Smart Alecks

Plot

Hank Salko of the Eastside youth gang in New York gets pulled into the criminal world when Mike and Butch Brocalli hire him to be a lookout during a bank robbery. After the job, Hank tries to share his stolen money with the East Side Kids, but they suspend him from the club, and local policeman Joe Reagan arrests Hank. While the Kids are playing street baseball, they accidentally smash a ball through a window in the apartment where Butch and Mike are hiding.

Butch comes out and refuses to give the ball back, so Danny chases him. Joe spots Butch and gives chase; Danny trips the criminal, leading to the arrest of both Butch and Mike. Danny receives a $200 reward for capturing them and intends to buy baseball uniforms for his friends. The Kids, not knowing his plan, think he is being selfish, steal the money, and kick him out of the club.

Danny’s sister Ruth, who is dating Joe, calls him, and Joe has the Kids arrested for theft. This arrest makes the Kids resent Danny even more, though Danny insists they be released. Once out, the Kids use the $200 to buy an old car. A month later, Hank escapes from jail with Butch and Mike and warns Mugs and the rest of the gang that the gangsters are after Danny.

Out of deep loyalty, the gang rushes to help but finds Danny badly beaten in a warehouse, left there by Butch and Mike. They learn that only top brain surgeon Ormsby can save him, so they go to Ormsby’s house and offer their beat-up car as payment. Ormsby, moved by their concern, agrees to skip a conference and operate. The surgery is successful, but Danny does not recover.

Joe tells the East Side Kids the truth about Danny’s plan for the money, and the remorseful boys go to his bedside, invite him back into the club, and beg him to get better. Later, Butch and Mike take Ruth hostage in her apartment, but the gang sneaks in and attacks them. Hank knocks out Mike, the gangsters are arrested, and Hank’s sentence is lifted. The East Side Kids reunite in Danny’s hospital room, now wearing new baseball uniforms bought after selling the car.

Cast

Leo Gorcey plays Muggs McGinnis, Bobby Jordan plays Danny Stevens, Huntz Hall plays Glimpy, Gabriel Dell plays Henry 'Hank' Salko, Stanley Clements plays Stash, Bobby Stone plays Skinny, Sammy Morrison plays Scruno, David Gorcey plays Peewee, Maxie Rosenbloom plays Butch Brocalli, Gale Storm plays Ruth Stevens, Roger Pryor plays Joe Reagan, Herbert Rawlinson plays Police Captain Bronson, Walter Woolf King plays Dr. Ormsby, Sam Bernard plays Dr. Thomas, Dick Ryan plays Prison Warden, Joe Kirk plays Mike, and Marie Windsor plays a Nurse. Stanley Clements receives an 'Introducing' credit; his character irritates Muggs by imitating him and inexplicably vanishes during moments of the film.