Customer Reviews

Double Dynamite [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had seen this title listed but could never get hold of it. When I finally did I was very pleasantly surprised. Groucho turns in a great comic performance, and Sinatra and Russell are very good also. A high point: Groucho & Frank sing a duet ("It's Only Dough") while strolling down the avenue. A delightful find!

Double Dynamite is most definitely not one of Sinatra's better films, but it's a fairly cute (if predictable) romantic comedy nonetheless. Oddly enough Sinatra and leading lady Jane Russell have zero chemistry - but the film really lights up when Sinatra exchanges quips with the fast-talking Groucho Marx. Sadly, Russell just doesn't get to exhibit any of the spitfire personality that makes her performances in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Son of Paleface shine. If the film had focused more on Sinatra and Marx's friendship - been a buddy/caper comedy - instead of focusing on the romantic angle I think it would've been much more successful. For some reason the plot reminded me a bit of the Nicholas Cage rom-com It Could Happen to You. Double Dynamite has a sort of been there, done that feel to it, but thanks to Groucho Marx livening things up the film has some cute moments. It's worth pointing out that the Sinatra-Russell duet "Kisses and Tears" is a fun song, well-executed. The DVD is just the film, no chapter breaks, but the picture is crisp and the sound is clear.

An under rated little gem with some very funny scenes: Jane in the shower; Groucho impersonating a millionaire; Frank looking for the bookie's hideout but finding only nice ladies (leading to the classic line "Youre not a man!"), and a nice punch line involving the IRS

Interesting historically, in that Frank Sinatra, the Number One singer of his time, was billed below Jane Russell and Groucho Marx! Not that Jane and Julius are not top billing material, but within a few years - and "From Here To Eternity" and a new record contract - Sinatra would rule show business. As music historians know, Frank Sinata's record sales dipped around 1946 through 1952, and he dappled in smaller venues, some TV - and "B" pictures.
Yes, this film can be considered a "B", but the Director, Writers, and stars put togther a very entertaining film, which really mines the talents of all involved. Great to see so much of Groucho, very much in character, and having some very funny bits as a woulda-been financial mogul - he's a waiter in an old Mom & Pop eatery; Frank Sinatra is predictably dynamic - his role could be described as a Junior Bank Executive, whose personal finances have a discrepancy between earnings and dreams; Jane Russell plays the part of Bank Teller Mildred Goodhue, his beautiful but somewhat naive girlfriend, who wants to marry this man, but makes the mistake of being persuaded that money isn't..."only money".
A great black and white print of a minor classic. Even has two excellent songs (the duet from adjacent apartments by Frank and Jane is a real time-capsule entry, something obviously missed by documentary makers).

Double Dynamite may not be the very best film I've ever seen; but it's far from being the worst I've watched! The acting is very good and the casting is excellent; the actors do their best with a script that could have been funnier although it's still entertaining. The choreography and the cinematography work well and the plot moves along at a good pace. Much credit is owed to Groucho Marx, who gradually carries more and more of the movie as it goes along.

When the film starts, we are quickly introduced to the principle three characters: bank tellers Johnny Dalton (Frank Sinatra) and his girlfriend Mildred (aka "Mibs") (Jane Russell) and Johnny's waiter pal Emile J. Keck (Groucho Marx). Johnny and Mibs work for a "friendly" bank in California--so "friendly," in fact, that manager J.L. McKissack (Harry Hayden) turns down Johnny's request for a raise even though it's just before Christmas and Johnny (and Mildred) make $42.50 a week as bank tellers, a sum that was paltry even back then!

One day Johnny saves a man from being beaten up by two other men. The man turns out to be "Hot Horse" Harris, a bookie (Nestor Paiva); and "Hot Horse" rewards Johnny by helping him win $60,000 betting on horses even though Johnny doesn't believe in gambling. ("Hot Horse" and his men "assist" Johnny when he doesn't want to bet any money.)

