A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed

Auto mechanic Max Rutgers is spinning his wheels, going nowhere. He has been promising sweetheart Margie Solitaire for five years that they will marry, but wishes he had more money to support her. His best pal, Gus Harris, knows a lot about racehorses, but keeps flunking his exam to become a licensed trainer. Fed up, he and Max decide to rob a bank, succeeding in a heist of $28,000. They use the money to buy a horse, Tattooed Man, but an acquaintance, cabbie and bookie Rocky Baker, figures out how they got the money and wants to be cut in on a share. Max and Gus bet their life savings on Tattooed Man's next race. When their horse is victorious, only to be disqualified for a rules infraction, they become desperate and decide to rob another bank. A series of errors ensues, teller Grace Havens being held hostage, the vault being on a timer and unable to be opened until morning, and bank manager Schroeder coming along for the ride in his own vehicle when the getaway car they stole from Margie isn't there. The police ultimately trace the thieves to Margie's house and take the crooks into custody. Max, Gus and Rocky are behind bars together when they hear a radio broadcast of a big race that Tattooed Man wins. ==Cast==

• Tom Ewell as Max Rutgers • Mickey Rooney as Gus Harris • Mickey Shaughnessy as Harold 'Rocky' Baker • Dina Merrill as Margie Solitaire • Madge Kennedy as Grace Havens • Frances Bavier as Mrs. Solitaire • Richard Deacon as Milburn Schroeder • Stanley Clements as Fitz ==Production==

The film was based on an article in Life magazine. 20th Century Fox bought the film rights in February 1957 as a possible vehicle for Danny Kaye. The eventual stars were Tom Ewell and Mickey Rooney; Ewell took leave from his hit Broadway play The Tunnel of Love to make it. Filming started 27 January 1958 and was finished by March. Due to a musician's strike, the films music was recorded in Germany. In July 1958 Variety reported "20th-Fox is more than a little discouraged with its first view of A Nice Little Bank That Should be Robbed but denies a report the picture will be shelved." ==Reception==

The Los Angeles Times wrote "at best this is amusing... mildly so. But one is never given the promised pay off. There are no surprises.Everything is predictable just far enough in advance to dull the tickle before laughing is necessary." Filmink called it "doggedly unfunny". ==References==