hiː ˈɔːlsoʊ wˈɜːkt wɪððə dˈɛd ˈɛnd kˈɪdz dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðɪs pˈiəɹɪəd, hˈɛlmɪŋ tˈuː fˈɪlmz, jʊɹ nˌɑːt sˌoʊ tˈʌf nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ænd hˈɪt ðə ɹˈoʊd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn, dᵻspˈaɪt kˈɑːnstənt fɹˈɪkʃən wɪð hɪz dʒˈuːvənˌaɪl dᵻlˈɪŋkwənt kˈæst mˈɛmbɚz.
He also worked with the Dead End Kids during this period, helming two films, You're Not So Tough (1940) and Hit the Road (1941), despite constant friction with his juvenile delinquent cast members.