Pride of the Bowery

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Audience Member Compared to the earlier Dead End Kids films, Pride of the Bowery is sorely lacking, but it's a vast improvement over the eponymous East Side Kids film. Having lured a couple of the Dead End Kids to continue the series with them, Monogram seems to recognize that their earlier film lacked the necessary chemistry and charm that Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan et al brought to the Dead End Kids. Pride of the Bowery brings some of that chemistry and charm, and unlike the Dead End Kids, backs off from making the kids truly dangerous. Pride allows us to like these kids guilt-free (they aren't criminals, they're just unemployed), although it also backs off from the heavy social commentary that the Dead End Kids brought us. I does seem to have the perspective that the CCC gave young men more than just jobs; it seems to say that the CCC gave some young men some direction, which they could build into happy lives. I don't know whether there was much truth in that perspective, but it is a cheerful perspective that gives the film a cheerful feel, and perhaps did help to inspire some people in real life. The kids' charm plus competent direction helps to hold our interest through a plot familiar to anyone who has seen more than just one or two Dead End Kids/Little Tough Guys/East Side Kids/Bowery Boys pictures. It's just a quibble, but I thought the boxing scenes were poorly choreographed. Like some other East Side Kids pictures, boxing is an important part of the plot. And, like many pictures of the era, the boxing looks awful. I don't know how what the sport was like in the 30s, but I just can't imagine that boxers were trained to hold their guard in a way so that they are wide open to the other's punches, and to punch ineffectually. The boxing scenes look like a couple of 6 year old boys pretending to box. But maybe if I found some videos of actual boxing matches from the 30s, I would think the same thing. Maybe that's just how people went about it in those days. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Average Bowery Boys film, a little more drama than comedy in this one, which is typical of their earlier efforts. I always enjoy their films and this is no exception. Good story. Simple well meaning fun. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Pride of the Bowery

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