Strictly Dynamite (1934)

(On Cable TV, May 2021) At barely 71 minutes of a threadbare showbiz plot having to do with creative inspirations and affairs, Strictly Dynamite isn’t a classic for the ages. But it’s enjoyable in the ways 1930s Pre-Code comedy could be, and it does have two terrific assets playing off each other: Jimmy Durante and Lupe Velez (in the first pre-Spitfire phase of her Hollywood career) each bringing their own comic sensibilities to the film. Both are worth watching separately, and if their reunion isn’t quite a multiplier, it does give ample reason to appreciate the result. The plotting runs out of steam just as complications should pick up, but there’s some interest in the details if not the framework — Velez is always watchable, but she gets some remarkable costumes here. The opening performance from the Mills Brothers is also quite enjoyable. None of this will make Strictly Dynamite essential, but it’s a small treat for Durante and Velez fans.