Blues Busters (1950 film)
Encyclopedia
Blues Busters is a 1950 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys
. The film was released on October 29, 1950 by Monogram Pictures
and is the twentieth film in the series.
After Sach's singing makes him a star, Rick Martin (Craig Stevens
), the owner of the now-rival club, tries to hire him away but is unsuccessful. Rick gets his lady friend, Lola (Adele Jergens
), to get Sach to sign a contract with him, using the pretense that she is asking for his autograph. Rick then goes after the Bowery Palace's other star, Sally Dolan (Phyllis Coates
). She, however, does not want to go because Rick is after more than just her singing talent. She tips off Lola about what Rick is up to and Lola agrees to testify that Sach's signature was just an autograph and not a signed contract, thereby allowing him to return to the Bowery Palace. However, by this time Sach has gone to a doctor to help cure the "tickle in his throat' and he has lost the ability to sing.
appears in. Tired of taking a back seat to co-stars Leo Gorcey
and Huntz Hall
, he decided to quit the series. Ironically, around the time Dell was leaving, he and Huntz Hall
formed a nightclub act called 'Hall and Dell', in which the two performed classic vaudeville routines. Dell played straight man to Hall.
According to a July 3, 1950 Hollywood Reporter news item, singer Bob Carroll was the singing double for Huntz Hall, but reviews credit John Lorenz as his singing double. Carroll's participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys were fictional New York City characters who were the subject of feature films released by Monogram Pictures from 1946 through 1958....
. The film was released on October 29, 1950 by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
and is the twentieth film in the series.
Plot
Sach develops an uncanny ability to sing, after having his tonsils removed, and Slip convinces Louie to turn his sweet shop into a night club, The Bowery Palace, after unsuccessfully trying to get Sach a singing job at a neighboring club, The Rio Cabana.After Sach's singing makes him a star, Rick Martin (Craig Stevens
Craig Stevens (actor)
Craig Stevens was an American motion picture and television actor.-Early and personal life:Born Gail Shikles, Jr., in Liberty, Missouri, his father was a high school teacher....
), the owner of the now-rival club, tries to hire him away but is unsuccessful. Rick gets his lady friend, Lola (Adele Jergens
Adele Jergens
Adele Jergens was an American actress.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jergen's birth date is sometimes listed as 1922. Jergens first rose to prominence in the late 1930s, when she was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the 1939 New York World's Fair...
), to get Sach to sign a contract with him, using the pretense that she is asking for his autograph. Rick then goes after the Bowery Palace's other star, Sally Dolan (Phyllis Coates
Phyllis Coates
Phyllis Coates is an American film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men, and during the first season of the Adventures of Superman television series.-Early life and career:After graduating from high...
). She, however, does not want to go because Rick is after more than just her singing talent. She tips off Lola about what Rick is up to and Lola agrees to testify that Sach's signature was just an autograph and not a signed contract, thereby allowing him to return to the Bowery Palace. However, by this time Sach has gone to a doctor to help cure the "tickle in his throat' and he has lost the ability to sing.
Production
The working title of this film was The Bowery Thrush. This is the last Bowery Boys film that Gabriel DellGabriel Dell
Gabriel Dell was an American actor and one of the members of what came to be known as the Dead End Kids/East Side Kids/The Bowery Boys.-Early life:...
appears in. Tired of taking a back seat to co-stars Leo Gorcey
Leo Gorcey
Leo Bernard Gorcey was an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying on film the leader of the group of young hooligans known variously as the Dead End Kids, The East Side Kids and The Bowery Boys. Always the most pugnacious member of the gangs he participated in, young Leo...
and Huntz Hall
Huntz Hall
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall was an American radio, theatrical, and motion picture performer noted primarily for his roles in the "Dead End Kids" movies, such as Angels with Dirty Faces , which gave way to the "The Bowery Boys" movie franchise, a prolific and highly successful series of comedies in...
, he decided to quit the series. Ironically, around the time Dell was leaving, he and Huntz Hall
Huntz Hall
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall was an American radio, theatrical, and motion picture performer noted primarily for his roles in the "Dead End Kids" movies, such as Angels with Dirty Faces , which gave way to the "The Bowery Boys" movie franchise, a prolific and highly successful series of comedies in...
formed a nightclub act called 'Hall and Dell', in which the two performed classic vaudeville routines. Dell played straight man to Hall.
