East Side Kids

This is worth seeing as the forerunner of the popular East Side Kids/ Bowery Boys comedies that used a very similar format with a different cast and characters. Despite the completely different cast, there are many obvious similarities. In itself, this feature is just fair, largely because the camaraderie and spontaneity is not nearly as strong as it would be in the main series. But of course this cast did not have the advantage of having worked together beforehand.

The story setup is much like those used for many of the later features. Leon Ames plays a police officer who takes an interest in a gang of youths, one of whom has a brother who is facing a murder charge. The main plot has the gang working with Ames to try to break up a counterfeiting ring, with numerous confrontations, frame-ups, and action sequences along the way. Most of it works all right in itself, but because the characters never quite come together, some of the scenes aren't quite as effective as they could have been.

Another interesting aspect, in comparison with the later series, is that once Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, and the others started their run together, the characters were simply presented for who they were, with few apologies or lengthy explanations. But here, perhaps out of uncertainty that audiences would accept these kinds of roughnecks as sympathetic characters, the movie has several of its characters repeatedly discuss how 'these are good boys who just need something constructive to do with their time, to keep them out of trouble'.

Overall, there should be enough to make this worth seeing for anyone who liked the series that followed, or if you simply enjoy the B-movies of the era. In itself, it's OK as very light viewing.

The first "East Side Kids" feature reaches back to the original "Dead End" formula, as another movie studio decides to cash in on the kids. "Monogram" couldn't obtain any of the six original young scene stealers, so they built their team around second stringers. The leader role, usually assigned to Billy Halop, went to Harris Berger (as Danny Dolan). Mr. Berger had joined the original stage play, and was already appearing in Universal's "Dead End" features.

The Bobby Jordan-type role is played by Hal E. "Hally" Chester (as Fred "Dutch" Kuhn), who was featured most prominently (of this cast) in previous "Dead End" films. Leo Gorcey and the others are replaced by: Frankie Burke (as Skinny), Donald Haines (as PeeWee), Edwin "Eddie" Brian (as Mike), and Sam Edwards (as Pete). And, for one film only, Jack Edwards (as Algernon "The Mouse" Wilkes) joins the group, playing the well-heeled "sissy" who wants to be "tough".

The "Dead End" plot variation involves grown-up juvenile delinquent Leon Ames (as Pat O'Day) trying to help out some young "Angels with Dirty Faces". Now a policeman, Mr. Ames decides to open a club for "Danny's Gang", to keep them out of trouble. Ames recalls his youth as a young gangster, with Dennis Moore (as "Mile-Away" Harris) and Dave O'Brien (as "Knuckles" Dolan). Although they are still friendly, Mr. Moore is on the wrong side of the law. Mr. O'Brien, Danny's big brother, is falsely imprisoned.

The film is rushed and rough - which, on one level, helps. With re-takes, Mr. Burke's background "scratch and sniff" scene would be "corrected", but it fits the "Dead End" kid atmosphere perfectly. The film, with some additional work, would be on par with the "Warner Brothers" features. The real Bobby Jordan took over the role of "Danny Dolan" for this film's sequel, "Boys of the City"; and, early in this "Monogram" series, some continuity between films in attempted.

****** East Side Kids (2/10/40) Robert F. Hill ~ Harris Berger, Hal E. Chester, Frankie Burke, Leon Ames

This gloriously no budget Monogram 'masterpiece' is a surprisingly effective z grade street-gang drama that benefits inadvertently from its genuine cheapness. The acting boys are all in their mid teens and have screen presence originally seen in the stage show of the late 30s. This was the first in a series of films for Monogram that became The Bowery Boys with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. In all honesty, this is the better cast and as played as a little tough guys melodrama allows for real audience interest. I expected this to be terrible in both acting and production, but like the neo realist Italian pix of the immediate post war, this has the same look and grimy realism simply by being cheap and genuinely poor. As a result, with strong lead acting by Leon Ames (Father in "Meet Me In St Louis") EAST SIDE KIDS becomes a teen crime pic with good looking and interesting youth actors, strong support adults and a fantastic genuineness in its crummy look. The music is awful though, the one part marring what is actually one of Monogram's best teen films...whether they meant it or not.

A lot of folks don't have much great to say about this or any of the East Side Kids films, but this was the first entry into the series and it wasn't as bad as its touted to be. Plenty of action and intrigue, though quite dated. No Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall or even Bobby Jordan...this was the adjustment period for those coming fresh from being the Dead End Kids and cast wasn't settled. Though you do have a familiar face...Frankie Burke, from "Angels with dirty faces" and other Dead End Kids films. He mugs it up heavily for this film and has some decent lines, which he didn't often receive. This is a film definitely worth watching! If for nothing else, simply for the mere fact that this is the first entry into the East Side Kids serial. If you are a fan of the Dead End Kids, this is a must see.

I get a kick out of reviewers who criticize old movies like East Side Kids for not being more modernized, forgetting apparently that they didn't have big computerized production studios back in the early '40s. These were simple, raw entertainment.

This movie is great fun, I believe it is a pretty fair account of street kids back in the '30s. So stop griping that life was so different back then and enjoy this movie for what it is - pure delightful raw entertainment with no Hollywood snazz.