Crime School (1938)
Posted by DEWEY MEE on Apr 3rd 2024
This above-average offering in the "Dead End Kids" film series finds the boys, predictably, on the wrong side of the law when they refuse to snitch on Spike (Leo Gorcey). Soon, the gang of six (also including Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, and Bobby Jordan) is off to reform school. "Crime School" obviously makes a better title than "Reform School."
Reform school is more like adult prison. Frankie (Billy Halop) immediately runs afoul of the sadistic Mr. Morgan (Cy Kendall) and his head guard Cooper (Weldon Heyburn). Morgan takes fiendish delight in severely beating Frankie; so it's little wonder Frankie's big sister Sue (Gail Page) is stressed out.
New deputy Mark Braden (Humphrey Bogart) shows up to reform the reform school, and make conditions more humane. He immediately fires Morgan and a drunk, comically incompetent Doctor, but guard Cooper stays on. Morgan has a score to settle with Braden, and Cooper works to set Spike against Frankie, and Frankie against Braden.
"The Dead End Kids" must have been popular in 1938, because they receive top billing over adult star Humphrey Bogart. Billy Halop, looking, acting, and sounding like a "junior version" of James Cagney, is excellent in the starring role of troubled teen Frankie. "Crime School" has shady characters and crimes aplenty, and just enough grit to carry the audience through several plot holes.
Posted by Elizabeth on Mar 19th 2023
Though I've never been a huge Humphrey Bogart fan, I do love the movies with "The Dead End Kids." I grew up watching them as "The Bowery Boys" & "The East Side Kids." Huntz Hall was always my favorite. This movie is heartwarming & really shows some of the hardships of poor kids (though this is fiction). I can re-watch these movies over & over.
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