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Double Dynamite
Double Dynamite
Double Dynamite
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Double Dynamite
Original US cinema poster
Directed byIrving Cummings
Written byMelville Shavelson (screenplay)
Harry Crane (additional dialogue)
Based onStory by Leo Rosten
Produced byIrving Cummings Jr.
Irwin Allen (uncredited)
StarringJane Russell
Groucho Marx
Frank Sinatra
CinematographyRobert De Grasse
Edited byHarry Marker
Music byLeigh Harline
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Pictures
Release dates
  • December 25, 1951 (1951-12-25) (New York)[1]
  • February 3, 1952 (1952-02-03) (Los Angeles)[2]
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Double Dynamite is a 1951 American musical comedy film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Jane Russell, Groucho Marx and Frank Sinatra. The screenplay was written by Melville Shavelson based on a story by Leo Rosten.

The film involves a bank teller suspected of embezzling who turns to a sardonic waiter for advice.

Plot

[edit]

Meek California Fidelity Trust teller Johnny Dalton asks his boss, J. L. McKissack, for a raise so that he can marry fellow teller Mildred "Mibs" Goodhue. Although Johnny's request is declined, Mibs wants to marry him anyway. Emile J. Keck, a friend and waiter at an Italian restaurant that they frequent, also urges Johnny to take a chance, even facetiously suggesting that he rob the bank where he works. When Johnny insists on waiting until they can afford to marry, Mibs is enraged.

Johnny spots two men attacking a third in an alley and intervenes. The victim, "Hot Horse" Harris, is a bookie. In gratitude, Harris gives Johnny $1,000, but Johnny refuses to accept it as anything but a loan. Harris bets the entire amount on a sure thing in a fixed race, placing the bet at the bookie joint run by his competitor. From the winnings, Johnny retains $5,000. Harris places two more bets for Johnny, both winners, bringing Johnny's total to $60,000. Harris has only $40,000 on hand, so he tells Johnny to collect the rest the next day. Johnny shares the good news with Emile, but Emile believes that Johnny followed his advice about the bank robbery.

The bank's auditors have discovered $75,000 missing. Fearing that he will be suspected of the crime, Johnny enlists Emile's help in hiding the money. Mibs does not believe Johnny's story. She is alone in his apartment when $20,000, the remainder of what Harris owes Johnny, is tossed through the door. Still believing that Johnny stole the money, she seeks Bob Pulsifer, Jr., the lazy, lecherous son of the bank's founder, and offers it to him only if Bob will not inform the police about Johnny. However, he phones the police.

Emile poses as a millionaire and redeposits the remaining funds in Johnny's bank, hoping that it will be the last place where the police will look. This attracts the attention of R.B. Pulisfer, the reclusive head of the board of directors, who insists on meeting Emile, hoping for a donation to his charity. Emile registers at an exclusive hotel and maintains the millionaire ruse with Johnny's money. R.B. finds Emile refreshing, and their friendship helps to clear Johnny.

Mibs insists on driving Johnny to Mexico, but they are caught. They are surprised that the police know that Johnny had won the money. The police instead arrest Mibs, as the auditors have tracked the missing $75,000 to her. However, Johnny accidentally discovers by that Mibs' adding machine is malfunctioning. Mibs tells a man whom she thinks is a reporter about all of the expensive gifts that Johnny has given her, only to learn that the man actually works for the IRS.

Johnny's boss McKissack has been fired for falsely accusing Johnny and Mildred and takes Emile's waiter job.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film was developed as The Pasadena Story. It is based on a story written by Leo Rosten that Michael Curtiz had purchased. Curtiz hired Mel Shavelson to write the script. In February 1948, Curtiz sold the story and script to Signet Productions, Irving Cummings' production company, and they tried to arrange release through Columbia.[3][4] Signet eventually secured financing with RKO Pictures.[5] It was Cummings' first directorial effort since 1944, as he had been ill,[6] but it was also the last film that Cummings directed.

