Ghosts on the Loose

Rating:
Summary: Good comedy entry in Dead End Kids series
Review: But the only problem as I see it is there is hardly any even bogus supernatural elwment (despite Dracula--Bela Lugosi--being in it). All the boys do while in the house is hear a few noises and see someone stand in a picture frame. Their first entry with Lugosi (Spooks Run Wild) was a much better entry for the horror-comedy genre. This is a great, entertaining film but it has little to do with horror. Ghost and Mr. Chcken it ain't!

Rating:
Summary: The East Side Kids Meet Bela Lugosi, Again.
Review: Don't be fooled by the title. Ghosts have nothing to do with this movie. This is another encounter of our hapless heroes with the dark master of the poverty row horror film. This time the East Side Kids find Bela and his gang of Nazi spies occupying a local "haunted" house. These little low budget comedies don't pretend to be any more than they are. This film has the added attraction of a very young Ava Gardner in the unlikely role of Huntz Hall's sister. Bela Lugosi had become a low-budget standby at this point in his career. The East Side Kids, if not lovable, are tolerable in small doses. Due to a misunderstanding that is worthy of the Three Stooges, the boys mistake the deserted house for a honeymoon cottage that needs a good cleaning and decorating. The spooky manse has secret panels, revolving bookcases, paintings with moving eyes, and mysterious people creeping around. The mild thrills and chills are suitable for family viewing. There are a few low brow chuckles, but The East Side Kids and Bela Lugosi had better luck with the earlier "Spooks Run Wild," reviewed elsewhere in Amazon.com. Adjust your expectations accordingly. ;-)

Rating:
Summary: The East Side Kids meet Bela Lugosi again!
Review: The East Side Kids (Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Sammy Morrison, Bobby Stone, Billy Benedict, Stanley Clements) meet Bela Lugosi (Dracula [1931]) again! They met him before as "Nardo" in SPOOKS RUN WILD" (1941). This is the second East Side Kids film William Beaudine has directed since CLANCY STREET BOYS (1943). William Beaudine believes in one takes only if it can be done. It was not rare for an East Side Kid film to be done in six days. Boy did he keep a "one-take" this time! Bela thought he would have some fun. The scene where Bela Lugosi is inside the painting and sneezes the offensive word, "s***", was the first take. So Beaudine left it in the film. The plot this time: Jack (Rick Vallin) is going to marry Betty (Ava Gardner) and they have bought a huge house two miles out in the country from the subway. Later, the agent tells him, the house next door is haunted. Mugg's (Leo Gorcey) gets word that the Katzman's mob (an in-joke to producer, Stan Katzman) will crash the wedding. Bela Lugosi as "Emil" is in town. He doesn't want Jack to have that house on Elm Street. Even Emil's assistant tells him the house next door is haunted. The assistant gives him some cash and a business card to call to close the deal. Of course, he will not. Later, the boys find the card on the floor. The boys decide to decorate Jack's new house , but they go by the number on the card and go to the haunted house instead. They don't know the mistake they made. Watch the fun begin with the boys and Bela Lugosi. This is Bobby Jordan's last appearance with the East Side Kids until BOWERY CHAMPS (1944). Then re-joined them for the Bowery Boys films. The next films in the series: Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943), MILLION DOLLAR KID (1944).

