Down in San Diego

On a sunlit block of San Diego, a tight-knit group of neighborhood teens starts noticing odd activity near a nearby naval base. Instead of letting the adults brush it off, they piece together clues from late night visitors, coded chatter, and a trail of careless mistakes. Their investigation blends curiosity with humor as they dodge adult supervision and use the block's familiar spots as their own field office. As the clues tighten, the kids realize a shadowy scheme may be trying to snatch sensitive military secrets. The film threads lighthearted mischief with a growing sense of responsibility, offering a brisk adventure told from the youths' viewpoint. Their efforts blend humor with tension, turning ordinary streets into an outpost of inquiry.

Directed by Robert B. Sinclair and released in 1941, Down in San Diego blends adventure and comedy with wartime drama. The screenplay credits go to Harry Clork and Franz Schulz, who infuse the dialogue with brisk humor for younger audiences.

Box office figures for Down in San Diego are not widely documented, but the film fits the era's family friendly theater offerings that mix light humor with suspense and a dash of patriotic mood, paired in double bills across circuits.

There are no widely noted awards or nominations for this title, according to available records. In later years the film has seen limited revival on festival screens and vintage fan sites, where viewers note the brisk pace and the energy of the young cast, as a snapshot of studio culture.

The film balances humor with a sense of civic duty as teenagers take initiative in a climate of wartime suspicion. Set near a bustling naval base, it hints at broader anxieties while keeping characters grounded in friendship and practical problem solving. Community ties, not gadgets, drive the action for audiences.