Jane Russell was under contract to Howard Hughes, who had just bought RKO Pictures. Frank Sinatra owed a film to the studio.[7] Russell and Marx each sing a duet with Sinatra written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Marx and Sinatra sing "It's Only Money" and Russell and Sinatra deliver the romantic "Kisses and Tears".

Filming began on November 22, 1948 under the working title of It's Only Money, but Hughes changed the title to Double Dynamite as a reference to Russell's famous breasts.[8][9] After filming ended on December 22, RKO closed the studio as it readjusted following Hughes' purchase of the company.[10] Although filmed in 1948, Double Dynamite was held for several years after production and released in 1951.[11]

Reception

[edit]

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Howard Thompson wrote: "Whatever that sizzling title is supposed to mean, this thin little comedy is strictly a wet firecracker. The three stars are marking time, along with the audience, in a slow, dull and predictable tale ... Those behind the camera ... apparently were as long on determination as they were short of inspiration."[1]

Critic Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "'Double Dynamite'—the significance of which, as a title, is indicated by, and limited to, newspaper ads and the billboards around town—is an RKO picture costarring such diverse catch-names as Jane Russell, Groucho Marx and Frank Sinatra, in that order. It does none of them justice in the sphere in which each is supposed to excel, though it naturally contains moments in which they appear to he on the verge of getting started."[2]

Home video

[edit]

Double Dynamite was released on DVD on May 13, 2008, both individually and as part of a box set of Frank Sinatra films.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Double Dynamite

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Double Dynamite is a American musical directed by Irving Cummings, starring as a suspected of after acquiring a sudden windfall, alongside as his fiancée and as a wisecracking waiter friend. The plot centers on Johnny Dalton (Sinatra), a modest clerk saving to marry his girlfriend Mildred "Mibs" Goodhue (Russell), who heroically saves a from assailants and receives an initial reward that, through successful bets placed by the grateful bookie, grows to $60,000. This sum coincidentally matches a $75,000 shortage discovered at his , leading to accusations of and romantic complications, with Johnny enlisting the help of his eccentric friend Emile J. Keck (Marx) to unravel the mix-up amid antics and mistaken identities. The film incorporates musical elements, featuring two original songs by composers and . Originally titled It's Only Money and based on a story by , Double Dynamite was produced by RKO Radio Pictures and filmed in black-and-white between November and December 1948 under Cummings' production company, Signet Productions. Despite completing , the project was shelved for three years due to studio delays before premiering in limited release on December 25, 1951, at the Paramount Theatre in . With a runtime of 80 minutes and mono sound, it marked an unusual teaming of Sinatra during a career transition, Russell in a comedic role, and Marx in one of his solo post-team appearances. Critically, Double Dynamite garnered mixed responses upon release, praised for its star chemistry and humor but critiqued for uneven pacing and a thin storyline, earning a 32% approval rating on from a small sample of reviews. It holds a 5.9/10 average user score on based on over 1,400 ratings, reflecting its status as a minor but entertaining entry in the trio's filmographies.

Development and production

Development

Double Dynamite originated from an original story titled The Pasadena Story by author , which was acquired in February by Signet Productions, the independent company of director Irving Cummings. Signet negotiated a deal with in October for production and distribution under the executive oversight of , whose acquisition of the studio earlier that year in May introduced significant financial and operational challenges that shaped the film's protracted timeline. The story was adapted into a screenplay by and Mannie Manheim, based on Rosten's work, with additional dialogue contributed by . Initially titled It's Only Money, the film underwent a title change to Double Dynamite before its eventual release, reflecting shifts in marketing strategy amid RKO's instability. Filming was scheduled to begin in late 1948, capitalizing on the studio's resources during a turbulent period marked by Hughes' erratic management and the broader decline of RKO's production output. Principal photography wrapped by mid-December 1948, but Hughes' dissatisfaction with the completed work, coupled with ongoing studio turmoil including budget overruns and executive reshuffles, led to the film being shelved for three years. This delay exemplified Hughes' pattern of interfering with post-production decisions, contributing to RKO's financial woes and halting releases of several projects from that era.

