Living It Up

The strange appeal of the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis can perhaps best be understood in this movie, arguably the least off-putting (to scores of people who cannot abide Lewis) of the 17 films the guys made together. Almost all their films contained music, and Martin was a successful singer in his own right. Here he gets to sing "How Do You Speak to an Angel," and "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard in Old New York" (with Lewis), songs that were already known from the Broadway show on which it is based, "Hazel Flagg." If you want to sample Martin and Lewis, this is arguably the team at its best.

A young man riding around in a radioactive car is reported as having radiation sickness. But the newspapers got it wrong. So what else is new? But the dying boy (Jerry Lewis) and his venal doctor (Dean Martin) carry on the charade as Lewis (Homer Flagg) get a free trip to New York with all expenses paid. But how long can they keep it up?

Other reviewers focus on the film's long pedigree. So let's focus on the movie.

The best thing about the movie is Fred Clark. This is no insult to Martin or Lewis. Clark and supporting actors like him stole many a movie. Not being leading men gave them more time to think up ways of honing their characterizations to dagger points.

Dean Martin does what he has to: look good and sing well. A little Jerry Lewis goes a long way. And this movie is a long haul with him. One wonders what Janet Leigh did wrong to find herself buried amongst the scene stealers.

Martin and Lewis made better movies. They also made worse movies. I prefer their shorter features to get less fed up with Lewis. At least this film's pedigree means it has a better-than-usual plot for the stars.

This Living It Up (1954) directed by Norman Taurog is a fun and funny comedy with three big name cast : Jerry Lewis , Dean Martin and Janet Leigh giving likeable and charming acting . It's basically a reworking of the 1937 William Wellman picture was written by Ben Hecht , who also wrote the book for Hazel Flagg and receives onscreen credit for this subsequent remake . It was played by Dean Martin / Jerry Lewis , with Lewis playing the Carole Lombard character, Martin playing the doctor and Janet Leigh replacing Fredric March . It deals with an eccentric station cleaner (Jerry Lewis) to be aware he is not dying of radium poisoning as earlier assumed , he then fraudulently claims that he is dying in order to get an expense-paid dream tour of New York and a lot of money . As a reporter , the gorgeous Wally Cook (Janet Leigh) for a New York newspaper convinces his editor (Fred Clark) to let him write a series of articles on a young man , Homer Flagg (Jerry Lewis) fom New Mexico , who is believed to be dying as a result of radioactive poisoning .Before she arrives out west, Homer learns from his doctor (Dean Martin) that the diagnosis was a mistake and he's perfectly healthy. That doesn't stop them from accepting Wally's offer of an all- expenses paid trip to New York . Everyone in New York takes pity on Homer, while Homer and his doctor try to keep up their pretense. Nevertheless , before she arrives out west , she learns from her doctor that the diagnosis was a mistake and she's perfectly healthy . But the obstinate journalist discovers that Homer is not going to die, but this does not matter to him , then things go wrong . This is New York . Skycraper champion of the world , where the slickers and know-it-alls peddle gold brick to each other and where truth , crushed to Earth rises again more phony than a glass eye .That doesn't stop them from accepting the offer of an all- expenses paid trip to New York . Everyone in New York takes pity on her , while she and her doctor try to keep up their pretense . See the big fight! Lewis vs Martin . Paramout International's sensational Technicolor comedy. They're laffin' it up!

