MASTER MINDS (1949) is
one of the more amusing entries in the Bowery Boys series, and may
prove of special interest to1940s horror movie fans.
At 48 entries and, to
date, the longest-running feature film series in film history, I
happen to think the Bowery Boys movies, produced by Monogram Studios
between 1946 and 1958, is one of the more underrated movie series of
the era. While the films were primarily aimed at children, earlier
entries tended to be a little gritter and earthier, and some, like
ANGELS IN DISGUISE (1949) offer scenes that would not be out of place
in the film noir classics of the era.
Forty-eight films means
all genres, situations and military branches got invaded by the
Bowery Boys. Some of the more popular titles of their time, and
today, are the entries were the Boys got involved in spooks, mad
scientists, haunted mansions and monsters. The series' highest
grossing film was THE BOWERY BOYS MEET THE MONSTERS (1954), one of
the most self-explanatory titles in movie history (and an obvious cue
from the success of the Abbott and Costello Meet movies).
One of the best of
these is MASTER MINDS where Bowery dunce Satch (Huntz Hall) gets the
uncanny ability to foretell the future after earning a toothache from
eating too much candy. Chief of the boys, Slip Mahoney (Leo Gorcey)
exhibits Satch's prophecy skills in a carny act. Satch really can
foretell the future and attracts the attention of Dr. Druzik (Alan
Napier), who wants to put Satch's brain into that of Atlas the
Monster (Glenn Strange), creating an army of supermen and, in true
Monogram fashion, take over the world.
Glenn Strange is
perhaps best known for his three portrayals of the Frankenstein
monster in three Universal horror pics, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944),
HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN
(1948). He also played an overalls-wearing werewolf in PRC's THE MAD
MONSTER (1942). Physically imposing, Strange doesn't do much with the
Frankenstein monster, especially in the first two entries.
But in MASTER MINDS,
Strange really cuts loose, perfectly mimicking Huntz Hall's body
language to a T. While his voice is obviously Hall's dubbed in, he
perfectly conveys the idea that Satch is inhabiting a monster's body.
I've seen a lot of Bowery Boys movies in my time, and Strange nails
Hall's mannerisms. Strange appeared in seemingly hundreds of movies
and I can't lay claim to seeing all of them, or even most of them.
But from what I have seen, I have to pick his role in MASTER MINDS as
my favorite performance of his. He likely enjoyed the change of pace
and more than rises to the occasion.
Playing on of Dr.
Druzik's assistants is the lovely Jane Adams. Universal horror fans
will likely recognize female lead Jane Adams, who played the
hunchback nurse in HOUSE OF DRACULA. Caped Crusader fans with a
severe Batman fetish might get a kick out of seeing TV's Alfred the
Butler (Alan Napier) share scenes with cinema's first Vicki Vale,
Jane Adams from the 1949 Columbia serial BATMAN AND ROBIN.
Another of the
assistants is played by Skelton Knaggs. A name and a face perfectly
suited for thrillers and horror movies, Knaggs moves and looks like a
zombie even when he is doing as simple as walking across a room.
The movie itself is
typical Bowery Boys shenanigans, which means I enjoyed it. For me, its
one of the better entries. I always enjoy the never never land shown
in Monogram horror movies of spooky mansions and hayseed law
enforcement officers. All of the Boys (David Gorcey, Bennie Bartlett
and Billy Benedict) have a little more to do than usual, and even
sweet shop owner Louie (Bernard Gorcey, father of Leo and David)
overcomes his courage of spooky places to impersonate a ghost to help
save his profit-eating pals. (I'm currently re-watching the series,
out of order, thanks to the Warner Archive, and hope to come across
an entry where Slip, Satch and the Boys actually pay for something at
Louie's Sweet Shop.)
MASTER MINDS is a most
enjoyable entry in the horror comedy sweepstakes and I was glad to
re-make its acquaintance. With 48 films, the Bowery Boys must have
been doing something right.
I'm very pleased to be participating in the James Stewart blogathon, April 14-18, sponsored by the Classic Film and TV Cafe site. On April 14, I'll be tackling THE FBI STORY (1959). Not a particularly great movie, but an interesting use of the Stewart persona and a preview of what the next decade held in store for Stewart. I'm looking forward to all of the great posts on one one of my favorite actors.
I'm very pleased to be participating in the James Stewart blogathon, April 14-18, sponsored by the Classic Film and TV Cafe site. On April 14, I'll be tackling THE FBI STORY (1959). Not a particularly great movie, but an interesting use of the Stewart persona and a preview of what the next decade held in store for Stewart. I'm looking forward to all of the great posts on one one of my favorite actors.
9 comments:
Hey, Kev,
I'm back! Had to come see what you've been up to.
Still trying to wrap my head around this little gem, "Huntz Hall gets the uncanny ability to foretell the future after earning a toothache from eating too much candy." What?
Glad you're getting good use out of the Warner Archives. And interesting choices. Can't wait to see what ya write about next.
See ya later!
Page
I haven't seen too many of these in recent years, but I remember them from childhood. I had no idea so many were made, and in such a variety of genres as you list. Fun post, thanks.
Page and Jacqueline, thanks for stopping by. Page, many of the Bowery Boys comedies has Satch (Huntz Hall) getting some sort of magical powers. In one of the better entires, BLUES BUSTERS, he starts crooning like Bing Crosby.
Jacqueline, I've been enjoying these. Leo Gorcey can massacre the English language like few can, Hall does some great physical comedy and there's almost always a familiar face or two in the supporting casts. For instance BOWERY BOMBSHELL, which I recently watched, had Sheldon Leonard, James Burke, Vince Barnett, Milton Parsons and Teala Loring, Debra Paget's older sister. Fun film and a fun series.
Kevin, I grew up on the Bowery Boys and thus will always hold them in affection. This was a funny one and other faves include BOWERY TO BAGDAD (with Eric Blore as a genie) and SPOOKS RUN WILD (though that's technically The East Side Kids). In fact, when doing a book entry once, I had a hard time differentiating between The Dead End Kids, The East Side Kids, and The Bowery Boys.
Be sure to let us know if you come across a scene where Louis gets to make a profit from the boys.
Glenn Strange and Skelton Knaggs? Now I know I probably saw this when I was a kid, but obviously I did not appreciate what I had at the time.
CW, Skelton Knaggs was one of those faces I recognized long before I knew the name. Between him and Glenn Strange, did any other actors have such perfect names to appear in horror and mystery movies?
Hey Kevin! Good to see you back, and with a nice piece on the Bowery Boys. I must have seen some of these on syndicated TV back in the day but don't really remember anything about 'em except for Leo Gorcey's Pekingese-like mug. I've been eyeballing those Warner Archive sets though and will someday pull the trigger on them...especially am interested in the ones with a "supernatural" bent. like "...MEET THE MONSTERS."
Hi Jeff, the transfers on the Warner Archive sets have been really good. I found the first volume at my local Half Price Books and with some trade-in items it cost me less than $10.
But I will likely pick up mlore Bowery Boys when the Archive has a sale on the multi-disc sets...unless The Falcon wins out instead. We'll see.
Hi Jeff, the transfers on the Warner Archive sets have been really good. I found the first volume at my local Half Price Books and with some trade-in items it cost me less than $10.
But I will likely pick up mlore Bowery Boys when the Archive has a sale on the multi-disc sets...unless The Falcon wins out instead. We'll see.
Post a Comment