Things start to look up for Johnny--now, with this windfall, he can finally marry "Mibs" and buy her the things he wants to buy her. However, just by rotten luck the bank is short by a similar amount of money--and it isn't long before they start to suspect that Johnny took the money! The fact that "Mibs" gets a fur coat from Johnny for Christmas only intensifies their suspicion and surveillance of Johnny; and Johnny can't find "Hot Horse" to prove that he didn't take the money. The only person who believes Johnny is his waiter friend Emile who dreams up ways for Johnny to hide the money--including, of course, putting the money in Emile's own name after which Emile starts to go through it like water!

Of course, the plot can go in many different directions from here. Will Johnny ever be able to prove his innocence? What happens when "Mibs" gets angry with Johnny just before Christmas and goes out on a date with R.B. 'Bob' Pulsifer Jr., the bank owner's son! How will Emile be able to help Johnny and "Mibs?" No spoilers here--watch and find out! Look also for good performances by William Edmunds as Mr. Baganucci, the owner of the restaurant where Emile works and Howard Freeman as R.B. Pulsifer Sr.

Double Dynamite is a fun motion picture; and I recommend it for fans of the actors in this film. It's also a good film for people who enjoy musicals as there are two or three well done songs as the film goes along.

i found this movie to be very enjoyable. although it is predictable it is a very funny movie. groucho marx with
frank sinatra make a good pair with jane russell giving a good performance. lots of funny scenes. not a great plot
but still a very good movie to watch. this is great entertainment, fun to watch. i have watched it many times.
groucho without his brothers is very funny. although this isn't a great movie for frank sinatra it is very fun
to watch him in this movie because he does a good job with the role he plays. good old fashion comedy.

I wasn't expecting to like DOUBLE DYNAMITE as much as I did. This is a really fun little movie! Frank Sinatra (at the height of his early RKO days) stars as bank clerk Johnny Dalton, whose pending marriage to fellow employee Mildred "Mibs" Goodhue (Jane Russell) is threatened because he cannot secure a pay rise.

Enter a shady gangster, whom Johnny saves from some thugs. He gives Johnny $1000, which quickly appreciates when the money is used to bet on a few winning horses. Now Johnny has the money to marry "Mibs", but the bank managers believe it's been stolen from missing funds!

Sure it's not the most sophisticated movie you'll ever see, but it does boast the hilarious Groucho Marx as a wisecracking restaurant waiter who takes Johnny under-wing; not to mention the chart-topping duet "Kisses and Tears" for Sinatra and Russell. It's a refreshing change seeing Ms Russell play against her brassy bombshell stereotype, and young Sinatra is always a pleasure. Recommended.

Who knew? Great to see two stars singing together especially if one is not known for it. Groucho and Sinatra sing and if you are lucky you might find the clip on you tube but its unlikey your local library will carry this gem and its not on dvd!

I didn,t order this movie. My wife did because she knew Jayne Russell. But I found a pretty good vehicle for Groucho Marx fans for which I am. All the great one liners and fast wit I,ve grown up with. OH YEAH, Sinatra was ok. And get this, Russell played against type.She was rather dull. Overall it wasn,t bad.

Don't trust Leonard Maltin on that one and look at the movie with friendly eyes.
We have a very nice screenplay by MELVILLE SHAVELSON one of the many talented Bob Hope boys), later a film director, from a story by Leo Rosten
The RKO cinematography by Robert de Grasse is superior grade. The songs by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne are very good.
We had heard Groucho Marx sing: he can sing with Sinatra too, his acting is really good, very subtle. Sinatra shows how he became a great actor.
Jane Russell was a good actress, a very intelligent woman and a superb looking woman, unless the blonde somebody. In fact, all the acting is pretty good.The film is very funny, did I forget to say it?
I may have become soft in the head in my old age, but the owner of the bank surely is ROBERT BENCHLEY (uncredited). All my files which I kept by hand are out of reach, may the gods of the french movie buffs spare me if I am wrong.