Junior G-Men of the Air

Like the typical Bowery boy feature film, this "Junior G-Men of the Air" follow-up to "Junior G-Men" (1940) has the group playing similar characters, but with little continuity between appearances. For the final of three "Universal" serials, "The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys" leader Billy Halop (as Billy "Ace" Holden) and little brother Gene Reynolds (as Eddie) are aviation enthusiasts. Their truck is stolen by "The Black Dragon Society" of gangsters. These ruthless Japanese warriors, led by Lionel Atwill (as "The Baron"), want to take over the United States of America. The Holden truck is retrieved by US government agents, who want young Halop's help in identifying the culprits...

Bad boy Halop nixes helping the "coppers," so they employ "another boy" to play intermediary...

With previous "Junior G-Man" pal Kenneth Howell unavailable, Frank Albertson (as Jerry Markham) is called into action - however, the actor looks twice his character's age. Par for the course. The most clearly defined group are four (of six) original "Dead End Kids" Halop, Huntz Hall (as "Bolts" Larson), Gabriel Dell (as "Stick" Munsey) and Bernard Punsly (as "Greaseball" Plunkett). "Six courageous youth" are formed with brother Reynolds and "boy" Albertson. They form the team for this adventure, but those will peripheral Bowery vision will note David Gorcey and Frankie Darro as significant others. Future mainstay William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey) even makes an appearance, in Chapter 11.

**** Junior G-Men of the Air (1942) Ray Taylor, Lewis D. Collins ~ Billy Halop, Gene Reynolds, Frank Albertson, Huntz Hall

Junior G-Men of the Air is the third of three serials that starred the Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys which were made between 1940 and 42. The earlier chapter plays that featured this group were Junior G-Men and Sea Raiders---in that order.

All three films used variations on the same basic plot. A secret organization (a gang of mobsters in the first serial and axis spy rings in the last two) steals a new invention with military applications and kidnaps its inventor. This plot was used ad nauseam in serials during the first half of the 1940's.

Junior G-Men of the Air has its fair share of flaws. Lionel Atwill was cast as the head of a group of Japanese saboteurs. He wears make up designed to make him look Asian and speaks in a mock Japanese accent, both of which can best be described as awful. Frank Albertson portrayed the teenager who headed the Junior G-Men, even though he was thirty-three at the time of filming and his hairline had receded a tad. There was no way in Hell he could have convincingly play an adolescent. Moreover, the miniature work is mostly unconvincing.

This film does contain some credible performances. The Dead End Kids (Billy Hallop, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsley and Gabriel Dell) are energetic, likable and wisecracking heroes. They make a refreshing change from the bland, stiff actors in their thirties who usually play the good guys in chapter plays. Richard Lane does a nice job as a tough, fast talking and good natured police detective. He is an improvement over the actors (see above) often cast in such roles. Turhan Bey (as one of the baddies) effectively conveys a sense of dread and menace.

Junior G-Men is a good, but not exceptional, serial. I have a sneaking suspicion that the people who find it enjoyable are, like me, fans of the four stars. All others, should probably seek out a better serial. If you are in the mood for a cliffhanger full of fascist intrigue, I heartily recommend Spy Smasher.

The Dead End Kids vs Japanese spies, nice concept and it could have been a terrific serial. Universal did deliver some good cliffhangers like BUCK ROGERS and the FLASH GORDON franchise but generally their serials are remembered to-day as mediocre and miles behind Republic. This effort from 1942 only supports that belief.

Billy Halop is pilot-to-be "Ace" Holden and Huntz Hall is his mechanic buddy "Bolts" Larsen. By chance they discover a plot by "alien saboteurs" (as they are called by the narrator) to destroy American oil fields and airports to pave the way for an invasion. The bad guys are led by Egyptian Turhan Bey and British Lionel Atwill playing Japanese spies. The Dead End Kids don't trust the police and think they can handle this group of highly organised saboteurs on their own. If that sounds familiar it is the same plot structure as the earlier serial JUNIOR G MEN. It takes several fistfights, some explosions and a couple of car chases to convince the street kids to join up with the Junior G Men (played by the Little Tough Guys), the police and the Government agents to stop the gang.

There is plenty of action but very little suspense and the cliffhangers in many cases are just plain disappointing. The fight scenes look forced and unconvincing, At the end of chapter 6 the kids are fighting the spies in a burning warehouse. Billy Halop is kidnapped by Turhan Bey but flaming wreckage falls on the car as he tries to get away. Great right? Well in chapter 7 we see the car drive out BEFORE the ceiling collapses and Billy gets away when Turhan crashes into a streetlight. Spies fleeing from a burning garage stop to put their hats on! Want more? How about a dam explosion that looks like just what it is . . . a well built but very obvious miniature. The special effects crew did not even bother to overcrank the camera so the collapse would appear in slow motion! A few chapters like this had me howling for the much better special effects of the Lydecker Brothers over at Republic.

Oh well, we all know serials were not Universal's specialty so things like this are just fun to watch to see the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys (can you tell them apart?) getting into and out of so many scrapes and actually doing a better job than the cops at rounding up the Bad Guys.