Rating:
Summary: The East Side Kids meet Bela Lugosi again!
Review: The East Side Kids (Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Sammy Morrison, Bobby Stone, Billy Benedict, Stanley Clements) meet Bela Lugosi (Dracula [1931]) again! They met him before as "Nardo" in SPOOKS RUN WILD" (1941). This is the second East Side Kids film William Beaudine has directed since CLANCY STREET BOYS (1943). William Beaudine believes in one takes only if it can be done. It was not rare for an East Side Kid film to be done in six days. Boy did he keep a "one-take" this time! Bela thought he would have some fun. The scene where Bela Lugosi is inside the painting and sneezes the offensive word, "s***", was the first take. So Beaudine left it in the film. The plot this time: Jack (Rick Vallin) is going to marry Betty (Ava Gardner) and they have bought a huge house two miles out in the country from the subway. Later, the agent tells him, the house next door is haunted. Mugg's (Leo Gorcey) gets word that the Katzman's mob (an in-joke to producer, Stan Katzman) will crash the wedding. Bela Lugosi as "Emil" is in town. He doesn't want Jack to have that house on Elm Street. Even Emil's assistant tells him the house next door is haunted. The assistant gives him some cash and a business card to call to close the deal. Of course, he will not. Later, the boys find the card on the floor. The boys decide to decorate Jack's new house , but they go by the number on the card and go to the haunted house instead. They don't know the mistake they made. Watch the fun begin with the boys and Bela Lugosi. This is Bobby Jordan's last appearance with the East Side Kids until BOWERY CHAMPS (1944). Then re-joined them for the Bowery Boys films. The next films in the series: Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943), MILLION DOLLAR KID (1944).

Rating:
Summary: Have to love em!
Review: The East Side Kids/Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys did it again. All your favorite guys are back again for some more fun. If you like Abbott & Costello...The Three Stooges....or The Little Rascals/Our Gang then your going to like these guys. Its fun for the whole family, good viewing you can trust with the kids. Add Bela Lugosi and a little old time spooky fun. Its good to finally see an almost forgotten piece of film history restored thanks to our friend Loyd Kaufman at Troma Studios

Rating:
Summary: Have to love em!
Review: The East Side Kids/Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys did it again. All your favorite guys are back again for some more fun. If you like Abbott & Costello...The Three Stooges....or The Little Rascals/Our Gang then your going to like these guys. Its fun for the whole family, good viewing you can trust with the kids. Add Bela Lugosi and a little old time spooky fun. Its good to finally see an almost forgotten piece of film history restored thanks to our friend Loyd Kaufman at Troma Studios.

Rating:
Summary: East Side Kids vs. Nazi madmen
Review: Thoroughly inane and forgettable mystery-comedy only worth watching if you are either a fan of so-bad-its-good type of movies and/or Ava Gardner. Beautiful Gardner plays a pre-stardom role as Betty, a sweet young thing who for some unexplained reason is kidnapped by a band of Nazis. The East Side Kids star as the inept group of local toughs who accidentally discover an abandoned house is harboring Nazi saboteurs plotting a takeover--so it is up to them to save Betty and the day! I suppose the misleading title is alluding to the villians and Bela Lugosi as their ringleader (in a thankless part) as the "ghosts," because there certainly are no spooks in this story, apart from the chills our bumbling "heroes" encounter and misinterpret as supernatural in origin. Lighthearted fluff which is entertaining enough if you have nothing better to do (as in my case) and is helped considerably by Gardner's magnetism, breezy pacing, and most of all--the movie's not taking itself seriously.

Rating:
Summary: East Side Kids vs. Nazi madmen
Review: Thoroughly inane and forgettable mystery-comedy only worth watching if you are either a fan of so-bad-its-good type of movies and/or Ava Gardner. Beautiful Gardner plays a pre-stardom role as Betty, a sweet young thing who for some unexplained reason is kidnapped by a band of Nazis. The East Side Kids star as the inept group of local toughs who accidentally discover an abandoned house is harboring Nazi saboteurs plotting a takeover--so it is up to them to save Betty and the day! I suppose the misleading title is alluding to the villians and Bela Lugosi as their ringleader (in a thankless part) as the "ghosts," because there certainly are no spooks in this story, apart from the chills our bumbling "heroes" encounter and misinterpret as supernatural in origin. Lighthearted fluff which is entertaining enough if you have nothing better to do (as in my case) and is helped considerably by Gardner's magnetism, breezy pacing, and most of all--the movie's not taking itself seriously.