Mob Town
Cast & Crew
William Nigh
Dick Foran
Anne Gwynne
Billy Halop
Huntz Hall
Gabriel Dell
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At Barton's Dance Palace, a fight breaks out involving the teenage gang of Tom Barker, Pig, String and Ape. While the others are caught, Tom slips home, where he finds youngster Butch "Shrimp" Malone waiting for him. Shrimp tells Tom that his aunt has abandoned him once again, so Tom tells the boy that he can stay with him. Tom's older sister Marion awakens and warns the two boys not to disturb their uncle. The uncle awakens, however, and complains that Tom has been sending cigarettes to convict Monk Bangor, a friend of Tom's late gangster brother Jim. He further states that Tom will end up in the electric chair, just like his brother. Sergeant Frank Convoy then arrives to arrest Tom, much to the delight of his uncle. In the chambers of Judge Luther Bryson, Marion pleads Tom's case, to little avail. Frank arrives and offers to organize a "Police Big-Brother" movement involving Tom and his gang. The judge agrees, knowing that Frank was the officer who sent Jim to the electric chair. Frank is taken by the boys to their clubhouse, where he is told of the gang's plan to go "into business" with Bangor upon his release from prison. When the boys threaten the off-duty policeman, he demonstrates his mastery of judo and offers to teach it to them. The gang then offers their singing act for a local benefit talent show, and another fight breaks out. After the four are beaten up by the locals, Pig, Ape and String take Frank up on his offer and join the police gym. After Tom arrives, Frank offers to get the boys jobs. When they refuse, Frank tells Tom that he is "too soft" to work. Thus goaded, the boys get jobs working in an auto wrecking yard. Later, the gang is met by gangsters Brick and Nutsy, who wish to hide their loot in the gang's clubhouse. Nutsy and Rick are later arrested and the loot, $20,000 worth of stolen jewelry, is discovered in the clubhouse. After they swear that they had nothing to do with the robbery, the juveniles are released. While dining at Frank's, Tom discovers the policeman's involvement in his brother's arrest. Tom confronts the officer and falsely accuses him of tricking his brother into his arrest. Tom leaves with Shrimp, while the rest of the gang stays in support of Frank. Tom then runs into Monk, who has just been released from prison. When Tom returns home later that night, he has a fight with his sister and leaves, taking Shrimp with him. Tom's uncle goes to the police, claiming that the boy has stolen some family jewelry. Tom attempts to pawn his mother's jewelry, only to be cornered by Pig, String and Ape. They take him to the old clubhouse, where the neighborhood boys put him on trial. Tom is found guilty by the kangaroo court and ordered to give himself up. He escapes, however, leaving Shrimp behind. The little boy confesses that Tom has joined Monk's gang and is heading west with the gangster. Frank traces the two to a local drugstore, where he attempts to take Tom into custody. Unknown to Frank and Tom, Monk has just robbed the drugstore, and, in the ensuing shootout, Frank is wounded. Tom is forced to drive the gangster's car, which he deliberately crashes, and Monk is captured. Frank and Tom go back to the police station, where both are absolved of their previous crimes. The reformed gang then plans to go to a "Police Officers' Buddies" convention with Frank and Marion, only to have the back wheels fall off their car, as Pig forgot to put on the rear axle.
Director
William Nigh
Cast
Dick Foran
Anne Gwynne
Billy Halop
Huntz Hall
Gabriel Dell
Bernard Punsly
Samuel S. Hinds
Darryl Hickman
Victor Killian
Truman Bradley
John Butler
John Sheehan
Roy Harris
Hally Chester
Joe Recht
Peter Sullivan
Dorothy Darrell
Elaine Morey
Beatrice Roberts
Cliff Clark
Paul Fix
Will Wright
Eva Puig
Dorothy Vaughan
Edward Emerson
Dick Rich
Bob Gregory
Claire Whitney
Terry Frost
John Kellogg
Harris Berger
Duke York
Eddie Dew
Pat Costello
Clara Blore
Rosina Galli
Mary Kelly
Crew
Elwood Bredell
Bernard B. Brown
Howard Christie
Ralph M. Delacy
Walter Doniger
R. A. Gausman
Ken Goldsmith
Arthur Hilton
Vincent Mahoney
Jack Otterson
Robert Pritchard
H. J. Salter
Brenda Weisberg
Vera West
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although the film's opening credits read "The Dead End Kids, Dick Foran, Anne Gwynne and the Little Tough Guys in Mob Town," the end credits list Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell and Bernard Punsly first. In the film, the character of Tom and Marion's uncle is called "Jim" and "Joe," but he is named "Lon" in the film's credits and in reviews. According to Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Richard Collins was assigned to this project in May 1941, but his participation in the final film has not been determined. For additional information on these series, please consult the Series Index and see the entries for Crime School and Little Tough Guy in the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.0873 and F3.2534.
