BLOCK BUSTERS (Monogram, 1944), a Banner production directed by Wallace Fox, marks another attempt in moving forward with something completely different for those city boys of the Bowery district known as "The East Side Kids." Starring the series regulars of Leo Gorcey (Ethelbert "Mugs" Maginnis); Huntz Hall ("Glimpy"); and Billy Benedict ("Butch"), for a change since SMART ALECKS (1942), Gabriel Dell plays a member of the East Side Kids named "Skinny," as opposed to playing a nemesis of the gang. The name of Skinny interestingly was played in two previous installments by Billy Benedict, now playing Butch, a rival gang leader of the Five Pointers. For this 18th installment, Jimmy Strand steps in for the role of Danny while Bill Chaney, Mugs' pal, appears as Tobey Dunn for the only time.
The plot opens with a baseball game with the East Siders playing against the Five Pointers. Mr. Lippman (Bernard Gorcey) and Mr. Meyer (Tom Herbert) are seen as spectators. After an argument with the umpire (Charles Murray Jr.), Mugs (Leo Gorcey) is given boxing gloves to settle things, but everything comes to a halt with the arrival of a policeman. Next scene deals with Mr. Higgins (Harry Langdon), a building owner, evicting the East Side Kids from their club in favor of new tenants, Amelia Norton (Minerva Urecal) and her grandson, Jean Val Jean Rogers (Frederick Pressel). Born and raised in France, Jean finds Americans a bunch of "characters." Relocating back to the Bowery district where she was born and raised, Mrs. Norton intends on having Jean get the feel of American lifestyle in the Bowery. Feeling her neighborhood where she was raised 40 years ago, Mrs. Norton sees it's not the way she remembers it. She soon feels herself at home by witnessing a rumble between the East Side Kids and the Five Pointers. Because of his French accent, Mugs gets himself in a fight with Jean who surprisingly loses to Mugs without using his fists. Taken to court, the Judge (Noah Beery) summons both Mugs and Jean responsible for each other's conduct. Not wanting to violate their parole, Mugs and the gang show Jean the American way of life by teaching him boxing, football and wrestling. Subplot involves the jealously of Danny (Jimmy Strand) when Jean steps in on his girlfriend, Jinx (Roberta Smith), while Mugs shows off his softer character by thinking up a plan on how to send the sickly Tobey Dunn (Bill Chaney) on a rest cure in the country. Co-stars include Kay Marvin (Irma Treadwell); Johnny Duncan (Johnny); with specialties as Jimmie Noone and his Orchestra with the dancing act by The Ashburns set in a night club.
For anyone familiar with silent movies, let along silent comedy, one would be surprised to find the once popular Harry Langdon (billed tenth in the casting credits) with few opening scenes playing a bespectacled landlord. Leo's father, Bernard Gorcey, has more to do here than the usual comedy bits from previous "East Side Kids" editions. Comedy highlights go to Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall in isolated roles set at a masquerade party. Watch for Gorcey showing off his dancing style. Take notice the "East Side Kids" opening score being underscored for the baseball scenes. For this tightly-nit 60 minutes, BLOCK BUSTERS comes as an average edition, compliments of Houston Branch.
Unseen regularly on television since the 1990s, BLOCK BUSTERS is available on DVD for avid fans of Mugs and the gang known as "The East Side Kids." Next installment: BOWERY CHAMPS (1944) (**)
