DOCKS OF NEW YORK (Monogram, 1945), directed by Wallace Fox, the 20th and the first of three "East Side Kids" installments for 1945, ranks one of its better entries. Bearing no connection to director Josef Von Sternberg's 1928 silent melodrama for Paramount, the title used here is a completely different matter. For first time viewers, it might indicate a waterfront tale involving loading docks and corrupt fisherman's unions, which might have been quite interesting. Instead, the plot revolves around its central character, Mugs getting involved with a couple of female refugees, neighborhood murders and some espionage all told in an hour's time.
The story opens in the middle of the night where a man is seen stumbling through the alley before collapsing to the ground. Moments later his pockets are being searched by his following accomplice, Compeau (Cyrus W. Kendall). Later that evening, Glimpy (Huntz Hall) climbs into Mugs (Leo Gorcey) bedroom window showing him an emblem he just found. Mugs, president of the East Side Kids, goes out with Glimpy to investigate. After finding the deceased victim, they are chased by Compeau until sounds of police siren drives him away. After being taken into custody, and released with no evidence against them, Mugs and Glimpy return to their residence to hear the sound of a woman crying in apartment 2F. Coming to her aid, they stop the woman's tears after presenting her the valuable heirloom earlier taken from the accented speaking Mrs. Darcy (Betty Blythe). It's later learned that her niece, Saundra (Gloria Pope), who has been seeing Glimpy's cousin, Marty of the Merchant Marines (Carlyle Blackwell Jr.) to actually be an escaped royal princess from Toscania hiding in the Bowery district of New York City. As a favor to Mrs. Darcy, Mugs hides her heirloom in his apartment where it will be safe. Situations become complicated when Marty finds himself arrested for the murder of pawnbroker, Mr. Kessel (Bernard Gorcey), while Mrs. Darcy and Saundra, having relocated to 216 Bleeker Street, to find themselves being stalked by someone other than Compeau.
Others in the cast include George Meeker (Prince Igor Mallet), Pierre Watkin (Captain Jacobs) and Leo Borden (Peter the Butler). Though the first twenty minutes focuses solely on Mugs and Glimpy, the other members of the East Side Kids, Billy Benedict (Skinny); Buddy Gorman (Danny); and Mende Koenig (Sammy), appear much later with very little to do. Mugs' mother is now enacted by Patsy Moran, formerly Glimpy's mother in earlier installments. What happened to Mary Gordon? Cyrus Kendall, who worked earlier with Gorcey and Hall in CRIME SCHOOL (1938), is the heavy here, more ways than one. Joy Reese as Mugs' girlfriend, Millie, adds to the situation getting fed up being ignored by Mugs and joining in on his escapes. Gabriel Dell, a series regular of multiple roles, does not appear, having Carlyle Blackwell filling in the void this time around. Some good action scenes help enlighten some of Hall's over familiar antics and Joy Reese's annoying character that grows tiresome after a while.
Not one of the more frequently revived nor better known entries of the series since its last broadcast in the 1990s, DOCKS OF NEW YORK is available for viewing either on YouTube and DVD format. Next installment: MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN (1945). (**)
