User reviews

I haven't seen as many Bowery Boys movies as I should have. I'm catching up but I'm still way behind. "In Fast Company" is a solid entry in the series. It has a lot of funny lines and a very fast running time (63 mins). The Boys are all in great form. Their supporting cast is also good. Forgive me but I actually found the story of a war between taxi companies interesting. I liked "In Fast Company".

Second of the '48' BOWERY BOYS films from MONOGRAM which was the longest series ever produced by Hollywood to date. Usual story which pits 'the BOYS' and their independent 'Cassidy's Cab Company' (CCC) versus 'Red Circle Cab' (RCB). Now you would think in a metropolitan area as large as N.Y.C. there would not be much of a conflict, then there would have been no movie. RCB plays rough, running off (literally) the competition.

'The Boys' lead by Terrence 'Slip' Mahoney (Leo Gorcey), his stooge Sach (Huntz Hall) plus, Bobby (Bobby Jordon), Whitey (William Benedict) and Chuck (David Gorcey) take it on the chin for the first half of the film. Then they make contact with the rival companies owner Patrick McCormick (Paul Harvey), with the help of his Daughter Marian (Jane Randolf) reveal the true source of the problem, Steve Trent (Douglas Fowley). After a furious fight the Police arrive and the offenders of 'Cab Etiquette' are taken off to jail.

Leo Gorcey (Slip) fills his character with the usual amount of 'malaprops' and abuse too Hall (Sach). The rest of 'the Boys' just fix cars or stand around. It is the supporting cast that is of real interest. Luis Alberni, Charles D. Brown, Douglas Fowley and Paul Harvey were all quality character actors. Who spent most of their time in the 30s' plying their trade among the 'Big Five Majors' or at least the middle tier studios and would continue to do so. Why then appear in a poverty row quickie from MONOGRAM? It kept you busy, you did not have to invest more then a week to pick up your check and it took no great stretch too fulfill your acting obligations. Need a quick '2 Gs' for a new car or a home improvement then MONOGRAM was a good place to stop.

Overall would rate the BOWERY BOYS series from as low as Two**Stars to a maximum of Six******Stars depending on the entry.

When a competing driver won't succumb to pressure, New York City's crooked "Red Circle Cab" company derails him in an accident, overturning his cab. While the driver recuperates, a local Priest recruits "helpful lad" Leo Gorcey (as Slip Mahoney) to drive the rival "Cassidy" company cab. Sacrificing a night out with angelic girlfriend Judy Clark (as Mabel Dumbrowski), Mr. Gorcey clashes with the criminal "Red Circle" cabs. Gorcey quickly employs "The Bowery Boys": Huntz Hall (as Sach), Bobby Jordan (as Bobby), William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey), and David Gorcey (as Chuck) to humorously help make amends.

"In Fast Company" is above average for "The Bowery Boys", but nothing special overall. In this film, (Leo's father) Bernard Gorcey, who had been appearing in the series films regularly, receives his familiar character name "Louie Dumbrowski" (herein, proprietor of "Louie's Ice Cream Parlor"). Good moments include an entertaining fruit stand owner (nicely played by Luis Alberni), a seltzer water sequence, and an early example of "telephone booth stuffing" (or, How many people can you fit in a telephone booth?). Since telephone booth stuffing became a fad in the 1950s, it looks like "The Bowery Boys" were ahead of the curve.

***** In Fast Company (6/22/46) Del Lord ~ Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, William 'Billy' Benedict

The gang saves a neighborhood cab co. from an outlaw rival.

Like the Marx Bros. or the Three Stooges, the Bowery Boys are best when bringing chaos into the well-ordered world of the rich or pretentious. Their's is a street tough brand of chaos, too moronic to be organized. Slip (Gorcey) may try, but the gang are like wacky billiard balls, causing the so-called leader to take out his frustration on the hapless Sach (Hall) in sometimes humorous fashion.

Too bad this entry doesn't get more of that energy on screen. It's actually a pretty dull affair. The one big set-piece, the packed telephone booth, goes on too long with no variation, soon losing its humor. Surprisingly, Hall and Gorcey remain pretty subdued without many of their usual wild antics. It's almost like the producers of this second series entry aren't sure the direction they want the series to take. At the same time, poor Bobby Jordan as the sometimes sane member looks a little lost. Still, it is a good chance to catch the lovely and classy Jane Randolph taking a break from her Cat People role.

The real problem, however, is with the premise. The rival cab company is simply filled with too many characters like the Boys. So the usual silly antics remain just that, silly, and aren't redeemed by puncturing the balloons of the high and mighty.

