Mr. Hex (1946)

Director:

William Beaudine

Writers:

Jan Grippo (story)
Cy Endfield (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 December 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Music | Sport

Tagline:

HE'S GOT HOCUS in his FOCUS! When Leo Takes A Crack At Hypnotism Things Start Cracking Up All Over.

Plot:

Sach is given a post-hypnotic suggestion that turns him into a championship prizefighter. |

Plot Keywords:

Prizefighter | Radio | Radio Broadcast | Song | Gangster

Cast

Leo Gorcey	...	Slip Mahoney
Huntz Hall	...	Sach Sullivan
Bobby Jordan	...	Bobby
Gabriel Dell	...	Gabe Moreno
William 'Billy' Benedict	...	Whitey (as Billy Benedict)
David Gorcey	...	Chuck
Gale Robbins	...	Gloria Williams
Ben Welden	...	Bull Laguna (as Ben Weldon)
Ian Keith	...	Mr. Raymond, the Hypnotist
Sammy Cohen	...	'Evil-Eye' Fagin
Bernard Gorcey	...	Louie
William Ruhl	...	Mob Leader
Danny Beck	...	Danny the Dip
Rita Lynn	...	Mazie
Joe Gray	...	Billy Butterworth

Also Known As:

Hex Marks the Spot (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11980)

Company:

Monogram Pictures

Trivia:

The story for this Bowery Boys entry was written by Jan Grippo, who was Leo Gorcey's agent and became his producing partner for the Bowery Boys films. This was the only story by Grippo to be produced.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Blues Busters (1950)

Soundtrack:

A Love Song to Remember

Shadow Boxing and Hocus-Pocus

Leo Gorcey (as Slip Mahoney) and "The Bowery Boys" are in Louie's "Sweet Shop" when mysterious hypnotist Ian Keith (as Raymond) enters, to buy some cigars. Commiserating about "Mr. Hex", the "happy hooligans" go to a nickel machine and listen to a song from their favorite vocalist, gorgeous Gale Robbins (as Gloria Williams). After listening to Ms. Robbins' "A Love Song to Remember", Mr. Gorcey, Huntz Hall (as Sach Sullivan), Bobby Jordan (as Bobby), William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey), and David Gorcey (as Chuck) learn the blonde songstress has fallen on hard times, due to an ailing mother.

To help Robbins raise money for her mother (and career), Gorcey and company enter a $2,500 boxing contest, with Mr. Hall chosen (railroaded, actually) as the Bowery team's designated fighter. After Mr. Keith teaches Gorcey "the inner mysteries of the mesmeric art," he is able to hypnotize Hall into believing he is a winning strongman; consequently, Hall easily wins his boxing matches. Then, criminal forces employ both Gabriel Dell (as Gabe Moreno), and their own "Evil-Eye" Sammy Cohen (as Fagin) to halt Hall's winning ways, and take the $2,500 cash prize.

The hypnotist plot suits the series' comedy; and, the film gets off to a very good start with Keith and the cast practicing Hocus-Pocus; it's a nicely staged, and performed, scene. Hall has a "Shadow Boxing" scene to watch for, and he dominates the story, also. And, Robbins is a fine vocalist. Finally, Gorcey explains why he's called "Slip"; and, amusingly, he calls Butterworth "Butter-ball". The plot gets a little too wound up, but you do get Gabriel Dell and a bunch of engaging character actors in the mix.

****** Mr. Hex (11/9/46) William Beaudine ~ Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Ian Keith