Call a Messenger

Call a Messenger (1939)

Genres - Drama  |   Release Date - Nov 3, 1939 (USA - Unknown), Nov 3, 1939 (USA)  |   Run Time - 65 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Call a Messenger is the second entry in Universal's "Dead End Kids/Little Tough Guys" series. In this one, the Little Tough Guys (Hally Chester, Harris Berger, David Gorcey) cede most of the screen time to Dead Enders Billy Halop (as Jimmy Hogan) and Huntz Hall (as Pig). When he and his pals are caught robbing their local branch of the Postal Union, Jimmy valiantly takes the blame for his friends' action. Given a choice between going to reform school and taking an honest job as a messenger boy, Jimmy opts for the latter-and before long, all of his buddies are wearing messenger uniforms. With the help of his Postal Union confreres, Jimmy manages to thwart the criminal activities of his ex-con brother Ed (Victor Jory) and Ed's gangster partner Chuck Walsh (Larry "Buster" Crabbe). Billy Benedict makes his first appearance as a Dead End Kid/East Side Kid/Bowery Boy in Call a Messenger, while comedy relief is provided by veteran funster El Brendel.

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Keywords

poverty, survivor, brother, criminal, employment, gangster, going-straight, messenger, prison, sibling, youth