Blues Busters

I'm not sure who to give the praise to, but this entry in the series is quite above the quality of of the other Bowery Boys efforts. It has a more polished look and feel to it and seems more in the style of the Universal-International comedy series of the time (i.e., A&C, Francis the Talking Mule, Ma & Pa Kettle, etc.)in terms of craftsmanship and production value (and like those other series mentioned, nothing hilarious in general, but pleasantly amusing). Overall, a Bowery Boys movie even non-fans might enjoy. Being a longtime fan of Bing Crosby's work, I would have SWORN it was Crosby dubbing the voice (especially in the sequence where we first see Satch performing at Louie's "new" nightclub) and I read somewhere here this was made in 6 days, which makes this film even more remarkable.

I think this and "The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters" are the two standouts in the series' run. As Orson Welles once said, "There are good movies, of ALL kinds." I guess this fits into that category!

When the story begins, Sach is in the hospital for an operation and has convinced everyone he's on death's door. The truth is it's just a tonsillectomy and soon he's discharged. But there's an unexpected side effect....Sach now is able to croon like Tony Martin and Bing Crosby!! I've had several operations and unfortunately never had that happen with me! But as you probably guessed, instead of just bringing Sach fame and fortune, it also brings problems. Are Sach and the gang up for all this?!

In many of the Bowery Boys' films, Sach develops some sort of amazing power--such as the ability to accurately predict outcomes in gambling and amazing intellect. Here, he's got a great singing voice. Overall, a cute installment of the series and like the rest, it's light and entertaining...but hardly life changing!

Sach is in the hospital. The gang fears that he's on death's door. It turns out to be a simple tonsillectomy and Sach's voice is changed into something beautiful. Louie is besides himself over the hospital bill. Slip comes up with an idea to make the money back.

This movie needs a Susan Boyle moment. I mean that it needs to do the standard competition prize story. It starts with a great premise. It just goes down a less compelling road. It doesn't have a ticking clock or the tension from a competition. This is still fun with Sach getting a big head and a small brain. This is generally fine.

Huntz gets a rare chance to show his serious side, and the result is an absorbing study into how much latent talent there always was within the Bowery Boys troupe.

Bernard and Leo Gorcey along with Huntz make a great comic film trio indeed. But in 'Blues Busters', Huntz becomes a teen singing idol following a tonsillectomy which changes his voice to a rich baritone a la Bing Crosby. (There's flawless dubbing to the real voice of John Lorenz.) Louie's Sweet Shoppe is transformed into a nightclub, as Louis Dumbrowsky and the Boys attempt to capitalize on Sach's newly-developed gift of song.

The great title tune "Bluebirds Keep Singing in the Rain" and other ditties make 'Blues Busters' a rare and offbeat must-see entry in the Bowery Boys saga, and will be a reminder of the great old moviegoing days when you left the theatre humming.

Highly recommended to all.

I'm watching this one right now on TCM. Sach has his tonsils removed and suddenly finds that he can sing like Bing Crosby. Wonder why things like that never happened to Whitey? Rick Martin, the owner of the nightclub across the street from Louie's Sweet Shop, won't give Sach an audition and has Slip and Sach thrown out. The Boys turn the sweet shop into a night club with Sach, The Bowery Thrush, as the main attraction. Professional song plugger Gabe Moreno provides the publicity. Naturally, Rick across the street doesn't like the competition and is determined to get rid of it, one way or the other.

Gorgeous Adele Jergens and pretty Phyllis Coates provide the female touch. Phyllis is Slip's latest girlfriend. In a few years, she would become the first Lois Lane on the Superman TV series. Adele plays a singer at the rival night club and belts out "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" at the beginning of the movie. Both ladies really brighten "Bowery Blues." It's well worth watching.