The second of the "Bowery Boys" series of films is somewhat interesting due to its semi-serious tone, something which would occur infrequently during this comedy series. Here, a shrewd tycoon who owns a major taxi cab company is trying to coerce smaller rival cab businesses to sell out and join his firm, or else suffer the unpleasant consequences. When one of these competing drivers is run off the road and badly injured, it's Slip Mahoney (Leo Gorcey) to the rescue to take over his cab and collect his fares for him. There are still some laughs to be had in between the drama as Slip requires the aid of his pals, including Sach (Huntz Hall). This entry is noteworthy in that it's the first to introduce Louie (played by Leo's dad Bernard Gorcey), the tiny and frazzled owner of Louie's Sweet Shop where the boys hang out. **1/2 out of ****

The second of four dozen Bowery Boys films made from the 1940s well in the 1950s. However, although I enjoy their films, I will be quick to admit that their humor is far from subtle or sophisticated...and occasionally, it's just downright bad. Because of this, my wife usually leaves the room when I put on their films...but in this case she mostly sat with me...making faces during much of the movie!

In this installment, Slip (Leo Gorcey) agrees to help an out of work independent cab driver. His local priest ENCOURAGES him to help out...and risking the fires of Hell, Mahoney drives a cab. But soon he realizes HOW the driver got hurt, as the competition is very violent and dirty and will do just about anything to stop any competition. See the film and see how he and the gang handle these goons.

In many ways, this film is like a reworking of the old James Cagney movie "Taxi"...with some humor and hijinks added to it. And, it's pretty much what you'd expect from Gorcey, Huntz Hall and the rest....which, for some is pleasant entertainment and for others, a migraine lasting a little over an hour. I'd say this one is about average for the franchise...maybe slightly better.

This was the second Bowery Boys feature film, fast paced and funny, all about a knock down, drag out bumper to bumper taxi war. Del Lord directed this episode, best known for the THREE STOOGES, but he probably was chosen due to the fact he had lots of experience as a car demolition man, both in silent and sound films. Also, the early Bowery Boys films used a few different directors before settling with old faithful William Beaudine, who also directed the East Side Kids series.

The guys gets into some nasty crashes thanks to bad apple Steve Trent (played by Douglas Fowley) who plans to run competing cab companies out of business. In steps crusading Slip and Sach and they turn the tables on the guy, with all the necessary roughness, gags and one liners. Also one of the few films where Slip's character had a steady girlfriend named Mable (played by Judy Clark). Mable's character was also in the very first Bowery Boys film, LIVE WIRES. Clark is funny trying to lasoo Gorcey all to herself. She appeared in many Monogram films before moving onto television and then retiring. Her last name is Dumbrowski, which was the same as sweetshop owner Louie, so its unclear if she was his niece or daughter, though his character was not officially introduced until the next film.

Good supporting cast; including Paul Harvey (as the stuffy business executive) and Mary Gordon, who played Sherlock Holmes' landlady, Mrs. Hudson, though frequently popped up in the series and even played Slip's mom. As usual, Gorcey's outrageous malaprops steal the show.

Warner Brothers dvd box set Generally fitted with six to eight remastered episodes per box. Released 2012.

Slip and his gang of middle aged juvenile delinquents take on a cutthroat cab company. I've never seen one of these movies before, and I hope I never see another. Not that it was a total wash-out, but the jokes were pitifully lame and the acting unbelievable hammy. I'll bet that all these Bowery Boys pictures followed this same general format. This film would probably appeal to those of us who want to walk down memory lane.

Steve Trent, the ruthless owner of the Red Circle Cab Company is driving independent cabbies out of business. John Cassidy refuses to sell to Trent and soon thereafter Trent's henchmen cause Cassidy to have an accident which leaves him with a broken arm. The kindly and savvy Father Donovan tries to get Slip to drive Cassidy's cab while Cassidy is recovering. Donovan, acting in cahoots with the Irish beat cop, convinces Slip that the only way he can keep from getting arrested for vandalizing a fruit vendor's stand is by helping Cassidy. Somewhat resentful at first, Slip has a change of heart when the priest introduces him to Cassidy and his daughter and mother. There is quite a touching scene between Slip and the little girl. The best gag in the movie is the phone booth stuffing; it's well done and funny. As often happens in the series, the movie ends with a brawl between the bad guys and the Boys. This is Gorcey's movie as the rest of the boys have little to do. He did a good job with it. A highlight was seeing Mary Gordon as Cassidy's mother. Gordon was a Scotswoman (I always thought she was Irish, but no) who will be best remembered for her role as Mrs. Hudson in the Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies. Strong supporting cast with always reliable Douglas Fowley, Charles D. brown and Paul Harvey. Although darker than most of the series entries, it still has its frenetic and funny moments.

