Double or Nothing (1937 film)

Double or Nothing is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Theodore Reed and starring Bing Crosby, Martha Raye, Andy Devine, Mary Carlisle and William Frawley.[1] Based on a story by M. Coates Webster, the film is about a dying millionaire who instructs his lawyer to drop four purses on the streets of New York City, which are found and returned by four honest people. According to the will, each of them is given five thousand dollars, which they must double within thirty days in order to claim one million dollars. Greedy relatives, who were cut from the will, try to thwart each one's plans. The film features the popular song "The Moon Got in My Eyes".

Double or Nothing
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTheodore Reed
Written by
Story byM. Coates Webster
Produced byBenjamin Glazer
Starring
CinematographyKarl Struss
Edited byEdward Dmytryk
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 17, 1937 (1937-09-17) (USA)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Eccentric millionaire philanthropist Axel Clark wishes to prove that all people are essentially honest and good. Following his death and as a provision of his will, his lawyers drop wallets on the streets of town that each have $100 in them, with information for contacting the lawyers. The four honest people who return the wallets then find themselves unexpectedly in a sort-of lottery. Each person is given $5000 and the first person who could double that sum within one month, through honest means, would inherit Clark's entire estate. Otherwise, the entire estate would go to Clark's greedy brother, who is determined to thwart the plan.

Liza Lou Lane has the toughest time of it. An ex-burlesque stripper, she automatically undresses herself whenever she hears her old theme music being played. The greedy relatives place an orchestra on a flatbed truck and follow her around town, looking for embarrassing situations to get her into.

Cast

Production

Filmed in Hollywood from April 26 to June 15, 1937. The New York premiere was on September 1, 1937.[3]

Reception

The New York Times - "It is a tuneful show with three numbers better than average—"It’s the Natural Thing to Do”, “It’s On, It’s Off” and “The Moon Got in My Eyes”—but a show which lacks buoyance and sparkle, perhaps because of unimaginative direction....Although Bing delivers five songs in his customary agreeable voice and makes a pleasant enough suitor for the fair Mary Carlisle, it is really the explosive Miss Raye, the madcap adagio dance team of Ames and Arno and the Calgary Brothers (specialists in inebriation) who provide the brighter moments."[4]

Variety - "Bing Crosby and Martha Raye are teamed again in Double or Nothing which should give the film big first run sendoffs, as their names are potent on marquees. . . This is not the first time that Crosby has carried a heavy load on his broad shoulders. Point is, can he keep on doing it indefinitely? He is strictly a personality, just passing fair as an actor, but his croon is unique and the wide radio exploitation he has keeps him a valuable asset for theaters. He needs carefully selected vehicles in which his share of the entertainment obligations is limited to his particular talents. . . Value of the Crosby warble is dimmed because he sings in nearly every episode in which he appears. Some of it is so casual that his major effort near the end of the picture falls rather flat."[5]

The Washington Post - "That gorgeous rowdy-dow, Martha Raye, divides honors evenly with Bing Crosby, now undisputed king of the musicals, his mere crooner days forgotten...Bing Crosby was never better and this critic thinks never so good, as in Double or Nothing. This is praise with a vengeance. But when you see Monsieur Crosby dancing with Mary Carlisle and warbling such numbers as “Smarty”, “It’s the Natural Thing to Do”, “All You Want to Do Is Dance” and “After You” — well, we’ll wager a plugged nickel against a double eagle that you’ll agree. Bing is one of the few Hollywoodites who ripens mellowly."[6]

Soundtrack
  • "(You Know It All) Smarty" (Burton Lane, Ralph Freed) by Bing Crosby
  • "The Moon Got in My Eyes" (Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke) by Bing Crosby
  • "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke) by Bing Crosby
  • "It's On, It's Off" (Al Siegel, Sam Coslow) by Martha Raye
  • "After You" (Al Siegel and Sam Coslow) by Martha Raye, Frances Faye, Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and chorus.
  • "Double or Nothing" (Johnny Burke, Victor Young) by chorus.
  • "Listen, My Children, and You Shall Hear" (Burton Lane, Ralph Freed) by Martha Raye
  • "Don't Look Now" (Sanford Green, Irving Kahal)
  • "All You Want to Do Is Dance" (Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke) by Bing Crosby[7]

Bing Crosby recorded several of the songs for Decca Records.[8] "The Moon Got in My Eyes" topped the charts of the day for four weeks and "It's the Natural Thing to Do" reached the No. 2 position.[9] His songs were also included in the Bing's Hollywood series.

Notes

The song, "It's The Natural Thing to Do" later adapted as a Popeye cartoon in 1939 produced by Fleischer Studios for Paramount Pictures.

References
  1. "Double or Nothing". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  2. "Full cast and crew for Double or Nothing". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  3. Macfarlane, Malcolm. "Bing Crosby - Day by Day". BING magazine. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  4. "The New York Times". September 2, 1937. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Variety". August 18, 1937. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "The Washington Post". September 18, 1937. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "Soundtracks for Double or Nothing". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  8. "A Bing Crosby Discography". A Bing Crosby Discography. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 106. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  • Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.), pub. Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-634-00765-3 page 72
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