Penrod and Sam (1937): Kids vs. Criminals, Sort Of

Is this actually worth your time?

Look, if you want a tight, high-stakes thriller, keep walking. But if you have a soft spot for 1930s pre-war suburban aesthetics and watching kids act like little detectives, Penrod and Sam is a fun, dusty relic. People who hate 'kids-on-a-mission' tropes will find it grating, but for the rest of us, it’s a decent way to kill an hour.

The whole premise is that Penrod and his crew—the self-titled 'Jr. G-Men'—think they’ve stumbled onto a major criminal conspiracy. It’s adorable, honestly. They take themselves so seriously with their clubhouse meetings and secret codes that you almost forget they’re just kids running around in knickers.

The vibe check

There is something about the way these boys talk that just doesn't exist anymore. They sound like tiny, miniature adults. It’s a bit jarring at first, but you eventually get into the rhythm of it. The chemistry between the kids is actually pretty genuine, which is a miracle considering how rigid most child acting was back then.

• Stymie Beard is in this, which is always a treat.
• The bank robbers are played with that classic, over-the-top 'I’m a bad guy' sneer that you don't see much these days.
• The scene where they try to tail the suspects is just... well, it’s slow. Really slow.

I found myself zoning out during the dialogue-heavy exposition bits, but then suddenly, the kids are doing something reckless and you're back in. It’s uneven as all get-out. One minute it feels like a serious crime drama, the next it’s a slapstick routine. It’s not smooth, but that’s kind of the charm, right?

Oddly specific observations

There is a sequence involving a backyard fence that goes on for, I swear, an eternity. I’m pretty sure you can see a crew member’s shadow in the corner of the frame if you squint hard enough. It’s those little mistakes that make watching old movies like this so much more interesting than the polished stuff we get now.

The transition between the boys playing house and them actually getting involved with dangerous bank robbers is... let's just say it's a massive leap in logic. But who cares? They’re kids. They don't need a logical reason to put their lives at risk, apparently.

If you enjoy this kind of vintage stuff, you might find it pairs well with something like The Trail of the Lonesome Pine for that weird, authentic 1930s flavor. It’s not perfect. It’s not high art. But it’s a nice little window into a world that’s long gone. 📽️