Guarda-Chuva Fatal

In one of the earlier "Bowery Boys adventure" films, Leo Gorcey (Slip!) and Huntz Hall ( Sach!) lead the gang on some caper. Here, they find a bundle of money that was lost by the dead guy, and now they are on the run from the people that want that money back. and the guys that want the money are not nice guys! the usual combination of word-play, mixed in with cat and mouse chasing around the mulberry bush. it's another chapter of the guys trying to get rich quick, but they must learn their lesson the hard way. Directed by WIlliam Beaudine, as usual. Had directed so many of the bowery boys films. Once again, Leo worked his brother David and his father Bernard into the films. also keep an eye out for sheldon leonard, who was such a force as actor, director, and producer in old hollywood.... he's Lippy Harris. and keep an eye out for Donald MacBride.. he kept saying "Jumping Butterballs!" in Room Service, with the Marx Brothers! in this one, he's the silly police captain who keeps bellowing, instead of getting out and solving the crime. meh..... its so so. they milked this bit for YEARS...

With a cast of among others John Eldredge, Sheldon Leonard, and Ben Welden all of whom have played various criminal types this Bowery Boys flick has almost the look of an A picture. Then when we get to Louie's Sweet Shop and Leo Gorcey's mangling of the English language we know where we are.

These three and others were involved in a high stakes poker game where the winning pot was $50,000.00. The winner is found stabbed to death, but the money is found by none other than Horace DeBussy Jones. Sach of course being the simple trusting soul that he is shares it with the gang and of course Gorcey takes charge.

Right after that the various participants in that poker game keep turning up dead and there's always a couple of Bowery Boys in the vicinity. Between Gorcey's diction and grammar and Huntz Hall's saying he's seeing a mysterious man with an umbrella at the scene of each incident, slow burning Chief Inspector Donald MacBride is about to lose his police pension.

Actually Sach is quite observant and does one very smart thing that leads to the apprehension of the killer.

Fans of these eternal youths should enjoy this one.

Jinx Money (1948)

** (out of 4)

Tenth film in the series has a gangster winning $50,000 during a poker game but being knocked off shortly after wards. Slip (Leo Gorcey) and Sach (Huntz Hall) come across the money, which gets their pictures in the paper and other gangsters after them wanting the money. Story wise there's really nothing fresh or original here as we get the basic device of the boys getting into trouble, which of course they have to try and work their way out of. It could be gamblers, gangsters or crooked police, it really doesn't matter as we see the same type of jokes from one film to the next. Even though the story here isn't that fresh, a strong supporting cast lifts this film up better than it probably deserves. There are a few funny moments to be had here including a pretty good sequence when Slip and Sach first come across the money. Their reactions get a few quick laughs as does Bernard Gorcey's performance as Louie, the sweet shop owner who simply wants to get the few bucks he's owed from the boys. The supporting cast includes a nice turn by Sheldon Leonard (Nick in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE) as one of the gangsters and Donald MacBride has several funny bits with Sach as the police captain. As is to be expected, Leo fits his role just fine and delivers his usual, nice performance full of mangled dialogue. Hall is back and as dumb as ever, which is becoming him trademark in these films. Director Beaudine actually does a little better job here as he manages to work in some effective moments including a nice murder sequence to start the film off. The use of shadows works extremely well and is perhaps his best directorial move so far. If you're not fans of the series then I doubt this movie is going to make you change your mind but it's not too bad for those who can put up with The Bowery Boys and their sense of humor.

Perpetually broke, Leo Gorcey (as Terrance "Slip" Mahoney) and Huntz Hall (as "Sach" Jones) are thrown out of "Louie's Sweet Shop" for lack of funds - they owe $3.80 to proprietor Bernard Gorcey (as Louie). After they contemplate splitting up for greener pastures, the duo stumble upon a stashed $50,000 gambling payoff. Believing their money woes are over, they launder (wash and dry) the money, with fellow "Bowery Boys" William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey), David Gorcey (as Chuck), and Benny "Bennie" Bartlett (as Butch). Reporter friend Gabriel Dell (as Gabe) publicizes the find, which helps draw the attention of both the police and the original gamblers, who want the money bad...

With this entry, Mr. Bartlett (re-)joins the group, as "Butch Williams". Bartlett had been a member of both the "East Side" and the "Gas House" kids, and roamed in the recent Bowery release "Angels' Alley", as a wayward young criminal. Seniority goes to Mr. Benedict's "Whitey", however, for the scraps of lines not uttered by the starring team of Gorcey & Hall. Gorcey and the gang move into a "promiscuous" new clubhouse, and make the most of the haphazard storyline. Sheldon Leonard (as Lippy Harris) and Donald MacBride (as James Q. Broaderik) notably play their type. In short, everyone makes the most of "Jinx Money", which can be, in itself, appealing.

**** Jinx Money (6/27/48) William Beaudine ~ Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Sheldon Leonard

The tenth Bowery Boys film has Slip and Sach finding $50,000 that belonged to a murdered poker player. When word gets out the boys have the dough, unsavory characters come calling looking to get their hands on it. The second Bowery Boys picture with Bennie Bartlett, but his first as a member of the gang. He joins regulars Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, William Benedict, David Gorcey, and Gabriel Dell, all of whom are solid here. Bernard Gorcey returns as lovable Louie after being missed in the last movie. He's always fun. The supporting cast is peppered with memorable actors like Sheldon Leonard, Donald MacBride, John Eldredge, Lucien Littlefield, and Ben Welden. Betty Caldwell is the obligatory pretty lady. It's a fast-paced entry, light on plot but heavy on fun. Slip's malapropisms and jokes about Sach's intelligence are enjoyable as ever, with the other boys getting a few good jokes in here and there. Fans will like it a lot but, as with the other Bowery Boys movies, it won't be everybody's cup of tea.