In Fast Company (1946)

Director:

Del Lord

Writers:

Martin Mooney (story)
Edmond Seward (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 June 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

A MAD MELEE of FIGHTS FUN AND HEART-THROBS! (original print ad - almost all caps)

Plot:

The crooked manager of a taxicab company is out to drive the independent owners/drivers out of business through various tactics such as sabotage...

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Bowery Boys | Taxicab | Sabotage | Intimidation

Cast

Leo Gorcey	...	Terence Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney
Huntz Hall	...	Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones
Jane Randolph	...	Marian McCormick
Judy Clark	...	Mabel Dumbrowski
Bobby Jordan	...	Bobby
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
David Gorcey	...	Chuck
Douglas Fowley	...	Steve Trent
Marjorie Woodworth	...	Sally Turner
Charles D. Brown	...	Father Donovan
Paul Harvey	...	Patrick McCormick
Luis Alberni	...	Tony (Fruit Vendor)
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Cassidy
Bernard Gorcey	...	Louie
George Eldredge	...	Officer

Also Known As:

High Gear (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Monogram Pictures

Movie Connections:

Followed by Let's Go Navy! (1951)

How Many Bowery Boys Can You Fit in a Phone Booth?

When a competing driver won't succumb to pressure, New York City's crooked "Red Circle Cab" company derails him in an accident, overturning his cab. While the driver recuperates, a local Priest recruits "helpful lad" Leo Gorcey (as Slip Mahoney) to drive the rival "Cassidy" company cab. Sacrificing a night out with angelic girlfriend Judy Clark (as Mabel Dumbrowski), Mr. Gorcey clashes with the criminal "Red Circle" cabs. Gorcey quickly employs "The Bowery Boys": Huntz Hall (as Sach), Bobby Jordan (as Bobby), William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey), and David Gorcey (as Chuck) to humorously help make amends.

"In Fast Company" is above average for "The Bowery Boys", but nothing special overall. In this film, (Leo's father) Bernard Gorcey, who had been appearing in the series films regularly, receives his familiar character name "Louie Dumbrowski" (herein, proprietor of "Louie's Ice Cream Parlor"). Good moments include an entertaining fruit stand owner (nicely played by Luis Alberni), a seltzer water sequence, and an early example of "telephone booth stuffing" (or, How many people can you fit in a telephone booth?). Since telephone booth stuffing became a fad in the 1950s, it looks like "The Bowery Boys were ahead of the curve.

***** In Fast Company (6/22/46) Del Lord ~ Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan