MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

utgard14 The Bowery Boys tackle the past life regression fad that was popular in the '50s thanks to the Bridey Murphy book and film. This is the second movie in a row where the series tried something different from the rut it had been in for a long time. I give it credit for trying but, unfortunately, it's too little too late. Without Leo and Bernard Gorcey, the laughs are all on Huntz Hall's shoulders. Hall is someone I found barely tolerable at the height of this series but I find him insufferable in these later entries. This is the forty-fourth Bowery Boys film, which is pretty amazing. But the end is near and that's pretty obvious by the lack of memorable scenes in the last few films. A chuckle here and there but, for the most part, these movies stink.This one has Sach undergoing hypnosis and remembering a past life. From there we get into some nonsense about a pirate treasure. Hall does his usual shtick, for those who enjoy him. Stanley Clements continues to be unimpressive as Slip Mahoney-wannabe, Duke. David Gorcey and Jimmy Murphy blend in with the wallpaper. Queenie Smith makes her final appearance as landlady Mrs. Kelly. She was a likable enough actress but never had the comedic talents of Bernard Gorcey or the chemistry with the rest of the cast that he had. Anyway, this isn't the worst of the post-Leo Bowery Boys movies. It might even be the best. That being said, it's really nothing special. I wouldn't bother with it unless you want to see every Bowery film at least once.

dbborroughs One of the final Bowery Boys films when the only one left was Sach.When Louie died, he was played by Leo Gorcey's dad, the desire to keep making the films went out of Gorcey and some of the others. The studio however soldiered on with Huntz HAll and brought in a few others including a new character named Duke. The films are fine but really Bowery boys.The plot has the boys land lady deciding to be regressed to a past life... wanting to prove the guy a fraud they show up at a press conference with the doctor. A challenge is laid down to prove it all as real, however instead of Duke being put under, it's Sach who regresses back to the time of Blackbeard where he ends up with a map of the treasure. Everyone thinks its a joke until they find that what Sach says pans out. Its then a race to re-hypnotize Sach and then find the treasure.Good film is a little too slow even at an hour. It's an enjoyable time killer either way.The problem is that the film really isn't a Bowery Boys film even if we do get Sach. The boys were a different make up of characters and this, while good is something else entirely.Still its worth a look if you run across it.

dougdoepke It's not surprising that the Bridey Murphy phenomenon would turn up on the silver screen, even if it's only a low-budget Bowery Boys production. In 1956, a Pueblo, CO housewife claimed to have been "regressed" under hypnosis to a previous life as an Irish farm girl, complete with Irish brogue, etc. For some reason, it caught on and became a brief national fad with all kinds of similar claims being made. Here, Sach gets regressed to a former life as a 17th century English fop, where he encounters pirate Blackbeard and his treasure. Back in modern time, the boys go after the treasure, ahead of the bad guys, they hope, while busty blonde Jane Nigh provides brassy eye candy.Aside from the predictable hi-jinks, Hall (Sach) gets to show off some real acting skills, getting to play more than just his usual buffoonish character. Rather poignant to think how many of those skills went unused once he settled into playing Sach. (An interview with him would be interesting.) Clements does okay as Gorcey's replacement, but Gorcey really makes a better tough-talking Moe (The Three Stooges) to Sach's ever-befuddled Curley. All in all— the 60-minutes provides something of a departure for both the plot and and actor Hall, but with no more chuckles than usual.

wes-connors Motherly landlady Queenie Smith (as Kate Kelly) has been reading about reincarnation. Curious about her own past lives, Ms. Kelly makes an appointment with regression hypnotist Robert Foulk (as Simon Noble). Concerned boarding house residents "The Bowery Boys" Huntz Hall (as Horace Debussy "Sach" Jones), Stanley Clements (as Stanislaus "Duke" Coveleskie), David "Condon" Gorcey (as Chuck), and Jimmy Murphy (as Myron) decide to investigate the hypnotist. To prove Mr. Foulk is a fake, Mr. Clements becomes a failed hypnotist's subject. As you might imagine, Mr. Hall seems to fall under the dubious doctor's spell while staring at an earring worn by bosomy accomplice Jane Nigh (as Cleo Daniels)... In a short 1682 flashback to colonial America, cowardly tax collector Hall (as Algy Winkle) must obtain revenue from Blackbeard the pirate. After this scene, the story runs out of steam. While obviously recycling and regurgitating older situations, "Hold that Hypnotist" manages to be no worse than recent entries in "The Bowery Boys" series. For those keeping track, this was the last appearance for Smith, who was brought in as a replacement for Bernard Gorcey's "Louie" character. Apparently, filmmakers felt the "boarding house" springboard for stories wasn't as good as "Louie's Sweet Shop" had been. A new "diner" base was attempted in the next film, but the movie franchise was clearly struggling with fresh ideas.*** Hold That Hypnotist (2/24/57) Austen Jewell ~ Huntz Hall, Stanley Clements, Jane Nigh, Queenie Smith