The second in Monogram's Bowery Boys series starring the always funny Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall. Well, always funny to me, anyway. Gorcey's malapropisms and Hall's buffoonery might not be high comedy to some but I get a kick out of them. The plot to this one has Gorcey's Slip Mahoney becoming a taxicab driver, which leads to he and his friends becoming involved in a feud with a rival cab company. In addition to Gorcey and Hall, the Boys includes Bobby Jordan as Bobby, William Benedict as Whitey, and Leo's brother David Gorcey as Chuck. This was David's first Bowery Boys film. In keeping with the theme of nepotism, Leo's father Bernard makes his first appearance as series regular Louie, the ice cream parlor owner. Douglas Fowley makes for a hissable villain. Jane Randolph, Judy Clark, and Marjorie Woodworth provide the pretty. It's a decent entry with some good lines and gags. The phone booth bit is a highlight. Far from the Boys' best but fun.

In Fast Company (1946)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

Second film in the Bowery Boys series has Slip (Leo Gorcey) offering to drive a cab for a driver who was injured on the job. Soon he and the boys find themselves in the middle of a cab war with the big cabs trying to knock over the little ones. The subject line of a cab war has been dealt with in quite a few films with the most memorable being TAXI with James Cagney and Loretta Young. This film here can't hold a candle to that one nor the previous film in the series. This second film comes off as a major disappointment as it appears the film was rushed into production without too much thought put into the screenplay. For the most part there are very few laughs to be found in this film and the biggest one comes towards the end when Sach (Huntz Hall) walks into a trophy room with various stuffed animals and gets scared. The rest of the comedy comes from rather silly slapstick including a really bad scene where the boys and a few others get locked inside a phone booth. Other forms of so-called comedy comes from the boys eating up all the bananas from a dealer and another one dealing with a watch inside one of those claw machines that Sach keeps getting but losing at the last second. As with the first film, there's no question that this was meant to show off Gorcey but that doesn't even happen that well. As expected he spills a lot of mangled dialogue but the character really doesn't do much else. Most of the supporting cast is wasted and especially Bobby Jordan. Character actor John D. Brown comes off the best as Father Donovan and I'm sure many will remember him from countless Warner pictures in the 30s.

A guy from the neighborhood gets caught up in a cabbie war. Father Donovan recruits Slip (Leo Gorcey) to drive the cab for a couple of days while the guy recovers. It's the Bowery Boys against the corrupt taxi company owner.

This is the second film in this series. It has both Slip and Sach. They have their fun. It's a silly franchise and that's fine. I don't care that much about any seriousness. I probably wouldn't even want that many car chases. The fights need to be more slapstick. All in all, it's a little fun with some serious matters which may or may not fit with the silliness. It's fine.

Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall star in another Bowery Boys chapter "In Fast Company". When there's trouble at the taxi company, the boys fill in to resolve the goings on. Louie, the shop owner was Leo Gorcey's real dad. sadly, they would both die quite young. Judy Clark co-stars as Mabel, Slip's girlfriend. the usual one liners and slapstick gags. and that phone booth gag goes on WAY too long. the usual recipe of the crew stumbling into some neighborhood issue, and (finally) figuring it out. in this case, the big cab company trying to muscle out the smaller drivers. it's good. nothing too complicated. Directed by Del Lord, who was known for directing shorts, stunts, and perfect timing with the Three Stooges!

In Fast Company finds the Bowery Boys involved in taxi wars as the big Ponderosa outfit of the NYC cab companies managed by Douglas Fowley is trying all kinds of intimidation tactics to push the independent owner operators out of business. One of those independents is banged up pretty bad so the local priest Charles D. Brown prevails upon Leo Gorcey to pinch hit. Well when you get Gorcey you get the rest of the Bowery Boys bringing whatever skills they have to bear on the situation.

This film is a nice combination of Bowery Boy hijinks and a bit of pathos as brought by Mary Gordon, wife of the injured cab owner. That woman besides playing Mrs. Hudson in the Sherlock Holmes series played more sweet Irish moms in film than anyone else by far. Yet you can hear her Scot's speech pattern loud and clear.

There are three other women who get substantial roles here, unusual for a Bowery Boy film. Jane Randolph as the daughter of the real owner of the cab company that Fowley is running for his own benefit, Marjorie Woodworth a glamorous dame who leads Gorcey down the path to a severe beating and Judy Clark niece of Bernard Gorcey who Leo Gorcey keeps standing up for a date. And yet Louie Dumbrowski let those kids hang out in his Sweet Shop.

Bowery Boy fans should like this one.