A Barbada do Biruta

One of my two favorite Martin & Lewis films (the other being Artists and Models), this one was originally released in 3-D. I had the pleasure of seeing it that way a few years ago at the first 3-D fest held at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, but the added depth really didn't make that much difference in being able to enjoy it.

Based on material by Damon Runyon (Guys & Dolls), much of it is typical Martin & Lewis fare, re-teaming them with heavy Robert Strauss and with Sheldon Leonard thrown into the mix for good measure. This may not be their absolute best, but it would be worth seeing if only for the scene that spoofs Cyrano de Bergerac to hilarious effect as Dean croons "I Only Have Eyes For You" before things go off the rails for Jerry.

Money From Home was Martin&Lewis's first film in color and it is set during the Roaring Twenties and based on a Damon Runyon story from that era. With such character players as Sheldon Leonard, Robert Strauss, and Jack Kruschen playing Runyon's classic gambler creations of the era you know that at least that part of the film is more than satisfying.

Dean Martin always casts well as that type and seeing Money From Home was a painful reminder of what a shame it was that Dino never got to play Sky Masterson in a planned TV special that never got off the ground in the middle Sixties. What a perfect part that would have been for him. His part in this film is a Sky Masterson type, a smooth talking lady's man who is dispatched to Maryland to fix a steeplechase race either by persuading owner Marjie Miller to scratch the horse or by having his dopey cousin, veterinarian trainee Jerry Lewis dope the horse.

Money From Home never quite gets off the ground in terms of comedy. Jerry has been far funnier in other films both with Dean and one his own. The steeplechase race climax where Jerry substitutes for perpetually inebriated jockey Richard Haydn is lifted straight from the Marx Brothers classic A Day At The Races. As for Dean's singing he gets some truly forgettable numbers which he never recorded for Capitol records and he also sings I Only Have Eyes For You for which Paramount must have ponied some big bucks to Warner Brothers for the rights. Sad Dino never recorded that one because it fits him well.

Not the team's best effort.

Dean is in trouble. He owes money from gambling debts. (Why he doesn't pay off the debts by crooning those songs he's going to sing is a wonder). Jerry is an animal lover apprenticing with a vet. The mob as Dean to fix a horse they don't want to win. Dean is going to use Jerry to do this without telling him. Laughs ensue, there's two girls for the guy and a final race track scene that is up there with the great slapsticks of the Marx Bros, Chaplin etc

This is an odd Martin & Lewis film because while it's pleasant enough viewing, it really didn't seem like a comedy. After all, isn't a comedy supposed to have some laughs? Well, this one didn't and sure could have used an infusion of humor. Now this is not to say it's a terrible film, but inserting a gimmicky 'funny' race at the end just was too little too late for the humor department.

The film begins with Dean playing his usual sort of role--a heal. He is in debt to gamblers who are ready to beat him senseless (or worse) but decide to give him one more chance. If he agrees to fix an upcoming horse race, they'll not beat him half to death! So, having little choice, he decides to enlist the help of his spastic cousin (Jerry). However, Jerry really is just a nice animal lover and wants nothing to do with Dean's dirty tricks. Why Jerry eventually agrees to help him seemed a bit confusing, but help him he did. Along the way, both meet pretty ladies and fall in love. Eventually, Jerry poses (badly) as an English rider--but near the end of the film, the mob and Dean's new girlfriend learn of this and the two guys will be lucky to get out of this alive.

The film is pleasant but not funny. Compared to most of their films, it's a bit flat...but at least it's in nice color! Not terrible...just one of their better films.

Pretty lame Martin and Lewis feature. The pair get tied up with mobsters and horse racing. Could have been better. Lots of Jerry Lewis antics and scenes are manufactured so that Jerry can do his thing. Must have been funny back when, but now his comedy seems like he's retarded and not as funny. The character he plays would have been institutionalized if any one acted that way today. But I forgot, this is a comedy "fantasy" where anything goes. Looks like a lot was left out as scenes don't match and they jump around out of order. At one point they seem to kidnap the Richard Hayden character and drive away. Later they seem to be back at the SAME HOTEL. The harem music was playing at the Hotel of the abduction, then the harem music and girls are at the place where the gangsters kidnapped two characters. Just doesn't make sense as do other editorial flaws. The color is nice, and one nice song with two attractive leading ladies. Now available on DVD and if you're a REAL Martin and Lewis fan, I guess it would be a almost must see!!!