regular on the BOB CUMMINGS SHOW. She had just appeared on I LOVE LUCY prior to this episode.

True, Leo Gorcey was gone, but there were still a lot of laughs in this one. I always thought it was a kind of cool episode because it dealt with tv, and a spoiled brat child star who gets mixed up with the Bowery Boys. Phil Phillips plays Joey Munroe, who actually tries to steal the gang's car! Phillips was also popular on tv, having appeared on Shirley Temple's and Loretta Young's tv shows. He acted into the early 1960s.

In short, kind of a silly take off on Hollywood, the guys becoming chaperones for Joey, and turning him from spoiled rich kid to good kid. Would that make this a low, low budget re-working of CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS???

Look for SUPERMAN co-star Robert Shayne, who appeared in the INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN opposite Lon Chaney, which was also shot at Allied Artists at about the same time. Directed by Jean Yarbrough, behind Abbott and Costello's slapstick tv show.

Huntz Hall has never been more CRAZY CRACKERS. And Stanley Clements as Duke ain't bad either. Remastered on dvd thanks to Warner Brothers, generally 6 to 8 episodes per box set. Thanks to TCM for running these oldies Saturdays.

Another Bowery Boys stinker as Huntz Hall tries to keep the series afloat with his new partner, Stanley Clements. This one has the Boys dealing with a bratty child TV star. It's a new plot for a tired series, so I'll give it points for that. However, it's just not much fun. The series, now on its forty-third movie, is limping to the finish line without star Leo Gorcey or his father Bernard. There's really not a lot to focus on here. Hall's doing his usual mugging for the camera and maybe once or twice approaches being humorous. Clements is dull as mud. Other Bowery Boys David Gorcey and Jimmy Murphy are just 'there.' Queenie Smith offers tepid support. Philip Phillips plays the kid and he certainly hams it up but I just didn't find him amusing. The highlight of the film is sexy Joi Lansing who, aside from looking beautiful as usual, gets to show off her comedy chops some. It's not a very funny movie, which makes its short runtime seem twice as long. Fans of the series who want to check it off their list might enjoy it more than casual viewers. Personally I would recommend fast-forwarding to Joi Lansing's scenes and ignoring the rest.

Precocious preteen Phil Phillips (as Joey Munroe) tries to steal the jalopy owned by skinny-legged Huntz Hall (as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones) and his tough-talking chum Stanley Clements (as Stanislaus "Duke" Coveleskie). The two men catch the kid, and bring him back to the boarding house run by motherly Queenie Smith (as Kate Kelly). Mr. Hall and Mr. Clements decide to help the juvenile delinquent, who turns out to be a missing TV star. Then, one kidnapping leads to another...

For this one, "The Bowery Boys" are Hall, Clements, ever-present David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck), and semi-regular Jimmy Murphy (as Myron). The routine hi-jinks are livened up by two comic staples - a bratty kid and a busty blonde, with comely Joi Lansing offering a pointed performance as the latter. At least, the limping film series could be depended on for an attractive woman. Better than the film is the lobby card showing Ms. Joi bent over "doggie style" for Hall's erect cigar.

*** Hot Shots (12/23/56) Jean Yarbrough ~ Huntz Hall, Stanley Clements, Phil Phillips, Joi Lansing