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