That Gang of Mine (1940) Director: Joseph H. Lewis Studio: Monogram Pictures Starring: Leo Gorcey (Muggs Maloney), Bobby Jordan (Danny), Clarence Muse (Ben), Dave O’Brien, Ernest Morrison, Sunshine Sammy Release Date: September 6, 1940 Runtime: 62 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Live Action Country: United States Language: English Genres: Comedy | Drama | Sports | Family | Teen Gang Film Summary: In That Gang of Mine, the East Side Kids return for a heartfelt tale of ambition and friendship centered around the world of horse racing. When Muggs Maloney and his pals meet a kindly African American horse trainer named Ben, they help him train a spirited thoroughbred named Bluenight. Muggs dreams of becoming a jockey, but he's got more guts than skill—and a lot to learn about trust, humility, and sportsmanship. Blending streetwise charm with underdog determination, the film is a wholesome mix of laughs, lessons, and racetrack excitement. It’s one of the earliest entries in the East Side Kids series and features strong themes of perseverance, loyalty, and cross-cultural respect during a time of racial tension in America. Background: That Gang of Mine was the third film in the East Side Kids series, a continuation of the popular Dead End Kids films. Produced by Monogram Pictures, known for their low-budget but fast-moving B-movies, the film helped further develop the scrappy gang’s on-screen chemistry. Director Joseph H. Lewis—who would later earn cult status for his stylish noirs like Gun Crazy—directed this early entry with a focus on character and simple moral lessons. The movie is notable for casting Clarence Muse in a dignified and prominent role, rare for Black actors in 1940s Hollywood, and for tackling themes of equality in a light but forward-thinking manner. Trivia: One of the few 1940s films to feature a Black character (played by Clarence Muse) as a wise and sympathetic mentor rather than a caricature. Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan were real-life friends whose chemistry helped drive the East Side Kids series’ popularity. Clarence Muse was a trailblazer for African American performers and was also a screenwriter, composer, and director. Joseph H. Lewis would go on to direct cult classics like The Big Combo and Gun Crazy in the 1950s. The horse Bluenight plays a central role and was featured in promotional materials. The film has since entered the public domain, making it a staple in classic film compilations and bargain DVD sets. Hashtags: #ThatGangOfMine #EastSideKids #LeoGorcey #BobbyJordan #ClarenceMuse #JosephHLewis #ClassicBMovie #MonogramPictures #TeenGangFilm #1940sCinema #PublicDomainFilm #UnderdogStory #HorseRacingMovie #VintageHollywood #StreetwiseCinema #OldSchoolDrama #GoldenAgeOfHollywood #FamilyFilm #RaceAndRespect #EarlyLeoGorcey