This has always been my favorite of the Martin & Lewis films. It just all comes together, and whether you prefer Dean (as I do) or Jerry, there's something for everyone.
The film starts at the Paramount Theater in New York, where actual footage of the crowds outside the Paramount to see Martin & Lewis is used. Here it's Anthony & Miller -- a vaudeville team, whose rise to stardom we see in flashback. The boys open with one of their best duo-numbers -- "What Would You Do Without Me". From there we see Dean as the young man who gets away from the fishing business his father runs in San Francisco. We also meet Jerry, a sad sack who loses one job after another. Dean comes home and meets Jerry, who is engaged to Dean's sister. A party ensues and Dean sings one of his signature songs -- "That's Amore". It's a delightful production number in his parent's Italian restaurant. Troubles begin when Dean enters a local golf tournament...and begins rubbing elbows with the upper class, while Jerry (as caddy) is relegated into the background. Meanwhile, at a country club affair, Dean sings one of his best movie ballads to date -- "You're The Right One" -- to his love interest -- Donna Reed (surprisingly, this film followed her performance in "From Here To Eternity"). Will Dean break training for love? Will Jerry survive a visit to a baronial estate? Will the estate survive Jerry being a waiter? And then it comes down to the big golf tournament! Will Dean win? No...but he and Jerry will begin their life in show business. It's all great fun.
Dean Martin is very comfortable here, and why not...he was Italian (as the role called for) and played golf. Jerry Lewis was what Jerry Lewis always was, but here does it pretty pleasantly. Donna Reed is fine as the love interest. Joseph Calleia as Dean's papa is fine, as are the rest of the supporting cast.
Highly recommended as one of Martin & Lewis' early films.
The film starts at the Paramount Theater in New York, where actual footage of the crowds outside the Paramount to see Martin & Lewis is used. Here it's Anthony & Miller -- a vaudeville team, whose rise to stardom we see in flashback. The boys open with one of their best duo-numbers -- "What Would You Do Without Me". From there we see Dean as the young man who gets away from the fishing business his father runs in San Francisco. We also meet Jerry, a sad sack who loses one job after another. Dean comes home and meets Jerry, who is engaged to Dean's sister. A party ensues and Dean sings one of his signature songs -- "That's Amore". It's a delightful production number in his parent's Italian restaurant. Troubles begin when Dean enters a local golf tournament...and begins rubbing elbows with the upper class, while Jerry (as caddy) is relegated into the background. Meanwhile, at a country club affair, Dean sings one of his best movie ballads to date -- "You're The Right One" -- to his love interest -- Donna Reed (surprisingly, this film followed her performance in "From Here To Eternity"). Will Dean break training for love? Will Jerry survive a visit to a baronial estate? Will the estate survive Jerry being a waiter? And then it comes down to the big golf tournament! Will Dean win? No...but he and Jerry will begin their life in show business. It's all great fun.
Dean Martin is very comfortable here, and why not...he was Italian (as the role called for) and played golf. Jerry Lewis was what Jerry Lewis always was, but here does it pretty pleasantly. Donna Reed is fine as the love interest. Joseph Calleia as Dean's papa is fine, as are the rest of the supporting cast.
Highly recommended as one of Martin & Lewis' early films.