Junior Army (1942)
Director:
Lew Landers
Writers:
Albert Bein (story), Paul Gangelin (screenplay)
Stars:
Freddie Bartholomew, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall
Several veterans of the "Dead End Kids" series are prominently featured in the Columbia programmer Junior Army. Grown-up child star Freddie Bartholomew acquits himself nicely as Freddy Hewlitt, newly arrived at a strict military academy. Freddy tries to set a good example for hell-raising cadet Jimmy Fletcher (Billy Halop), but Jimmy soons alienates everyone around him-even his old pals Cowboy (Bobby Jordan) and Bushy (Huntz Hall). Eventually, however, Jimmy comes through with flying colors when he helps Freddy and his buddies smash a gang of saboteurs. While Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan and Huntz Hall would continue appearing in films well into the next decade, Freddy Bartholomew eventually abandoned acting to become a successful advertising executive.