Boys of the City (1940)

Directed by Joseph H. Lewis and produced by Sam Katzman for Monogram Pictures, Boys of the City is a 68-minute comedy-mystery that marks the second film in the East Side Kids series and the first to feature Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, and Ernest “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison together. Also known by its alternate title The Ghost Creeps, the film blends urban mischief with spooky mansion antics in classic Poverty Row style.

Plot Summary
To escape a court sentence for malicious mischief, a group of streetwise boys from New York—the East Side Kids—are sent to a summer camp in the Adirondacks. En route, their car breaks down, and they’re reluctantly given shelter in the eerie mansion of Judge Malcolm Parker.

Soon, strange things begin to happen: lights flicker, shadows move, and the judge is mysteriously murdered. The boys, led by Muggs McGinnis (Leo Gorcey) and Danny Dolan (Bobby Jordan), must navigate secret passages, suspicious guests, and ghostly rumors to solve the crime and clear their names.

Cast Highlights

• Leo Gorcey as Muggs McGinnis
• Bobby Jordan as Danny Dolan
• Hal E. Chester as Buster
• Frankie Burke as Skinny
• Ernest Morrison as Scruno
• Dave O’Brien as Knuckles Dolan
• Minerva Urecal, Vince Barnett, and Inna Gest in supporting roles

Production Notes

• The film was shot quickly and economically, typical of Monogram’s B-movie output.
• Director Joseph H. Lewis, later acclaimed for Gun Crazy and The Big Combo, brings early flair to the haunted house setting.
• The East Side Kids were a spin-off from the Dead End Kids, with Katzman recruiting Gorcey and Jordan after their success in earlier films.
• Sunshine Sammy Morrison, a former Our Gang star, adds comic energy and racial diversity to the ensemble.
• The film’s mix of slapstick, mystery, and juvenile charm helped cement the East Side Kids as a durable franchise.