Fighting Trouble

The Bowery Boys attempt to soldier on without Leo Gorcey's Slip Mahoney in this forty-second entry in the series. The plot has Sach trying to get a picture of a notorious gangster. It's a yawner that sets the template for the remainder of the Bowery films. Huntz Hall is now the only star, so almost all of the gags revolve around him. If you're not a fan of his limited comedic talents, then you may want to sit this one out. Personally, I always enjoyed Leo Gorcey's malapropisms more than Hall's rubberfacing buffoonery. I also enjoyed the chemistry between Gorcey and Hall, which is sorely missed with Gorcey's replacement -- the dull and colorless Stanley Clements. He plays Duke, the supposed new leader of the gang. He's basically just a straight man for Hall, yelling at him and attempting to mimic the dynamic Hall had with Gorcey. He gets few gags of his own and none that are funny. Also joining the series is Queenie Smith as the Boys' landlady, a pathetic attempt to replace the irreplaceable Bernard Gorcey, who died the year before. In the background are forgettable David Gorcey and Danny Welton (his only Bowery film). This isn't fun. Obviously the series is well past its expiration date here. It's never funny but, if you're a big Huntz fan, maybe you can find something of worth here.