Casting and filming

Irving Cummings was selected to direct Double Dynamite due to his extensive experience helming musical comedies at studios like Fox, where he had overseen splashy Technicolor productions featuring stars such as Betty Grable and Shirley Temple, including films like Down Argentine Way (1940) and The Dolly Sisters (1945). Casting emphasized star power amid the film's musical comedy format. Frank Sinatra was cast in the lead role of Johnny Dalton shortly after his MGM contract expired in 1948, marking his final obligation under an earlier RKO agreement and a return to the studio following his tenure with the rival lot. Jane Russell was chosen as Mildred "Mibs" Goodhue, leveraging her established contract with RKO owner Howard Hughes, who had propelled her stardom through The Outlaw (1943) and favored her in subsequent studio projects. Groucho Marx joined as the wisecracking waiter Emile J. Keck to provide comic relief, drawing on his post-Marx Brothers solo career for eccentric humor in the ensemble. Principal photography commenced on November 22, 1948, and wrapped by mid-December at RKO studios in Hollywood, reflecting a compressed schedule influenced by prior development delays that necessitated a swift production to meet studio timelines. The shoot remained entirely studio-bound, with no exterior location work, allowing for efficient control over the interior sets depicting a , , and . The film was shot in black-and-white under the direction of photography of Robert de Grasse, whose work captured the intimate comedic interplay without elaborate . was handled by Harry Marker, who streamlined the 80-minute runtime to emphasize the musical numbers and dialogue-driven sequences. The brief filming period contributed to a straightforward on-set dynamic, though Marx's improvisational style reportedly infused additional humor into scenes like his with Sinatra.

Cast and characters

Principal cast

The principal cast of Double Dynamite (1951) featured three major stars whose careers intersected during a transitional period for Hollywood musical comedies. Filmed in 1948 but delayed until 1951 due to production issues, the film showcased in a rare comedic role amid his shift from singing idol to dramatic actor, leveraging her established screen presence under ' patronage, and continuing his solo comedic endeavors post-Marx Brothers.
ActorRoleBackground Relevant to Involvement (1948–1951)
Frank SinatraJohnny Dalton (timid bank teller)By 1948, Sinatra was transitioning from his 1940s bobby-soxer singing fame to acting in musicals like Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) and On the Town (1949), though his career faced a downturn; Double Dynamite marked one of his early post-war comedic efforts before dramatic breakthroughs like From Here to Eternity (1953).
Jane RussellMildred "Mibs" Goodhue (bank secretary)Discovered by Howard Hughes for The Outlaw (1943), Russell was under his RKO contract during 1948–1951, starring in hits like The Paleface (1948) and His Kind of Woman (1951); Hughes promoted her heavily in Double Dynamite's campaign, billing her first despite Sinatra's draw.
Groucho MarxEmile J. Keck (wisecracking waiter)Following the Marx Brothers' final team film Love Happy (1949), Marx pursued solo roles in comedies like Copacabana (1947) and Mr. Music (1950); Double Dynamite fit his 1948–1951 phase of radio (You Bet Your Life) and film work emphasizing rapid-fire wit.

Supporting roles

The supporting roles in Double Dynamite feature a roster of character actors who enhance the film's comedic dynamics through their portrayals of bank staff, gamblers, and authority figures, providing and situational humor without overshadowing the leads. These performers, often drawn from RKO's stable of contract players, contribute to the ensemble feel typical of the studio's comedies. Don McGuire plays R.B. "Bob" Pulsifer Jr., the playboy son of the bank president, whose flirtatious and opportunistic demeanor adds layers of farcical tension in the workplace scenes. McGuire, transitioning from acting to in subsequent years, brings a lively energy to the role that supports the film's romantic subplots. Howard Freeman portrays R.B. Pulsifer Sr., the authoritative bank president whose stern oversight drives much of the story's professional conflicts and humorous misunderstandings. Nestor Paiva appears as "Hot Horse" Harris, the boisterous bookie whose involvement introduces elements of underworld and quick-witted banter. Other notable supporting players include:
ActorRole
Mr. Kofer
Harry HaydenJ.L. McKissack
William EdmundsMr. Baganucci
Max, the Policeman
These actors' roles function to bolster the plot's comedic structure by populating the bank's daily routines and the milieu with exaggerated personalities, amplifying the film's elements.

