MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN (Monogram, 1945), directed by Wallace Fox, the 21st installment of "The East Side Kids" series, reverts back to early formula by which the title character, Ethelbert Aloysius "Mugs" Maginnis (Leo Gorcey) becomes a horse racing jockey as he did in THAT GANG OF MINE (1940). With this not being a rehash nor a remake, the material gears towards a brighter function allowing formula material of some originality. Huntz Hall and Billy Benedict are back in their recognizable roles as Glimpy and Skinny, while unfamilar faces and actor names of the other East Side Kids such as Mende Koenig (Danny); Buddy Gorman (Sammy) and Johnny Duncan ("Squeegie" Robinson). For a change, Gabriel Dell does not appear, though the actor who fills in for Dell's formula territory, Bernard Brown, interestingly plays a character (according to opening cast credits) called Gaby Dell. (Any connection?) There's also another character in the story named Scruno, a stablemate played by John H. Allen, bearing no connection to the East Side Kids member earlier enacted by Sunshine Sammy Morrison from 1940 to 1943. Other than being more drama than comedy, MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN is Leo Gorcey's movie from start to finish.
Opening not of the traditional sky view of New York's Bowery district, but at the horse race where the East Side Kids cheer on their leader, Mugs" (Leo Gorcey) as he rides his horse to victory, only to be called in and disqualified by judges when an electrical device is discovered under the saddle of his horse. Although innocent, Mugs suspects the big fix done by gambler "Dollar" Davis (George Meeker) and his accomplice, Gaby Dell (Bernard Brown), but cannot prove it. Suspended from further horse racing, Mugs and his pals assist Nora "Ma" Brown (Minerva Urecal) by gathering the $163.79 needed for her to keep stable and horses, Storm Cloud and Sweet Alice, from being taken away to the glue factory. As a friendly gesture, Mugs takes Sweet Alice, the horse he admires, for security and placed in the basement of the East Side Club. As Mrs. Brown tries to lift the suspension of Mugs to ride her horse in the upcoming handicap, Mugs attempts on keeping Brown's niece, Elsie (Nancy Brinckman) from getting romantically involved with Gaby. Others in the cast include Pierre Watkin (Doctor Fletcher); Milton Kibbee (The Veterinarian) and Betty Sinclair (The Nurse). Leo's father, Bernard Gorcey, appears briefly as "Pop," the man hired to take Mrs. Brown's horse away. Minerva Urecal, making her sixth appearance in the series, and never playing the same character, is always an added pleasure to these films no matter what roles she plays.
With more drama than comedy, Huntz Hall gets his chance of amusements set at the Midway amusement park filling in for the unavailable soothsayer, The Great Swami, by telling bogus fortunes to unsuspected patrons. Racing scenes using close-ups on Gorcey is obviously done in rear projection screen with production values obviously on low-budget scale. MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN may not win any world cups for its 60 minutes presentation but enough satisfaction for fans of the series.
Not as well-known nor revived as the earlier editions of the series, MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN is available for viewing DVD. Next and last in the series: COME OUT FIGHTING (1945). (** horseshoes)
Opening not of the traditional sky view of New York's Bowery district, but at the horse race where the East Side Kids cheer on their leader, Mugs" (Leo Gorcey) as he rides his horse to victory, only to be called in and disqualified by judges when an electrical device is discovered under the saddle of his horse. Although innocent, Mugs suspects the big fix done by gambler "Dollar" Davis (George Meeker) and his accomplice, Gaby Dell (Bernard Brown), but cannot prove it. Suspended from further horse racing, Mugs and his pals assist Nora "Ma" Brown (Minerva Urecal) by gathering the $163.79 needed for her to keep stable and horses, Storm Cloud and Sweet Alice, from being taken away to the glue factory. As a friendly gesture, Mugs takes Sweet Alice, the horse he admires, for security and placed in the basement of the East Side Club. As Mrs. Brown tries to lift the suspension of Mugs to ride her horse in the upcoming handicap, Mugs attempts on keeping Brown's niece, Elsie (Nancy Brinckman) from getting romantically involved with Gaby. Others in the cast include Pierre Watkin (Doctor Fletcher); Milton Kibbee (The Veterinarian) and Betty Sinclair (The Nurse). Leo's father, Bernard Gorcey, appears briefly as "Pop," the man hired to take Mrs. Brown's horse away. Minerva Urecal, making her sixth appearance in the series, and never playing the same character, is always an added pleasure to these films no matter what roles she plays.
With more drama than comedy, Huntz Hall gets his chance of amusements set at the Midway amusement park filling in for the unavailable soothsayer, The Great Swami, by telling bogus fortunes to unsuspected patrons. Racing scenes using close-ups on Gorcey is obviously done in rear projection screen with production values obviously on low-budget scale. MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN may not win any world cups for its 60 minutes presentation but enough satisfaction for fans of the series.
Not as well-known nor revived as the earlier editions of the series, MR. MUGGS RIDES AGAIN is available for viewing DVD. Next and last in the series: COME OUT FIGHTING (1945). (** horseshoes)