Cinema Revisited: Dig That Uranium (1956)

Directed by Edward Bernds. Starring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bernard Gorcey, David Gorcey, Bennie Bartlett, Alfalfa Switzer, Raymond Hatton, Mary Beth Hughes, Tom Keene, Myron Healy, Frank Jenks. Released January 8, 1956. Running time: 61 minutes

Coming along later in the Bowery Boys series, this film is notable as being the last appearance by Bennie Bartlett and Bernard Gorcey. Bennie left the act, but Bernard died from injuries sustained in a car in September of 1955 shortly after filming ended. Director Edward Bernds also stated in later interviews that Leo Gorcey's drinking was catching up to him by this time, so he is a bit bloated and noticeably bobs and weaves during some of his scenes.

It is fun to see a grown up Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer of the Our Gang comedies in the establishing scene as the gang's old friend Shifty Robertson, who effortlessly cons the Boys into giving him $500 for a phony uranium deed, a Geiger counter, and the necessary tools. Off to Nevada they go, settling into an Allied Artists western set to hunt for the elusive rock. Meanwhile, some outlaws are keeping an eye on them. If and when they do discover uranium, the crooks plan to take it away.

While the setup has potential, it isn't sufficiently explored. Most of the comedy comes from the usual Leo malaprops and the slapstick situations offered by director Edward Bernds, who'd worked for years with The Three Stooges. In fact, Leo and Huntz resented being played like a team doing Stooges slapstick, while Bernds wasn't terribly fond of working with either of them. But their collaborations usually resulted good movies. "Dig That Uranium" just isn't one of them. The film rests solely on that which has been established in the series, plodding along with predictable gags.

Perhaps by this time The Bowery Boys, all heading into their mid-to-late thirties, were getting a bit tired, and were simply going through the motions. Leo and Huntz are sleepwalking through their roles, while Bennie Bartlett and David Gorcey have even less to do than usual. It is no surprise that Bartlett decided to no longer get up early and show up on the set anymore after this movie. He left showbiz all together maybe a year or so later. Bernard Gorcey offers the funniest performance in "Dig That Uranium." He is so manic and full of life, especially in contrast with the others, it's a shame to realize it was his last.

The movie is mildly amusing, the talent of the actors being so great, and their understanding of their characters so complete, they can be funny with little effort. Huntz goofs up, Slip hits him with his hat, they fracture the English language, they are ripped off, they are accosted by crooks, they get into fights, and there is a slapstick car chase

Leo would make only one more Bowery Boys movie after this -- Crashing Las Vegas (1956) -- and then leave the act, indicating he just couldn't continue after his father's death. The studio made a handful of more Bowery Boys films with Huntz, David Gorcey, a couple of extras, and Stanley Clements filling in the role of gang leader.

"Dig That Uranium" is historically interesting in the context of the Bowery Boys filmography for it being the last with Bernard Gorcey and Bennie Bartlett. Aesthetically, it shows what can happen when a comedy series runs a bit too long.