Music

Songs

Double Dynamite features two original songs composed by with lyrics by , integral to its musical structure. "It's Only Money" is performed as a comedic duet by , playing the underpaid bank clerk Johnny Dalton, and , as his quipster friend Emil J. Keck, with Marx's ad-libbed quips enhancing the humorous interplay. The number occurs as Johnny confides his financial troubles to Emil, advancing the plot by underscoring their and injecting levity into the story's mistaken-identity . The second song, "Kisses and Tears," serves as a romantic duet between Sinatra's and Jane Russell's Mildred "Mibs" Goodhug, his girlfriend and fellow , highlighting the film's tender romantic elements amid the chaos. Performed in a more intimate setting, it deepens the characters' emotional connection and propels the toward resolution. These vocal performances fit the musical by blending humor and sentiment to drive character development and plot progression. No complete soundtrack album was issued upon the film's 1951 release, though the songs were later included in compilations such as the 2002 box set Frank Sinatra in Hollywood 1940–1964, which features recordings from Sinatra's film career.

Score

The musical score for Double Dynamite was composed by Leigh Harline, who served as the film's primary music arranger and conductor for the instrumental elements. Harline, an Academy Award-winning composer celebrated for his contributions to Walt Disney animated features including the score for Pinocchio (1940), applied his versatile style to this RKO musical comedy. His work on the film emphasized orchestral arrangements that enhanced the narrative without intruding on the vocal performances. The score adopts a light, jazzy underscore tailored to the film's blend of and romance, employing a full orchestra to highlight humorous gags and build romantic tension. This approach, characteristic of Harline's skillful handling of comedic scoring, uses rhythmic and woodwind sections to punctuate key comedic beats while maintaining an upbeat, period-appropriate swing influence reflective of the era's . The cues provide seamless atmospheric support, briefly underscoring transitions into and out of the songs to preserve the film's musical flow. Recording sessions for the score took place in 1948, shortly after principal photography wrapped, under the musical direction of Constantin Bakaleinikoff at RKO studios, with no notable incidents reported. These post-production efforts ensured the score integrated smoothly with the existing footage, contributing to the overall musical cohesion without overlapping the vocal tracks. Harline's contributions thus form a foundational layer of the film's , amplifying its lighthearted tone through subtle yet effective orchestration.

Release

Theatrical release

Double Dynamite premiered in at the Paramount Theatre on December 25, 1951, after being shelved for three years following its completion in late 1948. RKO Radio Pictures served as the distributor, handling the film's initial limited release in late 1951 before expanding to a wide U.S. rollout in early 1952. Promotional posters highlighted the star trio of , , and to draw audiences, featuring the "Double Fun! Double Joy! Double Everything!" The film has a runtime of 80 minutes, was produced in black-and-white, and received an "Approved" rating under the Motion Picture Production Code, making it suitable for general audiences.

