Jade and Ashlyn in a rare quiet moment from "CRUISE SHIP CHAOS"

This Late Forties action comedy series is often overlooked by Double-Action fans probably because it was seldom shown on TV in the 1950's (where a good many  present day fans first became aware of the studio outputs). It also didn;t help that it was low the priority list of films recovered and restored from the Kanas Collection. It is only in the past few years that they have begun appearing on the Classic Movie Channel (which has the TV broadcast rights to the D-A films) and in DVD and Blu-Ray Collections. This was a shame because they are actually quite fun to watch as the nearly unknown actresses perform in the grand D-A action comedy tradition, but in roles that seem to echo the "Lucy & Ethel" comedy antics of a few years later.

One unique feature of the series in which Jade and Ashlynn different characters in each film (as Abbot & Costello or Bob Hope & Bing Crosby did in their successful filseries) was that their antagonists  were always played by HAYDEN PARNELL (Hayden Panetteire) and MICHELLE TRENT (Michelle Trachtenberg), though there might be a "boss villain/villainess" who give the pair orders, but the conflict quickly turns personal, much to the audience's delight.

THE FILMS (Partial)

THE DYNAMITE DOLLS (1947)

PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS (1948)

CLEAN SWEEPERS (1948)

CRUISE SHIP CHAOS (1948)

THE DYNAMITE DOLLS (1947)

The inaugural installment in the series finds "Jade Jackson" and "Ashlynn Ames" (more commonly called "Jaye" and "Ash") as eager young newcomers to the TNT Wrestling Association. They are more than a bit naive as they fail to realize that Fed president "Regina Rawlins" (REGINA ADAMS/Rachel McAdams) has hired them as victims for her perferred tag team of "Hannah Hayden" (HAYDEN PARNELL/Hayden Panettiere) and "Michelle Tyson" (MICHELLE TRENT/Michelle Trachtenberg). The trouble starts when "The Dynamite Dolls" (Jaye & Ash) unexpectedly defeat  "The Atomic Angels" (Hannah & Mish). The Angels are furious  because the win was really more of a comic accident when a steel chair used by Mish against Jaye, KO's Hannah by mistake). However the money hungry Regina sees the chance to make some biggger bucks for her promotion. She arranges for the unsuspecting Dolls to start winning rigged fights this will set up a championship fight with the Angels that the Dolls will lose, As might be expected, the Dolls get wind of this and go into the rematch with the Angels determined to win anyway. However their victory is thwarted when the ref declares a "No Contest" and Regina suspends the Dolls on trumped up charges of "flagrant rule breaking."

However, the Dolls then discover that their sister wrestlers, fed up with Regina's high-handed behavior are willing to go on strike unless she reinstates them. They also have the support of "Ellie", the Chief Referee, who was the daughter of the fed's late founder. (His will left control of the fed to his widow--none other than Regina. In fact, the will was altered by Regina and a crooked attorney. A fact known to Hannah and Michelle who actually started out as file clerks and one night learned of the fraud. They have been carefully blackmailing Regina to build their wrestling careers ever since).  Regina might have ignored this but she is told there is huge fan interest in rematch and the prospect of all that money is too much. However she does promise Hannah and Mish that the ref will see things their way on any disputed calls. "How can be sure?" Asks the devious pair. "Because I myself will be the ref."

Of course, what happens is that the tag team match degenerates into an ourageous 3-on-2 battle, but by the time thje wild action is over,  Hannah & Mish have accidentally knocked Regina out of the ring and through the press table, By fed rules, a substitute referee, the honest ELISHA CANTRELL (Elisha Cuthbert) rushes in just as Jaye and Ash are putting a double pin on the nefarious Atomic Angels for the win. Of course, Regina is furious, but worse for her, Hannah and Mish think she has double crossed them and reveal they have the late "Dad Carter's" will and that Ellie is the true heiress! Regina angerily accuses them of blackmailing her!  Jaye tiptoes to the phone and calls the police. A series of headlines reveal Regina, the crooked attorney, Hannah and Mish are arrested and soon on their way to prison, while Ellie is now the successful promoter of a revitalized fed toplined by Jaye and Ash. However, the final headline is "Dynamite Dolls" title challenged by the "Brunette Bombshells" (KRISTA ALLENSON & SUSAN SWAN) who have our girls fighting wildly for survival until the Bombshells attempt a flying clothesline from oppposute end of the ring, but the Dolls duck under it as the Bombshells KO each other. The Dolls perch on there dazed and beaten foes and shake hands....

Of course, the film would not have worked but for the chemistry that rapidly evolved between Jade Song & Ashlynn Tisdale and the excellent wrestling matches, though some are only biref glimpses. The D-A producers wisely added veterans REGINA ADAMS (Rachel McAdams) and ELISA CANTRELL (Elisha Cuthbert), who although she had officially  "retired" from D-A in 1946 continued to pop up in occasional supporting roles for some years after.

In addition, the other TNT Wrestlers offered sharp-eyed fans a look at such newcomers as KRISTA ALLENSON (Krista Allen). CASSIE FREEMAN (Cassidy Freeman)., NINA GILBERT (Nina Dobrev), SUMMER GRAYSON (Summer Glau), SIENNA MILFORD (Sienna MIller), YVONNE STRATTON (Yvonne Strahovski), SUSAN SWAN (Serinda Swan) and ALLONA TALLANT (Alona Tal) in often flamboyant wrestling outfits and in ring action (though fans are left wishing theyt could have seen more).

All in all, a fun, faced-paced, fem action-packed start to the series.

PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS (1948)