Block Busters
Cast & Crew
Wallace Fox
Leo Gorcey
Huntz Hall
Gabriel Dell
Billy Benedict
Frederick Pressel
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After an afternoon of playing baseball, Muggs McGinnis and his East Side Kids gang arrive at the door of their clubhouse, where a man named Higgins is removing their "East Side Club" sign. Higgins explains that the owner of the place plans to rent it to some "respectable" tenants. When Muggs learns that the new tenants are due to examine the place at noon the following day, he plans to frighten them away by picking a fight with Butch and the Five Pointers, a rival gang. The next day, Glimpy and Skinny, two East Side Kids, scribble a challenge to the Five Pointers on the sidewalk. When Butch and his gang read the message, "The East Siders dare you to fight," they seek out their challengers. Meanwhile, Muggs and the gang see Higgins supervising the delivery of some window boxes that he ordered to replace the weather-beaten pots that are lining the street. Pretending to be helpful, the gang offers to dispose of the old pots, but instead, stack them against a nearby wall. Soon, the prospective tenants, an elderly woman named Amelia Norton and her French-born grandson Jean arrive, and Higgins greets them. Just then, Butch and his gang show up and take the bait, hurling the empty pots at Muggs and his gang, while a shocked Amelia looks on. When Jean critiques Muggs's fighting style, Muggs begins to brawl with him. After they are both arrested, the judge tells Muggs that he will hold each one accountable for the other's behavior. Later, Jean goes to the clubhouse to make sure that Muggs is staying out of trouble, and the gang teaches him some American games. Afterward, Jean invites the gang over for tea, and they meet snobby Irma Treadwell and her mother Virginia. When Muggs and Glimpy see a black sedan pick up Jean, who is dressed like Count Dracula, they decide to follow him. The car takes Jean to a costume party at a chic club, where Muggs wins best costume for being dressed as a Bowery tough. Meanwhile Tobey Dunn, an ailing member of Muggs's baseball team, is told by his doctor that a stay in the country would cure him, but unfortunately, Tobey's family cannot afford the trip. Later, one of Muggs's friends, Danny, sees his girl friend Jinx dancing with Jean at a party, so the gang decides to crash it. When Glimpy tells Danny that he saw Jinx riding on the back of Jean's bicycle, Danny tries to fight with his rival, but Muggs intervenes. The gang then goes to the field to play baseball, and Jean quickly learns the game. At the clubhouse, Amelia thanks the gang for allowing Jean to play with them. During the team's next game, Lippman, the team's sponsor, tells the gang that if they win, he will send them all to summer camp in the Catskill Mountains. With the bases loaded, Jean hits a home run and wins the game, and Tobey is awarded his much-needed trip to the country.
Director
Wallace Fox
Cast
Leo Gorcey
Huntz Hall
Gabriel Dell
Billy Benedict
Frederick Pressel
Jimmy Strand
Bill Chaney
Roberta Smith
Noah Beery
Harry Langdon
Minerva Urecal
Kay Marvis
Tom Herbert
Bernard Gorcey
Jimmie Noone
The Ashburns
Jack Gilman
Charles Murray Jr.
Crew
Houston Branch
Jack Dietz
Glen Glenn
Arthur Hammond
Sam Katzman
Edward Kay
Marcel Lepicard
Harold Mcniff
David Milton
Carl Pierson
Barney Sarecky
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although a Hollywood Reporter news item places Betty Sinclair in the cast, her appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. A 10 1943 December Hollywood Reporter production chart lists Lukas Tello (a pseudonym for Lou Costello) as director, but it is doubtful that he worked on this film. For additional information on the series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry below for Flying Wild.
