That Gang of Mine (1940)

Directed by Joseph H. Lewis, That Gang of Mine is the third film in the East Side Kids series—a precursor to the later Bowery Boys comedies. Produced by Monogram Pictures, this entry trades urban alleyways for the excitement of horse racing, blending streetwise charm with heartfelt ambition.

Plot Summary
Muggs Maloney (Leo Gorcey), the brash leader of the East Side Kids, dreams of becoming a jockey. When the gang befriends Ben (Clarence Muse), a kind and experienced horseman who’s won a thoroughbred in a poker game, they rally around him to train the horse for competition. Muggs insists on riding the horse himself, despite lacking experience, leading to tension and a lesson in humility.

As the gang prepares for the big race, they clash with a snobbish jockey named Jimmy Sullivan (played by real-life jockey Nick Wall), who has forgotten his East Side roots. The film builds toward a redemption arc, with Muggs learning the value of teamwork, respect, and letting go of ego.

Cast Highlights

• Leo Gorcey as Muggs Maloney
• Bobby Jordan as Danny Dolan
• Clarence Muse as Ben
• Dave O’Brien as Knuckles Dolan
• Joyce Bryant, Ernest Morrison (as “Scruno”), and Donald Haines as fellow gang members
• Nick Wall as Jimmy Sullivan (uncredited cameo by the Canadian jockey)
• Milton Kibbee, Hazel Keener, and Eugene Francis in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• The film aired on WCBS (Channel 2) in New York on June 13, 1950, as part of early television syndication
• Nick Wall, who plays the arrogant jockey, was a real-life professional rider, adding authenticity to the racetrack scenes
• Clarence Muse’s performance was widely praised for its warmth and dignity, offering one of the earliest positive portrayals of a Black mentor figure in youth-oriented cinema
• The film balances serious themes (ambition, prejudice, loyalty) with the comic antics typical of the East Side Kids series