Home media

Double Dynamite was first made available on in the late through limited releases in the United States. The film received its DVD debut on May 13, 2008, from Warner Home Video, offered both as a standalone edition and included in a collection box set. In 2019, issued a manufactured-on-demand DVD edition, followed by a wider release on July 28, 2020. Region 2 DVD versions have been available in , including UK imports. As of 2025, the film is accessible for streaming and digital purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, , and at Home, with rentals or buys also on ; no 4K UHD release has been produced. All home media transfers preserve the original 1951 runtime of approximately 80 minutes.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in 1951, Double Dynamite received mixed reviews from critics, who found the film amusing in parts but ultimately lightweight and uninspired. of described it as a "thin little " that was "strictly a wet firecracker," criticizing its "slow, dull and predictable" plot about a bank clerk suspected of , though he noted some early amusing sequences. highlighted the weak script and direction by Irving Cummings, calling the overall effort laborious despite the star power. Critics praised certain performances while faulting others for being underutilized or mismatched. was commended for his natural charm as the innocent bank teller, delivering incidental songs effortlessly alongside his co-stars. Jane Russell's appeal was acknowledged for her physical presence and role as the devoted girlfriend, though Crowther mocked her "whiney voice" and "deep-freeze histrionics" as unconvincing. drew the most consistent acclaim for his energetic wisecracks as the wisecracking waiter, with reviewers noting his ability to shine even in a limited role, providing the film's few highlights through trademark quips. In modern assessments, as of November 2025, the film has no Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 3 critic reviews), reflecting its reputation as a minor, forgettable entry in the filmographies of Sinatra, Russell, and Marx. Retrospective critiques often view it as a disappointing mismatch of talents, with a flat script that fails to capitalize on the stars' strengths, though it retains cult appeal for the rare Sinatra-Marx duo and its breezy runtime. It holds an audience score of 32% on Rotten Tomatoes from over 100 ratings. Thematically, reviews from the era and later analyses pointed to the film's reliance on familiar comedy tropes, including mistaken identity surrounding the protagonist's sudden windfall—leading to suspicions of theft—and a light commentary on class mobility, as the working-class bank teller navigates newfound wealth to pursue marriage. These elements were seen as predictable, underscoring the script's lack of depth despite the potential for satirical bite on aspirations.

Box office

Double Dynamite earned approximately $1.4 million in domestic during its 1951–1952 run, a figure that fell short of expectations given the star power of , , and . This postponement positioned it against stronger competition from major 1951 musicals and comedies, contributing to its modest performance and low ranking of 47th among the year's top-grossing films. Internationally, the film received only a limited rollout, underscoring its status as a for RKO amid the studio's broader financial decline.

References

  1. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/117/double-dynamite
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/double_dynamite
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043476/
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1948/02/09/archives/signet-will-make-pasadena-story-cummings-company-acquires-the.html
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1948/10/02/archives/cummings-in-deal-for-sinatra-film-negotiating-with-rko-to-make.html
  6. https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/50082
  7. https://www.iann.net/movies/double_dynamite/
  8. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Irving-Cummings
  9. https://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2011/02/jane_russell_actress_starred_i.html
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043476/fullcredits/
  11. https://www.biography.com/musicians/frank-sinatra
  12. https://www.biography.com/actors/jane-russell
  13. https://www.biography.com/actors/groucho-marx
  14. https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/obituary-don-mcguire-1089158.html
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043476/fullcredits
  16. https://paradisefoundrecordsmusic.com/UPC/883929689934
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/5369045-Frank-Sinatra-Frank-Sinatra-In-Hollywood
  18. https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0043476/companycredits
  19. https://moviemusicuk.us/2015/06/22/pinocchio-leigh-harline-and-paul-j-smith/
  20. https://cinescores.dudaone.com/leigh-harline
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043476/taglines/
  22. https://vhscollector.com/movie/double-dynamite
  23. https://www.amazon.com/Double-Dynamite-Jane-Russell/dp/B00143XDYM
  24. https://www.amazon.com/Double-Dynamite-Jane-Russell/dp/B07S98GQWP
  25. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-double-dynamite-irving-cummings/1015682608
  26. https://www.amazon.com/Double-Dynamite-DVD-Import/dp/B003XMVH0E
  27. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/double-dynamite
  28. https://reelgood.com/movie/double-dynamite-1951
  29. https://www.nytimes.com/1951/12/26/archives/the-screen-six-newcomers-on-holiday-fare-distant-drums-starring.html
  30. https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/doubledynamite/
  31. https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/1951-top-box-office-movies/
  32. https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/frank-sinatra-movies/
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