On Dress Parade
The 'Dead End' Kids "On Dress Parade" is a 1939 Warner Bros. film that marked the first time The Dead End Kids headlined a film without any other well-known actors.
Plot
A hero of World War I, Colonel William Duncan, is on his deathbed. He summons his old friend, Colonel Mitchell Reiker to ask him if he will care for his son Slip when he dies. Reiker agrees, and when Duncan passes, Slip, who does not want to leave the neighborhood he grew up in, is tricked into attending the military school that Reiker is in charge of.Cadet Major Rollins tries to help Slip reform and adapt to military life, but is thrown out a window for his troubles. He continues to have altercations with all of the other cadets, but in the end he winds up saving the life of Cadet Warren during a fire in the camp munitions storeroom. Although he is seriously injured during the rescue, the other cadets respect his efforts and welcome him as one of their own. For his heroics he is given his father's distinguished service cross and given the title of cadet major.
Cast
The Dead End Kids
- Billy Halop as Cadet Major Rollins
- Bobby Jordan as Cadet Ronny Morgan
- Leo Gorcey as Slip Duncan
- Gabriel Dell as Cadet Georgie Warren
- Huntz Hall as Cadet Johnny Cabot
- Bernard Punsly as Dutch
Additional cast
- Frankie Thomas as Cadet Lieutenant Murphy
- John Litel as Col. Michael Riker
- Cissie Loftus as Mrs. Neely
- Selmer Jackson as Capt. Evans Dover
- Aldrich Bowker as Father Ryan
- Douglas Meins as Hathaway
- William Gould as Dr. Lewis
- Don Douglas as Col. Wm. Duncan
- Emory Parnell as Policeman - Paddy
Character portrayals