Double or Nothing (1937)

Paramount, 1937
Starring Bing Crosby, Martha Raye, Andy Devine, and Mary Carlisle
Directed by Theodore Reed
Music and Lyrics by various

Bing Crosby was one of the biggest stars on the planet by the time this movie came out, and definitely the top star at Paramount.  His recordings sold in the millions, and he was the much-loved host of the popular radio variety show Kraft Music Hall. Writers could throw him into pretty much any situation and location, and he'd make it into a hit...like the unusual plot on this next one. How does this story of a millionaire whose gift of money to strangers change their lives forever look now? Let's head to the streets of New York to see just who those wallets end up going to...

The Story: The people who find those wallets are Liza Lou Lane (Raye), a former burlesque dancer, out-of-work singer "Lefty" Boynton (Crosby), homeless man Half Pint (Devine), and gambler John Pederson (William Frawley). Turns out the money came from a recently-passed millionaire who had his lawyers drop the wallets on the ground to prove there are still honest people in the world. They're each given $5,000. If they can double it in a month, they'll earn the millionaire's entire fortune. If they don't, they lose the whole bundle.

Lefty eventually comes up with the idea of opening a nightclub. The others initially have their own ideas, but eventually follow suit. The millionaire's brother Johnathan (Samuel S. Hinds), angry about being cut out of the will, is determined to make sure no one inherits the million. He sends his pretty daughter Victoria to romance Lefty out of his share and his son Egbert (William Henry) to get to Liza Lou. Victoria ends up really falling for Lefty instead...and questioning her father's plans when the club is sabotaged.

The Song and Dance: One of the more typical of Bing's easy-going 30's vehicles, with a more interesting story than most. As long as the movie focuses on Bing, the wacky supporting cast, and how the four find the money and intend to double it, it's a lot of fun. Raye has a blast as the stripper who takes it all off whenever she hears a certain song - no matter where she is! Devine's pretty funny as the bum who suddenly finds himself a way out of the hole and a girl, in that order, and Hinds makes a great nasty-evil rich relative. There's also a couple of nifty gags from comic drunk Arthur Housman.

Favorite Number: Bing gets two decent solos, "The Moon Got In Your Eyes" at the diner and "It's the Natural Thing to Do" later. Raye's big nautical striptease to "It's On, It's Off" at the fountain starts with her singing with a chorus and ends with everyone taking off their clothes and swimming in the fountain after a calliope arrives playing the song. "After You" is the big finale number with Raye, Crosby, and singers Frances Faye and Harry Barris.

What I Don't Like: The movie starts strong...but the story pretty much peters out once everyone's all working at the nightclub. The entire last 20 minutes are given over to nightclub numbers with little or no relationship to the rest of the film, and the numbers go on for way too long. Frawley and Divine mostly disappear at this point, too. Neither Henry nor Carlisle make much of an impression beyond romantic window dressing.

The Big Finale: A unique premise is brought down by a finale that goes on for too long and makes no sense. Worth checking out for the cast and music if you're a major Crosby or Raye fan.

Home Media: On solo DVD as part of the made-to-order Universal Vault series; it can also be found on two Bing collections.

DVD - Universal Vault
DVD - Bing Crosby: The Silver Screen Collection
DVD - Bing Crosby: Screen Legend Collection