The Bowery Boys
- Leo GorceyLeo GorceyLeo Bernard Gorcey was an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying on film the leader of the group of young hooligans known variously as the Dead End Kids, The East Side Kids and The Bowery Boys. Always the most pugnacious member of the gangs he participated in, young Leo...
as Terrance Aloysius 'Slip' Mahoney - Huntz HallHuntz HallHenry Richard "Huntz" Hall was an American radio, theatrical, and motion picture performer noted primarily for his roles in the "Dead End Kids" movies, such as Angels with Dirty Faces , which gave way to the "The Bowery Boys" movie franchise, a prolific and highly successful series of comedies in...
as Horace Debussy 'Sach' Jones - William BenedictWilliam BenedictWilliam Benedict was an American actor. Born in Haskell, Oklahoma, he took part in school theatricals, and on leaving school he made his way to Hollywood. His first film was $10 Raise starring Edward Everett Horton, which launched Benedict on a busy career...
as Whitey - David GorceyDavid GorceyDavid Gorcey was an American actor and comedian best known as being a member of the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. He was the younger brother of Dead End Kids member Leo Gorcey.-Career:...
as Chuck - Buddy GormanBuddy GormanCharles J. "Buddy" Gorman is an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying a member of the comedy teams, The East Side Kids and The Bowery Boys. Prior to acting he tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team, the Montreal Royals, as a shortstop...
as Butch
Remaining cast
- Gabriel DellGabriel DellGabriel Dell was an American actor and one of the members of what came to be known as the Dead End Kids/East Side Kids/The Bowery Boys.-Early life:...
as Gabe Moreno - Adele JergensAdele JergensAdele Jergens was an American actress.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jergen's birth date is sometimes listed as 1922. Jergens first rose to prominence in the late 1930s, when she was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the 1939 New York World's Fair...
as Lola Stanton - Bernard Gorcey as Louie Dumbrowski
- Craig StevensCraig Stevens (actor)Craig Stevens was an American motion picture and television actor.-Early and personal life:Born Gail Shikles, Jr., in Liberty, Missouri, his father was a high school teacher....
as Rick Martin - Phyllis CoatesPhyllis CoatesPhyllis Coates is an American film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men, and during the first season of the Adventures of Superman television series.-Early life and career:After graduating from high...
as Sally Dolan - William Vincent as Teddy Davis
Soundtrack
- "Wasn't It You?"
- Written by Ben Raleigh and Bernie Wayne
- Played on a radio and sung by Huntz Hall (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho"
- Traditional spiritual
- Sung by Adele Jergens in a nightclub (dubbed by Gloria Wood)
- "Bluebirds Keep Singin' in the Rain"
- Written by Johnny Lange and Eliot Daniel
- Published by Bulls Eye Music Inc. (ASCAP)
- Played on piano by Gabriel Dell
- Sung by Huntz Hall (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- Reprised by Huntz Hall in the nightclub (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- "Let's Have a Heart to Heart Talk"
- Written by Billy Austin, Edward Brandt and Paul Landers
- Played on piano by Gabriel Dell
- Sung by Huntz Hall (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- Reprised by Huntz Hall in the nightclub (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- "You Walk By"
- ritten by Ben Raleigh and Bernie Wayne
- Played by the orchestra with Gabriel Dell on piano
- Sung by Huntz Hall (dubbed by John Lorenz)
- "Better Be Lookin' Out for Love"
- Written by Ralph Wolf and Johnny Lange
- Sung by Adele Jergens in a nightclub (dubbed by Gloria Wood)
- "Swanee River"
- Written by Stephen Foster (as Stephen Collins Foster)
- Jazzy version played by Gabriel Dell on piano
- Danced to by William 'Billy' Benedict, David Gorcey and Buddy Gorman
- "Dixie's Lan"
- Written by Daniel Decatur Emmett
- Sung by Leo Gorcey
According to a July 3, 1950 Hollywood Reporter news item, singer Bob Carroll was the singing double for Huntz Hall, but reviews credit John Lorenz as his singing double. Carroll's participation in the final film has not been confirmed.