Boys of the City (1940)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Joseph H. Lewis

Writer:

William Lively (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

15 July 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

The Story Of Men In The Making By Just Plain American Boys!

Plot:

Street kids get sent to the country, where they get mixed up in murder and a haunted house. |

Plot Keywords:

Haunted House | Murder | Organ | Niece | False Accusation

Cast

Bobby Jordan	...	Danny Dolan
Leo Gorcey	...	Muggs McGinnis
Hal E. Chester	...	Buster (as Hally Chester)
Frankie Burke	...	Skinny
Vince Barnett	...	Simp
Inna Gest	...	Louise Mason
Dave O'Brien	...	Knuckles Dolan (as David O'Brien)
Ernest Morrison	...	Scruno (as Sunshine Sammy)
Minerva Urecal	...	Agnes
Dennis Moore	...	Giles
Donald Haines	...	Peewee
David Gorcey	...	Pete
Eugene Francis	...	Algy Wilkes
Forrest Taylor	...	Judge Malcolm Parker
Alden 'Stephen' Chase	...	Jim Harrison (as Alden Chase)

Also Known As:

The Ghost Creeps (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

68 min | USA:62 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #6447) (original rating)

Company:

Four Bells Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When the judge realizes the mob is trying to kill him, he decides to flee to his country home. When his bodyguard is told this, the bodyguard tries to call his mother to tell her he will be out of town. The judge stops the bodyguard by telling him the phones may be tapped and the mob will then know where the judge is. Later, when they arrive at his country home, the judge is upset that there are no lights on and that his housekeeper doesn't answer the door. He tells the others, "Where could she be? I called and told her we were coming."

Quotes:

Muggs: I think this organ has something to do with the secret. Then Agnes said "not to touch it" and Knuckles said that Ms. Mason was to meet him in this room. She vanished from this room. I'll bet you there's a secret panel.
Danny: You're crazy. You've been seeing too many movies.
Muggs: Movies - hey, that's it! Say what's The Thin Man got that I ain't got?
Danny: Myrna Loy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Muppet Babies: Is There a Muppet in the House? (#5.4)" (1988)

Funny, creepy & worth your time!

The cigar scene at the country estate is worth it all! Full of belly laughs! Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison is at his classic comedic best. Frankie Burke, the young Cagney look-alike from "Angels with dirty faces" has a role as one of the boys and does a fine job...you'll notice he can move like cagney, as well as look, act and sound like him when you see him jumping over that sofa in the guest room! Many sight-gags and tongue-in-cheek humor in this film. The shame is its lack-luster title and description. This is one you have to see. One warning, however...there are racial overtones. But you must remember, this *was* 1940 and Mr. Morrison handles them with his precise, exceptional talent. All in all, this is a must-see film for classic buffs. For anyone looking for clean fun!