Dynamite Jack (1961)

Fernandel plays Antoine Esperandieu, who’s traveled from France to the American West hoping to make a fortune like his good friend Jules Lavisse.

He finds Jules in a grave, with seven widows gathered around. Seems Jules is one of the latest victims of the outlaw Dynamite Jack, who’s been busy filling that graveyard.

Once that shock wears off, Antoine Esperandieu tries his hand at mining. And fails. He’s appointed tax collector by the local sheriff. And appears on the verge of failing at that as well.

Then he dons cowboy dubs and a six-shooter and suddenly finds local residents more than willing to turn over the taxes they owe. That’s because he’s the spitting image of Dynamite Jack.

That works for a while, but ultimately lands Antoine Esperandieu in trouble, both with the bandit and the townsfolk who mistake him for the outlaw.

Review:

It’s the ole’ one actor in two roles trick, played for laughs this time around in a French film.

One of the funniest scenes occurs when the real Dynamite Jack arrives in town after Antoine Esperandieu has taken credit for doing away with the bandit.

Confused town leaders present him with a $10,000 reward and a sheriff’s badge, leaving him equally confused.

Also confused is his girlfriend, saloon girl Dolores (Eleona Vargas) who mistakes Antoine Esperandieu for the bandit and winds up being “disgraced.”

Adrienne Cori plays the widow O’Brien, who’s out for revenge against the bandit, and Lucien Raimbourg is Sheriff Scotty, who offers his badge to the other men in town and finds no takers.

Lucien Raimbourge as Sheriff Scotty and Fernandel as Antoine Esperandieu in Dynamite Jack (1961)

Fernandel as Dynamite Jack during a run of bad luck at poker in Dynamite Jack (1961)

Directed by:
Jean Bastia

Cast:
Fernandel … Antoine Esperandieu
Fernandel … Dynamite Jack
Eleona Vargas … Dolores
Lucien Raimbourg … Sheriff Scotty
Jess Hahn … Sergeant Bob
Adrienne Cori … Widow O’Brien
Georges Lycan … Louis “One-Eye”
Claude d’Yd … McGregor
Todd Martin … Henri
Josette Jordan … Nina
Viviane Mery … Jeanne
Marcelle Fery … Widow
Joe Warfield … Michel Pickett
Colin Drake … Larry Schultz
Carl J. Studer … Fred, bartender
Donald O’Brien … Jeff
Alfonso Mathis … Jean

Runtime: 103 min.

aka:
Dynamite Jack, la terreur de l’Arizona

Music: Pascal Bastia and Jean-Pierre Landreau

Eleona Vargas as Dolores with Jess Hahn as Sergeant Bob in Dynamite Jack (1961)

Adrienne Cori as the Widow O’Brien expresses her appreciation to Fernandel as Antoine Esperandieu in Dynamite Jack (1961)

Memorable lines:

First widow by Jules Lavisse’s grave: “He was such a good husband.”
Six other women gathered around: “Oh, yes.”

Trivia:

With more than 150 film and TV roles to his credit, Fernandel started his career in the 1930s and was in his late 50s when this film was released. He died in 1971 at age 67. He’d played the mistaken identity card before, in 1953’s “Most Wanted Man” in which he’s mistaken for a gangster.

Scottish born Adrienne Corri later played the rape victim in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.” She was reportedly the third actress cast in the role. The first two quit over the demands of playing the part of a woman gang raped by Alex and his Droogs.

George Lycan as Louis One-Eye, one of Jack’s men in Dynamite Jack (1961)

Lucien Raimbourge as Sheriff Scotty in Dynamite Jack (1961)