A Farra dos Malandros

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.

In 1937, William Wellman directed a classic screenplay by Ben Hecht called "Nothing Sacred". This film has become a screwball comedy classic. Doctor Charles Winninger wrongly diagnoses patient Carole Lombard telling her that she has radiation poisoning. New York journalist Frederic March finds out about this and brings Lombard and Winninger to New York as a publicity stunt. March later discovers that Lombard is not going to die, but this does not matter to him; he has fallen in love with her.

Now in the early 1950s, this movie was turned into a Broadway musical called "Hazel Flagg". The score was written by Jule Styne ("Anchors Away", "High Button Shoes", "Gentleman Prefer Blondes", "Gypsy", "Funny Girl") and Bob Hilliard (a Brill Building lyricist). The show was semi-successful, so Paramount decided to use it as a basis for a Martin and Lewis comedy.

Dean is the skirt chasing, incompetent doctor. Jerry is the patient, becoming "Homer Flagg". March's role is given over to Janet Leigh and she falls for Dean. Some of the Broadway song are used: "How Do You Speak to an Angel", "Every Street's a Boulevard", "You're Gonna Dance with Me". Styne and Hilliard also wrote a batch of new songs for Dean and Jerry. In fact, Dean and Jerry handle all of the musical numbers.

Now the movies never really captured the essence of Martin and Lewis. That is only available through kinescopes of their "Colgate Comedy Hour" and a bootleg film of a show at the Copa. The tension between the relaxed crooner-comic (Martin) being upstaged by his ambitious partner with a schizoid personality (sometimes silly juvenile, sometimes savvy show biz comic) is seen in these shows. It is truly fascinating and brings a depth to the partnership of Martin and Lewis that no other comedy team has ever had.

In the movies, Dean was cast as a heel who is reformed by the end of the movie by his partner and his leading lady. Jerry is a magical sprite; he appears to be inept and clumsy, but he is way ahead of every other character in the film. While some of this is seen in "Living It Up", it is blatantly true of "Jumping Jacks". Both Dean and Jerry are full service entertainers. They are funny, the can sing, they can dance, and they can act. The shame of it all is that they broke up before they had really hit their stride. Just imagine films featuring Dean's drunk, sex maniac character which appeared very shortly after the breakup and Jerry's mature schizoid "I'm a famous movie star" clown.

As for "Living It Up", it is a musical comedy which can be viewed again and again. The story is great, the songs are tuneful, and the gags are fast and funny.

Jerry Lewis plays a railroad worker Homer Flagg, who think he's dying on radioactive poisoning in three weeks.Dean Martin is his doctor Steve Harris, who tells him that's not the case.A beautiful New York reporter Wally Cook (Janet Leigh) comes to New Mexico wanting to write a series of articles about this "dying" young man.She takes both Homer and the doc to New York.Homer hasn't bothered the lady with the truth, that he's not actually going to die, because he's always wanted to go to NY.And of course the love sick doctor falls for the pretty reporter and so does Homer.The whole city of New York feels pity for the poor Homer. Norman Taurog's Living It Up (1954) is an extremely funny Jerry Lewis movie from the time he still made a team with Dean Martin.It's not only Jerry who makes you laugh hard, also Dean does that trick.Janet Leigh makes a perfect leading lady in the middle of the clown and the playboy.You can find awfully many funny scenes from the movie, like where Jerry pretends he's a doctor from Paris, Wienna and Hong Kong.He also pretends he's Dean's character while Dean is Jerry.Also the scene on the dance floor with Sheree North is pretty amazing.I saw this movie for the first time in seven years yesterday.It sure brought me back.

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.

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.