Kid Dynamite (1943)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Wallace Fox

Writers:

Paul Ernst (story)
Gerald Schnitzer (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 February 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

THEY CAN'T BE TOPPED! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

EastSide boxing champion (Leo Gorcey) has been challenged to fight the West Side champ but is kidnapped before the match...

Plot Keywords:

Fight | Kidnapping | Boxing | Dancing | Citizenship

Cast

Leo Gorcey	...	Mugs (credits) - Muggs (in film)
Huntz Hall	...	Glimpy McGleavey
Bobby Jordan	...	Danny Lyons
Gabriel Dell	...	Harry Wycoff
Pamela Blake	...	Ivy McGinnis
Benny Bartlett	...	Beanie Miller
Ernest Morrison	...	Scruno Jackson (as Sunshine Sammy)
Bobby Stone	...	Stoney Stone
David Durand	...	Skinny Collins (as Dave Durand)
Vince Barnett	...	Klinkhammer
Daphne Pollard	...	Mrs. McGinnis
Charles Judels	...	Nick - Pool Hall Owner
Dudley Dickerson	...	Jackson
Henry Hall	...	Louis Gendick
Minerva Urecal	...	Judge

Also Known As:

Little Mobsters (USA) (working title)
Queen of Broadway

Runtime:

66 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #8865)

Company:

Banner Productions

Trivia:

Ava Gardner was scheduled to play Ivy, but she was replaced by Pamela Blake because of illness.

Quotes:

Louis Gendick: Did you ever think of joining another gang?
Danny Lyons: That would be running away.
Louis Gendick: Not the outfit I'm talkin' about. They'll be glad to get you... They will sooner or later. You'll be fightin' all kinds of bullies.
Danny Lyons: Like Mugs?
Louis Gendick: Worse. These bullies are called Japs and Nazis.
Danny Lyons: You mean the army.
Louis Gendick: That won't be runnin' away, Danny. That's real fightin'.

Movie Connections:

Follows Mr. Wise Guy (1942)

Soundtrack:

Comin' Thro' the Rye

"The East Side Kids" Catch the Jitterbug

"East Side" boxing star "Mr. Dynamite" Leo Gorcey (as Ethelbert "Muggs" McGinnis) is kidnapped by thugs, in order to throw a championship fight to New York City's rival "West Side". But fellow "East Side Kid" Bobby Jordan (as Danny Lyons) takes Mr. Gorcey's place, and wins the fight. Gorcey is convinced Mr. Jordan, who is dating his sister, had him waylaid on purpose. To make matters worse, Jordan wins a TKO over Gorcey in "The East Side Amateur Jitterbug Contest", with pretty partner Pamela Blake (as Ivy McGinnis).

This is a poorly scripted entry in "The East Side Kids" series. Gorcey's "Muggs" veers too far away from his established character; especially, in the way he treats Jordan's "Danny"; yet, Gorcey and Jordan perform the roles well enough to make it work. The jitterbugging contest, with Huntz Hall (as Glimpy McGleavey) and his TALL partner, is a highlight. To beef up the team, Benny Bartlett (as Bennie Miller) and David Durand (as Joe "Skinny" Collins) join returning Ernest Morrison (as Scruno Jackson) and Bobby Stone (as Harold "Stoney" Stone). The film ends on a patriotic note.

***** Kid Dynamite (2/5/43) Wallace Fox ~ Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall