1h 40min | Comedy, Drama, Musical | 15 November 1951
Director: Norman Taurog
Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045192/
Watched online, ok print for small screen.
7 songs in the Soundtracks, only 1 with performer attached.
This is a strange film to watch with the hindsight of knowing M&L will break up, and how they do. The big difference is that DM was able to make it just fine as a single, and that JL supposedly had plenty of ego too.
DM plays an arrogant performer who thinks he doesn't need a partner, but after flopping with his single act, hires a stooge to sit in the audience and heckle/perform with him. JL plays the stooge as a very naive chap who tries to help DM at every turn, even when he starts abusing alcohol. PB plays DM's wife, who quit her own showbiz career at DM's request, but now gets to sit home alone (and do what? We don't see.) while he goes on the road to build his "single" act. He makes it back home to NYC and The Palace. When he finally gets so abusive that his agent, his wife, and his stooge walk out, and he falls flat with the audience, he confesses his mistake, and JL is there to bring the act back to life. The End.
Paramount, dir. Taurog; 6-
