Smuggler's Cove (1948)

Must See Movie...

I wanted to but couldn't!

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Another fun Bowery Boys picture from Monogram, the eleventh in the series. This one has Slip Mahoney mistakenly believing he's inherited a fortune from a wealthy uncle. So he packs up the Boys and heads to a secluded mansion to collect, only to get involved with smugglers. As usual with the series, it's a simple story but full of laughs. Leo Gorcey's malapropisms and Huntz Hall's rubberfacing buffoonery are on full display. The other Boys (William Benedict, Gabriel Dell, David Gorcey, and Bennie Bartlett) are all enjoyable. One of the best scenes in the picture has Slip taking inventory of the items he thinks he's inherited ("One baby piano, one mahogany coffee table -- twenty dollars for the both of 'em!"). No Louie the Sweet Shop owner in this one, unfortunately. Martin Kosleck makes for a fine villain. He had enough practice, playing a lot of villains throughout the '40s (usually Nazis). After this, he wouldn't appear in another movie for eight years. Paul Harvey is a treat as the other Terence Mahoney (yes, there is apparently more than one in the world). Amelita Ward provides the pretty. She would go on to marry co-star Leo Gorcey (it did not last happily ever after). Between the Boy's hijinks and a few 'old dark house' elements, this is an entertaining entry in the series. Not the best but far from the worst.

WELL NOW, HERE'S yet another fine example of just how fine an example of the "B" Movie comedy series was the early BOWERY BOYS were. This one titles SMUGGLERS' COVE is perhaps yet a cut above the others.THIS ENTRY BRINGS us to that point in time where Bobby Jordon had left the series. This left three of the original DEAD END Kids in the series.* In addition to the principal players of Leo Gorcey & Huntz Hall (as the screen comedy duo of "Slip & Sach"), Gabe Dell lent his considerable talents to the stories. The actor born Gabriel Del Vecchio was cast as a sort of member of the old gang; who had now sort of moved up in the world, being employed in a job that kept him away from Louie's Sweet Shop.AND SPEAKING OF the recurring supporting character of "Louie Dombrowsky" himself, Bernard Corcey, was AWOL for this outing. Although the elder Gorcey's talents were greatly missed, he was mentioned at least three times; either by name or in referencing his Malt Shop.THE MOVIE IS a prime example of how a less than high brow "B" picture can boast of such a large and varied cast of supporting players. Among those present we have: Andrew Kosleck, Paul Harvey, Amelia Ward, Jacqueline Dalya, Eddie Gribbon, Hans Schumm and Gene Roth. Benny Bartlett replaces Bobby Jordan in the gang's lineup, filling out the roster along with David Gorcey and Billy Benedict.IN ADDITION TO being perhaps the only BOWERY BOYS installment to have been adapted to the screen from a magazine short story, there are several elements that serve to amplify its total storyline and effect. For example, it has elements of the "Old Dark House Mystery" type of picture. They also showcase elements of the "evil secret society" engaged in clandestine criminal enterprise; which are typically the domain of the Movie Serial ("Cliff-Hanger" or "Chapterplay").THE END EFFECT of this movie at story's end brings it right up to the threshold of an "A" Picture. Now Schultz, that's right up to the edge, but not crossing over the line to the next classification.NOTE: * Although David Gorcey as "Chuck", son of Bernard Gorcey (Louie) and younger brother of Leo (Slip)did have a supporting role in the Broadway stage production of DEAD END, it was that of a rival gang member. a "Second Avenue Boy." This is in itself another story; as his own brother, Leo Gorcey, also had been cast as the other "Second Avenue Boy", but later was upgraded to the part of "Spit", replacing Charles R. Duncan.Is that all clear, Schultz?

While cleaning offices in the "Metropolis Building", loquacious Leo Gorcey (as Terrance "Slip" Mahoney) receives a letter stating "Terrance Mahoney, Esq." is the heir to an estate in Long Island. Believing he has struck it rich, Mr. Gorcey brings pals Huntz Hall (as Sach), William "Billy" Benedict (as Whitey), David Gorcey (as Chuck), and Benny "Bennie" Bartlett (as Butch) to inspect the mansion. As you might expect, "The Bowery Boys" discover "Mahoney Manor" is inhibited by spooks and diamond smugglers. Describing himself s a "friend of the family," private investigator Gabriel Dell (as Gabe Moreno) arrives to help. This is yet another stab in the "old dark house" plot, with the most notable feature being the return of pretty Amelita Ward (as Teresa Mahoney), who would soon marry Gorcey.*** Smugglers' Cove (10/10/48) William Beaudine ~ Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Amelita Ward

This is one of my favorite Bowery Boys comedies, minus Bobby Jordan. Slip (Terrence Mahoney)played by the great LEO GORCEY, "thinks" he inherits a mansion, but he's mistaken, because the letter is addressed to "Terrence Mahoney, Esq.", and Slip just happens to be cleaning this other Mahoney's office when the letter arrives, great pretense aay?Well then the hijinks begins as Slip, Satch (Huntz Hall), Whitey (Billy Benedict) & the rest of the boys go to the mansion & discover that there's a diamond smuggling racket going on right in the house. One great scene is when the bad guys have our heroes locked up in a room, Satch loses it and begins to jabber "Oooh Whitey, Whitey, Whitey..." but Whitey just keeps on pacing the floor and doesn't notice Satch's frustration.Well, the real Terrence Mahoney shows up just in the nick of time as does Gabriel Dell, another original Dead End Kid, and the boys get saved & Slip gets the house. If you get a chance to, see this movie, it'll make you laugh.