Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951)

Corky of Gasoline Alley was the second and last Columbia “B”-picture inspired by Frank King’s popular comic strip Gasoline Alley. As in the first film, the emphasis is on young gas jockey Corky (Scotty Beckett), who must put up with Elwood Martin (Gordon Jones), the shiftless cousin of Corky’s wife Hope (Susan Morrow). One of Elwood’s get-rich-quick schemes involves gasoline pills, which all but destroy the service station managed by Walt Wallet (Don Beddoe) and his foster son Skeezix (Jimmy Lydon). When threatened with eviction, Elwood feigns a back injury, forcing everyone to wait on him hand-and-foot until his ruse is discovered. Director Edward Bernds handles his material in the slapsticky manner of his Columbia 2-reelers, which pays off in belly laughs even though this approach isn’t altogether faithful to the spirit of the original comic strip. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

1951, B&W, 80 minutes