Smugglers' Cove

Leo Gorcey comes to the mistaken conclusion that he has inherited an estate on Long Island's North Shore; actually, it is series semi-regular Paul Harvey, also named 'Terence Mahoney' who has done so. They all wind up at the house where diamond smuggler Martin Kosleck has set up shot. The usual low hijinx ensue.

The Bowery Boys movies are held in disesteem by serious cineastes, and there's no sensible way to elevate them to high art -- although the same thing can be said about the Lemmy Caution movies, which didn't stop the New Wave. Cheaply made, formulaically written and directed by William Beaudine at his trough, no one ever claimed these were made to do more than to give jobs to the men who had started out as the gang in DEAD END, entertain the kids at weekend matinees, and show a profit.

They did that, in the tradition of Samuel Johnson, who said "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." While people maunder on about the cinematic arts and who wins the Academy Awards, they seem to forget that the movies are business, and the businessmen are there to make money. Ignoble as that sounds, the great actors, directors, cameramen, writers and others who make movies also want to make some money too. The Bowery Boys offer no advancement in the arts, no examples of great moments, but they did what they were supposed to do.

In this usual Bowery Boys entry, jokes are mixed with drama and creepy trappings when Leo Gorcey (as Terrence Mahoney) thinks he's been left a large mansion located in Bay Shore, Long Island. What he doesn't know is he's the wrong Mahoney -- the real intended heir is an elder well-to-do type, one "Terrence Mahoney, Esq." All the same, Gorcey, Sach (Huntz Hall) and the rest of the boys head out to the eerie house which happens to be the headquarters of a gang of smugglers. B-movie bad man Martin Kosleck is the leader of the group, and it's always a pleasure to have him, but he doesn't add much to the proceedings this time around. As a side note, this film also features Amelita Ward (seen in 1945's THE JUNGLE CAPTIVE), who went on to become Mrs. Leo Gorcey, and the mother of his son, Leo Jr. **1/2 out of ****

Terrence "Slip" Mahoney (Leo Gorcey) and Sach (Huntz Hall) are cleaning an empty office. A delivery boy mistakenly gives a letter addressed to Terrence Mahoney which tells him that he has inherited the Mahoney Manor. Only he's the wrong Terrence Mahoney. He and his friends go take possession of the mansion but it's being occupied by criminal smugglers.

It's The Bowery Boys doing some Scooby Doo stuff. It's a bit light fun. It needs more but it's plenty silly anyways.

If this Bowery Boys comedy-melodrama doesn't make you laugh, then we could never be friends. Filled with wonderful moments, the "Shoveler" line is one I remember from childhood, and thanks to Rob Waggs for mentioning it.

I would disagree with Rob that this is the greatest Bowery Boys picture (for me that is Blues Busters, followed by Blonde Dynamite and then Live Wires), but it is certainly up there.

Piece of trivia: In 1949, Leo Gorcey married Amelita Ward, who played Teresa in the film. They met on the set, and given the hurried shooting schedules of Monogram pictures, it must have been a whirlwind romance.

Smugglers' Cove (1948)

** (out of 4)

Terrance Mahoney (Leo Gorcey) is left a large mansion on a cliff overlooking the sea. Slip and the boys head out there to take a look not knowing that he's the wrong Terrance Mahoney and that there are some smuggler's working in the house. Number eleven in the series isn't at the bottom but it's no where near the top either. This is the first entry in the series that pretty much left me cold as there wasn't a single laugh to be found anywhere. That might make you think that the movie is a complete waste since this is a comedy after all but in fact I think the more dramatic moments work the best. The actual mystery of what's going on in the basement made for a good drama and director Beaudine actually handles it quite well. I thought he did a very good job at building up the mystery and making the drama work. So, why doesn't the film work better? Because the comedy is so poorly written that it really takes away from the drama. Sach (Huntz Hall) is so out of place here you can't help but wish they'd left him out like they did Louie. The comedy bits from the other players including Gorcey isn't anything special either and in the end we're left with a rather bland attempt at humor. What mild humor does work comes from Gabriel Dell who is once again playing the same character but with a different job. This time out he's playing a rather nerd-ish character who is constantly getting into trouble. I thought the actor did a good job with the role and helped keep the film moving at a decent pace.