Spy Chasers

Beautiful brown-eyed Lisa Davis (as Princess Ann) follows Huntz Hall (as as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones) into the "Sweet Shop" and asks to see proprietor Bernard Gorcey (as Louie Dumbrowsky). Ms. Davis reveals she is a blue-blood from Louie's home country, the "Kingdom of Truania". We learn Louie has a brother named "Felix" who is a loyal subject (unfortunately, this Dumbrowsky does not appear). Davis' father, a heavily German-accented Sig Ruman (as King Rako), has been deposed.

Naturally, "The Bowery Boys" are enlisted to help restore King Ruman to his throne. Leo Gorcey (as Terence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney) begins drilling Mr. Hall, David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck) and Benny "Bennie" Bartlett (as Butch) in military maneuvers. The "Spy Chasers" must guard half a coin from Truania, and defeat revolutionaries led by Leon Askin (as Alex Baxis) and his busty moll Veola Vonn (as Zelda). Her underwear, and a diner scene with Hall and Gorcey, are highlights.

**** Spy Chasers (7/31/55) Edward Bernds ~ Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Bernard Gorcey, Veola Vonn

The thirty-eighth film in the Bowery Boys series is a lot of nonsense about the fictional European kingdom of Truania, a coin split in half, and Louie's brother that we never see -- a Truanian general named Felix. Pretty tired movie with some much-needed assistance from Sig Ruman and Leon Askin. Lisa Davis is the pretty princess who brings Louie and the Boys into the whole mess. As for the gang, Huntz Hall is once again trying too hard and Leo Gorcey seems to be phoning in his malapropisms and yelling at Hall. Bernard Gorcey plays a major part in this one but he doesn't have any particularly funny bits. David Gorcey and Bennie Bartlett are also here, barely ever speaking as usual. Best scenes involve the little girl who wants some candy ("Do you want to hear me scream?"). The series was past its prime by this point so you take your laughs where you can get them. The 'boys' all look like they're pushing forty and all seem content to go through the motions. It's nothing great but watchable if you're a fan of the series.

This Bowery boys entry is one where the production code was slightly ignored as the "Mata Hari" character loses a dress and is not wearing a slip; she's wearing a teddy. The Old Production code prohibited showing the female form that revealingly, but that was a crazy idea. Leon Askin was here and playing a version of the middle European villain he always played; whether it was in Hogan's Heroes, What did you do in the War Daddy?, or One,Two, Three. The difference here was he was not facing Bob Crane or James Cagney; he lost to Huntz Hall. It is light hearted fare and should be taken as what it is, a B-movie and the equivalent cinematically of a hot dog.

Princess Ann (Lisa Davis), daughter of a deposed European king (Sig Ruman) asks Louie Dumbrowsky (Bernard Gorcey) for help because spies from her home country are following her. It seems that Louie's brother Felix is a General in Truania working underground to restore the king. The princess gives a half coin to Louis which, when joined with the other half, signals that the king can return to Truania. But there is treachery and skulduggery afoot and it takes the Bowery Boys to sort it all out. A highlight scene is when a little tomboy (Linda Bennett) accidentally ends up with the half coin. It often happens that in B movies one can see both actors on their way down and actors on their way up. Sig Ruman was such a talented actor that this role must have been a let down for him. On the other hand, as a fan of both The Naked City and Twelve O'Clock High television shows, it was fun seeing Paul Burke early in his career in an uncredited bit part as a messenger from Truania. This is a pleasant and enjoyable Bowery Boys outing.

Spy Chasers (1955)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Number thirty-eight is certainly a step up in the series has a King and Princess from a fake European country find themselves hiding in the Bowery after being kicked out of the country. It turns out Louie (Bernard Gorcey) is the brother of a rebel who is fighting to bring the King back but in the meantime Slip (Leo Gorcey) and Sach (Huntz Hall) must fight the bad guys who plan on double-crossing the King. Considering how fair to poor the previous few films were I really wasn't expecting too much out of SPY CHASERS but it actually turned out to be pretty good and in the end it delivered more laughs than many in the series. The plot is certainly a very stupid one with one big hole after another but then again it's doubtful anyone expected anything better. The film does a nice job with the humor as it comes in a variety of ways but the highlights are when the boys are making fun of Col. Alex Baxis (Leon Askin) who happens to be a bad guy. The stuff that happens when Slip and Sach first meet him is priceless and gets plenty of laughs. Another terrific sequence is a later scene when Slip and Sach come up with a plan to get the Princess back after she's been kidnapped. This includes going into a restaurant where the owner is played by Roger Corman regular Mel Welles. The insults start flying and contain some of the best jokes in the series and Sach's "act" is without question one of the funniest bits you'll see in any of the films. Both Gorcey and Hall seem re-energized as both of them are working at a very fast pace and both deliver what they do best. Gorcey has some very funny lines this time out and Hall plays dumb as well as he can. Daddy Gorcey also does a pretty good job in his role but it's a shame the screenplay didn't include a scene of his brother, the General in battle as it would have been great seeing this "brave" brother. Askin is fun as the bad guy as is Veola Davis in the role of the vixen who uses Sach to carry out her orders. SPY CHASERS certainly isn't a masterpiece but it's a decent enough of an entry and I'm sure fans of the series will have a good time with it.