MR. WISE GUY (Monogram, 1942), directed by William Nigh, became the eighth installment to the "East Side Kids" series. Taken from original story by Martin Mooney, the kids end up in trouble again. With Gabriel Dell making his debut in the series, usually playing an adversary to the gang, Bobby Jordan, a series regular, both acquires a new last name (Collins) and new brother, now played by Douglas Fowley rather than the usual Dave O'Brien. For the first time, the opening credits list the performers (featuring Guinn Williams and Billy Gilbert, minus "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison) rather than the usual actor names and their roles. A little longer than the usual 65 minutes (complete prints clock at 69 minutes), MR. WISE GUY, adding more hit and miss comedy than melodramatics, make this quite watchable.
Following the montage sequence of New York City's Bowery district, the story introduces the East Side Kids: Muggs Maginnis (Leo Gorcey), the leader; Danny Collins (Bobby Jordan), the "right-hand man," Glimpy Stone (Huntz Hall), the "lefty-hand man," Pee-Wee (David Gorcey), the "Yes" man; Skinny (Bill Lawrence), the "No" man; and Scruno ("Sumshine Sammy" Morrison), the "blackout warden." Almost immediately they run from the law fearing of being accused of breaking a bakery store window; then landing on the back of a truck driven by Nobby (Billy Gilbert) who evicts them after parking on the waterfront pier. At the same time, mobster Luke Manning (Guinn Williams) escapes from Blackwell Island and hides himself in a wine barrel. With the assistance of the East Side Kids, Copler (Warren Hymer) gets their help placing the barrel on the back of the truck driven by Nobby, who has disappeared after seeing a police car approaching. After Danny gives notice to his dock hand working brother, Bill (Douglas Fowley) being admitted into the Army, the East Side Kids get arrested for their involvement with Nobby's truck, reportedly stolen. They are then sentenced to Wilton Reform School where Bill once worked as a guard. Noticing improvements having Jim Barnes (Jack Mulhall) as its new superintendent, and Ann Mitchell (Joan Barclay) as his assistant, Bill finds the place might prove beneficial for both Danny and "Mr. Wise Guy" Muggs, until he finds brutal guard, Jed Miller (Dick Ryan) still in their employ. Things begin to change for Bill when, parked inside his car, being held at gunpoint in the back seat by Luke Manning following a drug store robbery and murder. The police give chase, only to find Bill the only one inside the car after Manning has made his escape. Found guilty and sent to prison to face execution, the East Side Kids discover that Charlie Nolan (Gabriel Dell) might know something that could help prove Bill's innocence. Featuring Bobby Stone ("Chalky" Jones); Ann Doran (Dorothy Melton, Luke's girl); Benny Rubin (The Waiter) and Sidney Miller.
With enough plot and subplot to make this a 90 minute production, being Monogram and not Warner Brothers, naturally scenes had to be briefed for pace purposes rather than story elements. It's a wonder why a brutal guard remains at an "honor system" type reform school after being taken over by those who want to help the boys rather than hurt them. Billy Gilbert, best known for his comedy performances for the Hal Roach/Laurel and Hardy unit, highlights as the double-talking bewildered stooge while Warren Hymer and Guinn Williams, who have played comic gangsters before with conviction, play it straight here. It's with MR. WISE GUY that the name of Ethelbert is revealed in juvenile court to be the birth name of Muggs Maginnis. Fans of the series, however, will overlook weakness and plot holes and simply enjoy for what and how it is.
Available on home video and DVD format, MR. WISE GUY has played on cable channels over the years as Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: May 17, 2004) and MGM Plus on Demand. Next installment: LET'S GET TOUGH (1942). (**)
