No Holds Barred

Sach gains phenomenal power in different parts of his body (head,toe,elbow)which leads Slip to turn him into a world champion wrestler. Of course, the bad guys want to put the fix in and the fun begins. Typical of the series and a good example of the silliness of pro wrestling, then and now.

The gang finds out that Satch's skull is thicker than an ordinary person's. Slip decides to put use of this by entering Satch in a wrestling match where he can win $1000 for staying in the ring for 10 minutes. Satch uses his head to knock his opponent out and now is pitted in a series of matches for the title. However the power in his head is temporary and the next match the power is in the flick of his finger. The power then moves to his elbows, then toes. After defeating the champ, Taylor and his gambling syndicate try to kidnap Satch to find out where his power is now before a scheduled rematch with the former champ Hombre Montana, even using Taylor's girlfriend Rhonda. Can Satch discover his power before his next fight? A little bit above average compared to the latter films of the series, since it has the crime element found in the earlier Monogram series. The best sight gags are the ones where Satch is discovering his powers. Great last line in the film by Hall referencing the newest location of his power. Rating, 6.

Bernard Gorcey (as Louie Dumbrowsky)'s "Ice Cream Parlor" gets held-up, as leader Leo Gorcey (as Slip Mahoney) and "The Bowery Boys" come in for banana splits. Amusingly, Huntz Hall (as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones) defends the older Gorcey, and gets hit on his head with the robber's pistol. Strangely, the gun doesn't hurt Mr. Hall. After a trip to the doctor, the "scientific seduction" is that Hall's "square head" has developed super-human thickness, due to calcium deposits. This diagnosis doesn't make much sense, considering later events, but, anyway…

Mr. Gorcey's "Slip" sees a $1,000 wrestling contest as easy money, due to Hall's impervious hard-head. So, Hall is recruited into the ring. But, Hall's power has an unpredictable limitation - it travels to other body parts, without notice. Having little to say or do, David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck) and Benny "Bennie" Bartlett (as Butch) appear only to make "The Bowery Boys" still seem like a group. At a party, Hall tells Sandra Gould, "You better take that harmonica out of your mouth." By then, you may have forgotten what "No Holds Barred" is about.

*** No Holds Barred (11/23/52) William Beaudine ~ Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Bernard Gorcey

No Holds Barred finds the Bowery Boys involved in the wrestling game when a magic spell gives Huntz Hall a kind of reverse Achilles situation. Instead of only one spot on his body being vulnerable, Hall has one spot of invulnerability. The only problem is that it periodically relocates without any warning.

With Leo Gorcey managing Hall and the ever exasperated Bernard Gorcey allowing them to use Louie's Sweet Shop as a training gym, one Horace DeBussy Jones becomes heavyweight champion of the world. But the forces of evil want to bring him down.

Visiting from the Life Of Riley are Marjorie Reynolds who tries to vamp the secret of his success out of Huntz Hall and Henry Kulky who trains him in some basic wrestling maneuvers.

Where does the power end up, literally in the end.

Slip discovers Sach has a hard head that feels no pain so he decides to make him a professional wrestler. The twenty-eighth Bowery Boys film is an enjoyable one. The plot's nothing special but the boys are having a good time and it shows. Leo Gorcey's throwing malapropisms around and Huntz Hall is rubberfacing and doing physical bits of business. The wrestling scenes are fun to watch. Bernard Gorcey as Louie is great as usual. David Gorcey and Bennie Bartlett round out the rest of the gang. Neither gets much to do but prop up the scenery. Marjorie Reynolds is one of the prettier 'pretty girls' the series had; there always seemed to be one in each movie. Nice pace and some funny lines and gags. It doesn't reinvent comedy but it is entertaining.