Here Come the Marines (1952)

In an earlier film, the Bowery Boys found themselves in the army. Well, now, once again, they are in the service...though by this point the films were less about a group of fellows but mostly about Sach (Huntz Hall) and Slip (Leo Gorcey). Considering they are not exactly kids any more (both were approaching mid-life) and how amazingly bone-headed the characters were, as you watch you are amazed that the US military would be THIS desperate for soldiers!When the film begins, Slip is drafted. Soon, his friends volunteer and Slip spends much of the early part of the film trying to keep them out of trouble...but to no avail. However, it turns out that Sach is the son of 'Hardhead' Jones--a sergeant who was apparently quite the soldier. In fact, based JUST ON THIS, Sach (who's IQ approaches that of a grapefruit) is made a sergeant and he spends most of the film lording this over his friends and making their lives miserable. However, despite his being a total dope, he's also much like Curious George...and every mistake turned out to be mistakenly GOOD and he kept getting promoted! But, when a nearly dead marine is discovered, Slip shows some amazing deduction skills and fans of the series would be shocked to see that he's actually pretty competent in getting to the bottom of all this. As for Sach, well, he's still Sach...This is a film that is far from the best material for the Bowery Boys plus the idea of a group of friends is all but gone. Instead of the usual friends, two completely forgettable guys are there but contribute nothing to the film. As a result, it's entertaining but really a film for the die-hard fans and the average viewer would be hard-pressed to see a reason to watch this one.

Here Come the Marines (1952)** 1/2 (out of 4) Number twenty-six has Slip (Leo Gorcey) drafted into the Marines and soon after Sach (Huntz Hall) and the other three join him. It goes without saying but Sach causes one major problem after another but he accidentally stumbles onto a special chemical, which gets him in good with the Colonel who just happen to serve with his father. As Sach goes higher up the ladder, the boys begin to investigate the murder of a marine and it might lead back to a gambling house. Gorcey still has his name above the title here but as with the previous entries, there's no doubt that this one has him taking a backseat to Hall who ends up playing the lead and doing a very good job with it. Usually I can only take so much of him but he actually gets in a pretty good groove here and manages to make the film his very own. I think Hall does a very good job here and I think this is without question one of his best performances as Sach. The dumbness is all here but I think what really works is him slowing rising up the ladder and getting to boss around Slip and the other guys. Seeing Hall get to play the tough guy was extremely fun and I think it added a touch of freshness to the film. Gorcey is also pretty good in his role but the less of him really didn't turn out to be that much of a negative. Paul Maxey turns in a nice performance in his small role as the ring leader of the gambling house and Myrna Dell gets a few nice laughs as the blonde bimbo. We even get Bernard Gorcey in a couple funny bits. No matter what name they were under, the service type comedies were always rather familiar and this one here certainly doesn't offer anything new but I think there are enough laughs to make it worth viewing for fans of the series. I think the weakest aspects involve the gamblers since this has been seen way too many times before.

***SPOILERS*** The "Bowery Boys" end up enlisting in the US Marine Corpes after their leader Slip is drafted, at age 35,into it since the US military, deadlocked in the Korean War, is hard up for new recruits. In no time at all Slip's nutty, but very lucky, friend Sach makes it big in the Corps by his battalion leader Col.Thomas F. Brown finding out that his pop Horace Debussy Jones Sr.,known as "Hard Head" Jones, was his hard as nails drill sergeant back in WWI; The toughest man in the entire US Marine Corpes.Put in charge of the unit that Slip and his "Bowery Boys", Junior Butch & Chuck, are members off Sach makes life miserable for them in forcing the boys on 20 mile force marches, with full pack, while Sach is marching along with them on his bicycle. It's during one of those force marches that Slip finds a barley alive US Marine, Pvt. Hardy, on the side of the road with a playing card on him.It's later while on a 12 hour leave, given by Sgt. Sach, the boys are enticed by sexy Lulu Mea to go to this illegal gambling house run by her boss Jolly Joe Johnson where, besides being cheated out of his money, Slip notices that the cards uses there are exactly like the card he found on the unconscious and now dead Pvt. Hardy!***SPOILERS*** Not one of the better "Bowery Boys" movies in that the "Boys" never really get to do their thing, slap stick shenanigans, in it. Still it's not all bad in Sach making a complete jerk, which isn't that hard for him, of himself to the point where his friends "The Bowery Boys" would like nothing better then stick a bayonet up his behind and end up using him as Popsicle. In fact the "Boys" in the end get their wish with Slip promoted to be their unit leader due to his dad Sgt. "Fighting Terry" Mahoney being Col. Brown's new replacement Col. James Flavin top kick, Sergeant, in WW I. It's now time for the busted down to private Sach to do the grueling force marching while Slip and the boys get a big laugh out of it.

After 175 years, the United States Marine Corps decides it's time to bring "The Bowery Boys" into the fold. First contacted is loquacious leader Leo Gorcey (as Terrence Aloysius "Slip" Mahoney), but pals Huntz Hall (as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones Jr.), Gil Stratton (as "Junior"), David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck), and Benny "David" Bartlett (as "Butch") are quickly called up for duty. We see no basic training or hazing, unfortunately; but, comedy takes charge as Mr. Hall is given a whistle and made "Sergeant" of his Bowery-populated barracks. Meanwhile, Mr. Gorcey suspects a beaten Marine is connected to a crooked gambling ring.One of many military-themed Bowery adventures, "Here Come the Marines" proves the law of diminishing returns is alive and well in this feature film series. Most obvious is probably that Hall works hard with the material; he demonstrates fine comic abilities and entertainingly carries the movie. At one point, Hall is asked, "Don't you know a dud when you see one?" At least, Hall gives this rather dull story his best, with few re-takes (Leo needs to watch his head when getting out of the lower bunks). Also notable is that this is the last appearance of Mr. Stratton, a two-time "Bowery Boy" member who would soon fine better character roles.**** Here Come the Marines (6/29/52) William Beaudine ~ Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Gil Stratton, Hanley Stafford