This laugh-a-minute comedy was a successful film , packing hilarious scenes , amusement , entertainment and nice interpretations . Jerry Lewis ,and Dean Martin recital going on , this is one of the better offerings , as this ¨Living it up¨ contains lots of fun and entertainment . The plot is plain and simple but very amusing , a doctor wrongly diagnoses patient telling him that he has radiation poisoning, but later finding out he isn't poisoned . New York reporter Janet Leigh learning about this and brings Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin to New York as a publicity stunt . Here Jerry Lewis gives a very likeable acting in his usual style as the man who meets a reporter looking for a story, and subsequently he falls in love with the journalist . Dean Martin is equally excellent as his colleague, and , of course , singing some songs . Janet Leigh is very beautiful as a reporter for the New York Chronicle convinces her editor to let her do a series of articles on a young man who is believed to be dying as a result of radioactive poisoning . In fact , Janet Leigh told that this was one of her favorites of the films she made . This fabulous main cast is well accompanied by a pretty good support cast , such as :Edward Arnold as The Mayor, Fred Clark as the editor , Sheree North , Richard Loo , among others . It is a remake to classy film ¨Nothing Sacred¨ that has become a screwball comedy classic which was competently directed by William Wellman with Carole Lombard & Fredric March , Charles Winninger , ,Walter Connolly ,Ann Doran , Hedda Hopper , Billy Barty ,Monty Whooley , Margaret Hamilton and Sig Ruman played "Dr. Egelhofer" in both the 1937 and 1954 pictures . It was based on the 1953 Broadway musical Hazel Flagg , which was equally based on the 1937 David O. Selznick-United Artists film Nothing Sacred . Nothing Sacred , in turn, was suggested by the short story "Letter to the Editor" by James H. Street. Nothing Sacred , which was directed by William Wellman, was written by Ben Hecht, who also wrote the book for Hazel Flagg and receives onscreen credit for Living It Up .

It packs an adequate cinematography in overblown colour by Daniel L. Fapp , prints were struck in aglimmer and expensive Techcolor process .Taurog discarded this and re-shot the film in Technicolor, which worked particularly well with art directors Albert Nozaki and Hal Pereira. It delivers an attractive and atmospheric musical score by Walter Scharf . This motion picture , being a big spectacle , well produced by United Artists , and compellingly directed by Norman Taurog . His first big hit was was Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934), starring the noted stage actress Pauline Lord, comedienne Zasu Pitts and the irrepressible, idiosyncratic W.C. Fields. On loan to David O. Selznick, he also did justice to Mark Twain by creating just the right atmosphere for Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), eliciting a strong performance from Jackie Moran in the role of Huck Finn. After a stint with Fox (1936-37), Taurog then had his best (and longest) spell with MGM (1938-51). His A-grade assignments for the studio included the iconic Boy Town (1938), the exuberant Broadway 1940 (1940) and the thoroughly entertaining Judy Garland musical Presenting Lily Mars (1943), based on a best-selling novel by Booth Tarkington. In 1952, he returned to Paramount, where he was utilised on the strength of his proven ability to make films economically and on time. Taurog made the most out of the feather-light scripts he was handed for a string of comedies with Dean Martin and/or Jerry Lewis. He was also a favorite of Elvis Presley, directing in total nine of his films.As the law of diminishing returns applied, Taurog retired in 1968. He later taught at the University of California School of Cinema and remained a board member of the Director's Guild.

I have always been fond of the score of "Hazel Flagg", and I've always liked this film version of it. But what has always puzzled me is that after Sheree North made a big hit on Broadway dancing in the show, they got her for the movie version, and cut her big dance number, the delightful comedy song "Salomee". She could have re-created her dance ! True, she did one of the show's original songs with Jerry, but they should have kept "Salomee." And Janet Leigh did other musicals, so I'm sure she could have handled Benay Venuta's numbers from the show. Hollywood !!! The story about the media, and fame, and paparazzi is even more timely today, so they should definitely do a re-make as "Hazel Flagg" with the original score.

Homer Flagg is an inept stationmaster in New Mexico, he mistakenly believes he has contracted radium poisoning. A reporter for the New York Chronicle, Wally Cooper, heads out west to write his story, but before she arrives, Homer finds out that he in fact isn't dying, but along with his devious doctor they decide to accept Cooper's offer of an all expenses paid trip to the Big Apple. Here in New York everyone takes Homer to their hearts, so the guys have to keep up the pretence that Homer is not long for this world, something that will be hard to do in light of Homer's complete ineptitude.

As Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis vehicles go, this is one of the better offerings, it's basically a reworking of the 1937 William Wellman picture, Nothing Sacred. Lots of fun to be had as Martin & Lewis continue the formula that made them so appealing to the movie watching masses back in the 50s. A bonus here is the bright as a button performance from Janet Leigh, not only turning Dean Martin's { Dr Steve} head, but also the audience with an enjoyable slot into this comedy tale. As usual Jerry acts the goof whilst Dean sings and swaggers, and as usual a Martin & Lewis film is only as good as it's comedy set pieces, here they come up trumps with one sequence during a jitterbug contest particularly entertaining. It all comes together during a typically hilarious finale to leave us with a rewarding film from a very rewarding double act. 7/10