SMART ALECKS (Monogram, 1942), directed by Wallace Fox, marks the tenth entry to the "East Side Kids" series. Reverting back to former formula of crime melodrama, sentimental moments and some doses of comedy in between, this edition introduces a new member of the gang, Stanley Clements as "Slash." Series regulars remain as Leo Gorcey (Muggs), Bobby Jordan (Danny), Huntz Hall (Glimpy), Bobby Stone (Skinny) David Gorcey (Pee-Wee), and of course, "Sunshine Sammy" Morrision (Scruno) providing both comedic ad-libs and added bonus of soft shoe tap dancing. Along with the introduction of Clements to the series, there's Gale Storm playing Danny's sister, Ruth Seaton, a character earlier played by Charlotte Henry under the name of Mary Breslin in BOWERY BLITZKRIEG (1941), which means Danny's new surname is now Seaton. Writers naturally overlook the fact in earlier entries that Danny's only living relative to be his brother, earlier played by Dave O'Brien, Tom Brown and Douglas Fowley, using both different first and last name characters. Gabriel Dell, usually playing a rival of the gang assumes a different portrayal, that as a member of the East Side Kids. Roger Pryor steps in for a Dave O'Brien type role as a policeman watching and getting to know the kids, while Maxie Rosenbloom enters for the only time as a tough yet arrogant hood.
For this segment, opening with Scruno (Sammy Morrison) doing his shuffle tap dance, the plot development leads to the boys saving money for baseball uniforms. Danny Seaton (Jordan) has a sister, Ruth (Gale Storm), working as a nurse. She's romantically involved with Officer Joe Regan (Roger Pryor). Henry "Hank" Saleo (Gabriel Dell), a member of the East Side Kids, attempts on being a "big shot" by making some easy money as a lookout for racketeers, "Butch" Broccali (Maxie Rosenbloom) and Mike (Joe Kirk) with a series of robberies. After a bank robbery, Hank hides out at the club, by which its leader, Muggs (Leo Gorcey) wants no part of the stolen money. After Hank's arrest by Regan, he's sent to prison. This is followed by an accidental capture of Butch by Danny, getting a $200 reward. Because Muggs insists the reward money should go to the club, he and the others come to Danny's bedroom at night and take the money from him, unaware of what he wants to do with the money, Suspended from the club, Muggs and Bobby go their separate ways, until Hank, having escaped prison, to warn Muggs of the now fugitive Butch's intentions on getting even with Danny. Other members of the cast include Walter Wolf King (Doctor Goldstein); Herbert Rawlinson (Captain Bronson); Sam Bernard (Doctor Thomas) and Dick Ryan (The Prison Warden).
Overlooking some weaknesses and inconsistencies to the plot, SMART ALECKS is another agreeable entry. Though Gorcey's Muggs can be a jerk at times, his moment of prayer, which may be out of character for him, allows viewers to see there's goodness in him after all. Huntz Hall gets some comedy antics thrown his way while Dell, playing a member of the East Side Kids, wasn't allowed to resume his similar character in future installments. Gale Storm's acting is borderline here but would improve as the story progresses. Length is short enough to allow enough material and pacing to hold interest during much of its 64 minutes.
Available on home video and DVD format, cable television broadcasts for SMART ALECKS over the years has been either on Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: April 2004) and MGM Plus. Next installment: 'NEATH BROOKLYN BRIDGE (1942). (**)
