Spook Chasers

Following the death of Bernard Gorcey ('Louie') in a traffic accident, his son, Leo ('Slip'), decided he'd had enough and retired from The Bowery Boys. After all, he'd completed 40 films in the series as well as those made with previous incarnations (such as the East Side Kids). However, instead of just allowing the series to die, the studio was apparently greedy and decided to make seven more pictures! However, the chemistry isn't there and the film highlight Huntz Hall alone....with Stanley Clements ('Duke') playing a Slip- like character and Percy Helton ('Mike') playing what was essentially Louie's part. Because this is a late Bowery Boys film, it's one of these third-rate imitations of a second-rate series.

When the film begins, Mike is told by his doctor to retire as his job at the cafe is killing him. However, he unwisely buys a place sight unseen and it turns out to be a termite-trap! He's furious...until they discover a hidden treasure in this craptastic home. However, Mike and the gang are idiots...and the fact that they AREN'T angry about being swindled makes the crooks suspicious. Plus, the Boss says he wants that property back...as some loot is hidden there! So, as we've already seen in MANY Bowery Boys films, it becomes a haunted house flick with baddies trying, yet again, to scare the boys away from the place. Talk about unoriginal!

The chemistry just isn't right---and I would say that about ALL the later Bowery Boys films. While I am not a huge Leo and Bernard Gorcey fan, they were what everyone associates with the films...not just Huntz Hall and his idiot act. B-movie series like this and the Ma and Pa Kettle films being continued AFTER losing one of the leads is, perhaps, a way to squeeze a few dimes off a moribund series...but it seriously short-changes the audience. Not worth your time.