Search - East Side Kids: Mr. Wise Guy on DVD

One of Leo Gorcey's best

John Robinson | Michigan | 12/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best East Side Kids films available. Before they became "The Bowery Boys" and after they were known as "The Dead End Kids", "Little Tough Guys" and "Junior G-Men", there was a slew of "East Side Kids" films. A lot of these films are heavy on dramatics, not so much comedy as in the later Bowery Boys films. But this film combines both extremely well. Gorcey is, of course, classic in his role of Muggs McGinnis, along with the superb Huntz Hall as Glimpy, David Gorcey, Sunshine Sammy Morrison (uncredited for some reason!), Bobby Jordan, Gabe Dell and a comic performance by legendary Hal Roach regular Billy Gilbert as an inept crook. The film quality is actually much better than others in the East Side Kids series, not many glitches at all and the film is somewhat crisper. Lotsa fun as the kids get put in reform school for a crime they didn't commit; then they attempt to find the real bad guys and get Bobby Jordan's brother off Death Row. If you're a Bowery Boys/East Side Kids fan, you'll heartily enjoy this fine forgotten film."

Mr. Wise Guy

Richard Rivera | Pocono Summit, Pa United States | 11/06/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is another DVD distributed by Alpha Video.Unfortunately the transfer to Dvd is horrible, I dont Know where they get their source material, but this Dvd is as bad as their other Bowery boy Dvds.Save your money, I wish I had."

Fairly entertaining East Side Kids Film

Tim Janson | Michigan | 02/25/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the Monogram cheapies that the kids so frequently did but it's not bad. Typical of their films of the 40's, a little grittier and more dramatic and less slapstick than they would become in the 1950's. In this one the kids are convicted of stealing a truck and sent to the Wilton Reform school. There they learn that Danny's brother has been sentenced to be executed for a murder he did not commit. The Kids now have to bust out of the reform school and capture the real murderer to save bill.

As noted this early Kids film is a much crime drama as it is comedy but the comedy bits are funny and the dramatic parts done as well as any B movie of the day. Well acted compared to many Monogram pictures and the film looks good, too. The reform school guards are you typical uncaring fellows who don't believe anything the kids say.

Well done Kids movie."

One of the better Alpha/Gotham Transfers

Paul J. Mular | San Carlos, CA USA | 02/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I disagree with the other revewier, the copy I got from Alpha/Gotham is fairly sharp (only 16mm prints exist on the East Side Kids films) with decent contrast & a good soundtrack. yes there are some film slpices, but I have seen much worse from Alpha."