East Side Kids (1940)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Robert F. Hill

Writer:

William Lively (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

10 February 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's gang war on the streets of New York...when a bunch of half-pint racketeers go "civic-minded' to put the skids under a crime czar! (original poster)

Plot:

A young street kid grows up and becomes a cop when he realizes that crime doesn't pay. One of his childhood...

Plot Keywords:

Evidence | Murder | Gang | Street Kid | Counterfeiter

Cast

Leon Ames	...	Pat O'Day
Dennis Moore	...	Milton Franklin 'Mileaway' Harris
Joyce Bryant	...	Molly Dolan
Hal E. Chester	...	Fred 'Dutch' Kuhn (as Hally Chester)
Harris Berger	...	Danny Dolan
Frankie Burke	...	Skinny - Danny's Gang Member
Vince Barnett	...	Whisper - Mileaway Henchman
Dave O'Brien	...	Knuckles Dolan
Ted Adams	...	Schmidt - Pawn Shop Owner (as Richard Adams)
Maxine Leslie	...	May - Mileaway's Moll
Robert Fiske	...	Cornwall - aka Robert Morrison
Jack Edwards	...	Algernon 'Mouse' Wilkes
Jim Farley	...	Police Captain Moran (as James Farley)
Alden 'Stephen' Chase	...	Joe - Detective (as Alden Chase)
Fred Hoose	...	Mr. Wilkes - Mouse's Father

Runtime:

62 min | USA:60 min (2005 DVD release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5897) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Four-Bell Pictures

Trivia:

David Durand is in casting call lists as "Butch," the role played by Hal E. Chester, who was listed as "Buster," a character not in the film. Durand was not seen in the film at all.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Kid Dynamite (1943)

First East Side Kids serial entry

A lot of folks don't have much great to say about this or any of the East Side Kids films, but this was the first entry into the series and it wasn't as bad as its touted to be. Plenty of action and intrigue, though quite dated. No Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall or even Bobby Jordan...this was the adjustment period for those coming fresh from being the Dead End Kids and cast wasn't settled. Though you do have a familiar face...Frankie Burke, from "Angels with dirty faces" and other Dead End Kids films. He mugs it up heavily for this film and has some decent lines, which he didn't often receive. This is a film definitely worth watching! If for nothing else, simply for the mere fact that this is the first entry into the East Side Kids serial. If you are a fan of the Dead End Kids, this is a must see.