Double Dynamite
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Details
Synopsis
As underpaid bank clerk Johnny Dalton, poor Frank Sinatra is just not flush enough to do the one thing he really wants – tie the knot with his gal pal, fellow bank employee Mibs (Jane Russell). Soon enough, Johnny stumbles into big money – and big trouble – when he rescues racetrack bookie “Hot Horse” Harris from a shellacking and receives a betting tip in appreciation. One lucky race later, he’s rolling in dough. But there’s a catch: the bank is short $75,000, and things get explosive when newly prosperous Johnny is the most likely suspect.
Cast & Crew
DOUBLE DYNAMITE
Directed by Irving Cummings
Produced by Irving Cummings, Jr.
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Jane Russell, Groucho Marx
Screenplay by Melville Shavelson
Story by Leo Rosten
Description
B&W
80 minutes
Frank Sinatra may be an underpaid bank clerk in this 1951 madcap comedy, but his voice is still worth a million bucks. As $42.50-a-week teller Johnny Dalton, though, he’s just not flush enough to do the one thing he really wants – tie the knot with his gal pal, fellow bank employee Mibs (Jane Russell). Sinatra musically bemoans his underfunded state of affairs in a duet with pal Emil (Groucho Marx) on the memorable number “It’s Only Money,” one of two Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn tunes in DOUBLE DYNAMITE. The other pairs him with Russell on “Kisses And Tears.”
Soon enough, Johnny stumbles into big money – and big trouble – when he rescues racetrack bookie “Hot Horse” Harris from a shellacking and receives a betting tip in appreciation. One lucky race later, he’s rolling in dough. But there’s a catch: the bank is short $75,000, and things get explosive when newly prosperous Johnny is the most likely suspect.
Warner Home Video’s DVD release of DOUBLE DYNAMITE features subtitles in English and French.
Offer
Frank Teams With Groucho Marx
I hate to give any Sinatra film less than 4 or 5 stars, for his acting skills and charisma lit up each scene of every film he was in. However, this is one of my least favorite Sinatra films. From this period (the early 1950's, pre-"Eternity"), I much-prefer his film, "Meet Danny Wilson", which I hope will be released on DVD, soon. However if you are a major Sinatra-lover, then you MUST purchase this film, because it features Frank in a unique period in his life. I believe one can see a lot of Frank's "self" in each of his films, if you look hard enough. "Double Dynamite" was shot much earlier than the year it was released. Frank was going through tough times, due to changes in the tastes of the record-buying public, and due to his tempestuous then-affair with Ava Gardner. The wear and tear and stress of these times shows on Frank in this film, even though it is a "comedy". And THAT, along with some nice work by Groucho Marx, is why I find it interesting. In "Double Dynamite", Frank is in an in-between phase/state, no longer a bobby-soxer idol, but not yet a swingin' superstar. A Sinatra-lovin' friend of mine really digs this film, so perhaps I am grading it too harshly by giving it two stars. Check it out for yourself, for all of Frank's films are worth seeing AND owning!