It was seven years ago that I first reviewed this film. Seeing it again now, it's better than I remembered it being.
It's a "small" film, notable primarily for the introduction of the comedy team of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis to the national public. It is based on a CBS radio series. You can't help but wonder how the "other" actors felt when production of the film was already underway when Martin & Lewis were added...and I would say pretty quickly became the main figures in the film.
So, in terms of the "real" stars of the film: John Lund is the actual male lead, and he's good here, although I found the character he plays to be annoying; Lund showed early promise, but then never made it to the top of his profession. Marie Wilson is supposed to be shallow, and is; is it acting or was that just who she was? Her film career ended not along after the two "Irma" pictures. Diana Lynn seems a rather pleasant screen presence, and as I recall did show up in future Martin & Lewis films. She died of a stroke at age 45. Don DeFore does nicely as the love competition to Dean Martin. Hans Conreid is around briefly to reprise his role from the radio show.
For their first film, Martin and Lewis do rather nicely here. Jerry is...Jerry. But, he's fairly funny here, and you certainly do see the beginning to the Martin & Lewis film persona, even in this first film. Dean is suave and relaxed, and has some pretty decent songs: "Here's To Love" (so relaxed; extended version would have been better; shows up again later in film); "Just For Fun" (nicely done); "Donkey Serendade" (which features the first real Martin & Lewis routine on film); "My Own, My Only, My All".
In terms of the story, it's a decent light comedy. Some good laughs, but things are kept simple. It would have been interesting to see what the movie would have been without Martin & Lewis...obviously it would have been a drastically different story.
Far from the best of the Martin & Lewis films, but interesting to see careers from their point of ascent.
It's a "small" film, notable primarily for the introduction of the comedy team of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis to the national public. It is based on a CBS radio series. You can't help but wonder how the "other" actors felt when production of the film was already underway when Martin & Lewis were added...and I would say pretty quickly became the main figures in the film.
So, in terms of the "real" stars of the film: John Lund is the actual male lead, and he's good here, although I found the character he plays to be annoying; Lund showed early promise, but then never made it to the top of his profession. Marie Wilson is supposed to be shallow, and is; is it acting or was that just who she was? Her film career ended not along after the two "Irma" pictures. Diana Lynn seems a rather pleasant screen presence, and as I recall did show up in future Martin & Lewis films. She died of a stroke at age 45. Don DeFore does nicely as the love competition to Dean Martin. Hans Conreid is around briefly to reprise his role from the radio show.
For their first film, Martin and Lewis do rather nicely here. Jerry is...Jerry. But, he's fairly funny here, and you certainly do see the beginning to the Martin & Lewis film persona, even in this first film. Dean is suave and relaxed, and has some pretty decent songs: "Here's To Love" (so relaxed; extended version would have been better; shows up again later in film); "Just For Fun" (nicely done); "Donkey Serendade" (which features the first real Martin & Lewis routine on film); "My Own, My Only, My All".
In terms of the story, it's a decent light comedy. Some good laughs, but things are kept simple. It would have been interesting to see what the movie would have been without Martin & Lewis...obviously it would have been a drastically different story.
Far from the best of the Martin & Lewis films, but interesting to see careers from their point of ascent.