Before “Senior Assassin,” Lexington Teens Made a Mobster Movie
This time of year, it’s not unusual to spot Lexington High School seniors darting around town with water guns as part of the student-organized game “Senior Assassin.” But nearly 60 years ago, Lexington seniors were seen brandishing fake weapons through town for a very different reason: to film a full-length mobster movie.
In 1967, Lexington High School senior Nym Cooke recruited 57 fellow students to create Doublecross, a 38-minute black-and-white mobster film shot in locations across Lexington. Entirely student-conceived and student-produced, the project involved writing, fundraising, filming, acting, and editing—an ambitious undertaking for a group of teenagers long before smartphones or digital filmmaking existed.
“We rustled up costumes and props and started filming, and it was fun. It was like every night, you know, a lot of the kids had day jobs, so we had to show up when it was dusk. That summer is very magical to me.”
The students filmed scenes throughout town, including staged car chases on Mass Ave with the support of Lexington’s police chief. Much of the movie was shot inside a barn on Stratham Road that served as headquarters for rival gangs in the film.
The production was equal parts chaotic and ambitious. At one point, Cooke “fired” the group’s cameraman after the student was forced to leave filming early because his father insisted it was bedtime. After weeks of filming, the initial edit was assembled by gluing together strips of film hung from clotheslines, and the final version was completed after a sleepless four-day weekend at a cast member’s family summer home in Gloucester.
The film sold out the Lexington High School Auditorium for two consecutive nights, drawing audiences of more than 2,000 people. Just hours before the premiere, musician Ernest Stires improvised and recorded an original piano soundtrack for the film. Doublecross quickly became a memorable local phenomenon and a lasting piece of Lexington history.
For many participants, the experience forged friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Nearly six decades later, Cooke and many of the film’s collaborators still reunite on Zoom to reconnect with one another.
As part of Lexington History Museums’s 2026 Leading Lexingtonians lecture series, Cooke will discuss the making of Doublecross on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lexington Depot Museum. A portion of the film will be screened during the event, and several original cast members are expected to attend. The evening will conclude with a Q&A session with Cooke and guests.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Event Details
What: Screening and discussion of Doublecross
When: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Lexington Depot Museum
Tickets: Available through Eventbrite
About Lexington History Museums
Lexington History Museums operates four historic museums and offers exhibitions, programs, tours, and events that connect visitors to Lexington’s rich history—from the events of April 19, 1775 to the present day.