Let's Get Tough! (1942)

The East Side Kids take on a gang of Japanese spies.

Director:

Wallace Fox

Writer:

Harvey Gates (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leo Gorcey	...	Muggs
Bobby Jordan	...	Danny Connors
Huntz Hall	...	Glimpy
Gabriel Dell	...	Fritz Heinbach
Tom Brown	...	Phil Connors
Florence Rice	...	Nora Stevens
Robert Armstrong	...	Officer 'Pops' Stevens
David Gorcey	...	Peewee
Ernest Morrison	...	Scruno (as Sunshine Sammy Morrisson)
Bobby Stone	...	Skinny
Sam Bernard	...	Heinback Sr.
Philip Ahn	...	Joe Matsui (as Phil Ahn)
Jerry Bergen	...	Music Master

Storyline

Outraged by the attack on Pearl Harbor, Muggs, Danny, and the rest of their gang want to enlist. Turned away because of their age, they take out their frustration by harassing an Asian shopkeeper. When the shopkeeper is found dead soon afterward, the boys learn that he was Chinese, not Japanese. Determined to atone for their behavior, the gang stumbles across evidence that a real group of Japanese spies is operating in the area, and they become determined to expose them. Meanwhile, Danny is troubled further by the news that his older brother has been dishonorably discharged from the Navy.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese | spy | east side kids | pearl harbor | chinese | 

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Taglines:

Those East Side shock troops deliver a "kiss" to Hitler's and Hirohito's henchmen over here...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Little MacArthurs

Company Credits

Production Co:

Banner Productions, Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Glimpy: [knocks a spy unconscious] You're one Rising Sun that's not going to rise.

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Connections

Follows East Side Kids (1940)

User Reviews

Turning Japanese

Following the World War II Japanese attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, "The Eastside Kids": Leo Gorcey (as Muggs), Bobby Jordan (as Danny Connors), Huntz Hall (as Glimpy), David Gorcey (as Peewee), Ernest Morrison (as Scruno), and Bobby Stone (as Skinny) want to serve their country. But, both the U.S. Army and Navy reject them as too young. Still wanting to "knock off about a million Japs", the "boys" attack an Asian clerk, who turns out to be Chinese. The unfortunate incident does, however, lead the gang to help uncover some really nasty Japanese and German people.

If "too young" is defined as "under twenty-one", only Mr. Jordan and Mr. Stone would be rejected for military service. But, it's possible recruiters were turned off by the office manners displayed by Mr. Gorcey and Mr. Hall. "Let's Get Tough!" was made during what the script accurately describes as "open season on Japs" - for this and other reasons, it hasn't aged well. It's a wasted effort, but the regulars performs ably, with Tom Brown moving the storyline along, as Jordan's spy brother.

*** Let's Get Tough! (5/29/42) Wallace Fox ~ Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, Tom Brown