Down in San Diego (1941) User Reviews

Enjoyable Comic Spybusting Caper

[sf_fred · 6/10 · 23 January 2008]

In Los Angeles, Al Haines (played by Dan Daily, Jr.) has just enlisted in the peacetime US Marines in part to escape local gang connections. Hank Parker (the main star, played by Ray McDonald), the boyfriend of Al's sister, Betty (played by Bonita Granville), overhears talk that suggests the gang intends keeping its hooks into Al even after he reports in San Diego. Hank and friends 'Snap' Collins (Leo Gorcey) and Crawford 'Doc' Courtland (Charles Smith) decide to vacation in San Diego to get more information before reporting to the authorities. 'Doc''s girlfriend, Mildred (Dorothy Morris) tags along, and Betty shows up later. With the help of a local guy, Louie (Stanley Clements), the group follows the clues (including a dog with a damaged ear), snoops, and makes trouble. The bad spies in San Diego want Al to steal some secret equipment. How will it all play out?

This is a nice, fast paced show and makes for an enjoyable viewing. On the other hand, production values are low, although there are a few shots of marching Marines. There are no establishing shots or beach scenes that might make one feel in San Diego. Much of the plot relies on coincidence for making needed connections.

As was usual for the times, the language was occasionally slang-filled but clean and there was nothing overtly sexual. The only skin shot was of a snooping Ray McDonald getting a shirtless "short wave" treatment for chest congestion in the basement of a barber shop.

This film is worthy of being cleaned up and put onto a DVD.

Moments of heroism

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 24 February 2022]

Interestingly the picture was released in late July '41, more than four months before the attack on Pearl Harbor but it anticipates U. S. involvement in the war and the need for recruitment into the armed forces.

This story focuses on two young men who are set to join the Marines. One is a teen (Ray McDonald) not allowed to enlist just yet because he does not meet the general age requirement; while his girlfriend's older brother (Dan Dailey) is able to enlist.

Before Dailey's character takes off to San Diego, where he will receive training and be permanently stationed, he has a few goodbyes to make. Of course, his sister (Bonita Granville) is sad but proud he's going off to serve.

There are some local thugs, part of a gang that Dailey's been running with, who frame him for a murder he didn't commit. This is done so that when he goes to San Diego, he will cooperate with some other shady characters that are connected with Nazi spies.

Yes, it's all a bit far-fetched but somehow it works. Mostly it works because of Granville, McDonald and Dailey as well as Leo Gorcey in a supporting role providing the necessary comic relief. Granville is particularly good when Dailey does the right thing at the end and in a moment of heroism, dies aboard a boat where Granville and McDonald have been kept hostage.

At the same time a huge explosion rocks a ship used by the Nazi spies, and I must say it's a spectacular bit of special effects. A very effective action sequence that is accompanied by an appropriate flag-waving finale back on land.

I couldn't help but think this script was probably intended for Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. You can see how MGM is fashioning a film that is meant to appeal to the teen crowd, since that age group will soon be going off to war.