Double the Dynamite, So Why Only Half the Boom?

How much trouble can you get into if Groucho Marx is your advisor?
Don’t answer that question!

Double Dynamite (1951) – A young bank clerk wants more from his life is accused of embezzling from his employer. With only his friend Emil on his side, he’ll try to clear his name and win his girl back.

Directed by Irving Cummings

Starring – Frank Sinatra, Jane Russell, Groucho Marx

Why I Liked It: Some silly fun with three great leads.

A bit of lighthearted fun. Sinatra plays a cautious young man who is engaged to a co-worker (Russell). She’s ready to get married, but Johnny can’t make the numbers “work”. She gets fed up and dumps him. When Johnny’s reward for a good deed opens the door for a rival to frame him for a shortage at the bank. His only help is a waiter at their favorite restaurant (Marx). There’s a couple of songs included, but it never becomes a full blown musical. Sinatra and Groucho have some fun with “It’s Only Money”. Russell gets a moment to sing (through a wall, lol) with Frank, as well. The rest is a standard bit of rom-com from that era. There’s some excruciatingly modest flirting, a cad who can’t quite bring himself to really be a cad, and Groucho being, well, Groucho.

This movie came at the low point of Sinatra’s movie career. Audiences were unimpressed with this movie and “Meeting Danny Wilson” the following year. All of that changed in 1953 with his scorching performance as Maggio in “From Here to Eternity”. That cemented his place as a movie star.
This movie lets him show off his talents with light comedy and romance. He more than holds his own up against Groucho (no small task!). Marx is funny in a typical, half bubble off center role. The problem here is that the movie is good, but never rises above that.

And didn’t miss the hilarious description given by the police for the fugitives near the end!

What you get is a fun, snappy comedy that the whole family can enjoy.

You can stream this movie on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, and YouTube.

Rating *** Worth A Look