Product: That Gang of Mine [VHS] (1940)
Rating: 2.0
The movie is good but the print could be better
This 1940 East Side Kids movie is one of the very first in Monogram Pictures' long-running series (which eventually became The Bowery Boys). These early entries stress rowdyism over comedy routines, so there's more drama than comedy, but Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison is very enjoyable as the black kid, and Bobby Jordan is enthusiastic as Leo Gorcey's confidant. In this story, Gorcey wants to be a jockey but he's secretly afraid of speed, and his stubbornness almost ruins the hopes of his friends. Clarence Muse is excellent as a journeyman horse trainer; in one charming scene he sings a spiritual without accompaniment, and Morrison jumps up and dances to it. Joseph H. Lewis's direction gets the most out of the limited budget, by shooting largely outdoors and using careful compositions. Huntz Hall is not in this picture but David Gorcey is, and fans should enjoy seeing him.The source print used on this DVD is a Savoy Pictures reissue of the late 1940s. The first few minutes are missing (but not essential to the plot; the print must have been edited by some TV station at one time), the image is slightly cropped, and the contrast is only fair. The movie is good enough to overcome the DVD's technical flaws. If this is your favorite East SIde Kids movie you'll be a bit disappointed by the print, but you can't beat the budget price.