The opening credits state 'Introducing' Huntz Hall, which surprised me a little because Hall was part of the gang in the earlier Warner Brothers flicks, including the original "Dead End" which introduced the boys to film. Of course they were the Dead End Kids during their WB days, so maybe this was the first 'East Side' Kids picture Hall appeared in; I'll have to find out more. In fact, the early part of the story does have a Warner Brothers feel to it as it explores Officer Tom Brady's (Warren Hull) repeated assertions that all kids aren't bad, they just need the right kind of direction in life.
The story has a boxing theme like many of the Dead End/East Side movies would. What's a little different here is that Muggs (Leo Gorcey) and Danny (Bobby Jordan) are on the outs for much of the film. Danny falls under the sway of small time hood Monk Martin (Bobby Stone), while Muggs gets sponsored to represent the Police Athletic League in a Golden Gloves tournament. As a kid watching these pictures, I remember being annoyed that the characters didn't maintain continuity from film to film, even having different names for their characters. It doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore.
Muggs is approached by crooked promoter Slats Morrison (Eddie Foster) to throw his fight against Joe Ryan so local mobsters can cash in on a rigged payday. If you listen carefully, you'll hear Muggs say 'Slats Martin' while talking to him, and immediately after officer Brady arrives and calls him 'Morrison'. No do-overs for these Poverty Row efforts, just get them into the can!
I got a kick out of the casting of the owner of Clancy's pool hall. Charlie Chan's Number #1 Son Keye Luke appears as Clancy, in a bit of a turn around to the practice of using non Asian actors in Asian parts during this era. The story doesn't attempt to answer why his name is Clancy, but it would have been a hoot to find out.
As happens virtually every time out, the so called 'bad boys' wind up on top, Muggs wins his final Golden Gloves fight with all the heavy money on his opponent. He even managed to do it right after donating blood to the injured Danny, a bit of a stretch, but hey, it's the East Side Kids.
The story has a boxing theme like many of the Dead End/East Side movies would. What's a little different here is that Muggs (Leo Gorcey) and Danny (Bobby Jordan) are on the outs for much of the film. Danny falls under the sway of small time hood Monk Martin (Bobby Stone), while Muggs gets sponsored to represent the Police Athletic League in a Golden Gloves tournament. As a kid watching these pictures, I remember being annoyed that the characters didn't maintain continuity from film to film, even having different names for their characters. It doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore.
Muggs is approached by crooked promoter Slats Morrison (Eddie Foster) to throw his fight against Joe Ryan so local mobsters can cash in on a rigged payday. If you listen carefully, you'll hear Muggs say 'Slats Martin' while talking to him, and immediately after officer Brady arrives and calls him 'Morrison'. No do-overs for these Poverty Row efforts, just get them into the can!
I got a kick out of the casting of the owner of Clancy's pool hall. Charlie Chan's Number #1 Son Keye Luke appears as Clancy, in a bit of a turn around to the practice of using non Asian actors in Asian parts during this era. The story doesn't attempt to answer why his name is Clancy, but it would have been a hoot to find out.
As happens virtually every time out, the so called 'bad boys' wind up on top, Muggs wins his final Golden Gloves fight with all the heavy money on his opponent. He even managed to do it right after donating blood to the injured Danny, a bit of a stretch, but hey, it's the East Side Kids.