My Friend Irma (1949)

Prototype dumb blonde Irma and her slacker, wheeler-dealer boyfriend Al interfere in the love life of Irma's level-headed room mate Jane.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Cy Howard (screenplay), Parke Levy (screenplay),

Stars:

John Lund, Diana Lynn, Don DeFore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Lund	...	Al
Diana Lynn	...	Jane Stacy
Don DeFore	...	Richard Rhinelander
Marie Wilson	...	Irma Peterson
Dean Martin	...	Steve
Jerry Lewis	...	Seymour
Hans Conried	...	Professor Kropotkin
Kathryn Givney	...	Mrs. Rhinelander
Percy Helton	...	Mr. Clyde
Gloria Gordon	...	Mrs. O'Reilly
Ernö Verebes	...	Mr. Ubang (as Erno Verebes)
Margaret Field	...	Alice

Storyline

Based on the long-running radio show. Irma is a likeable airhead who meddles in her roommate's love-life. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, in their first screen appearance, are juice-bar operators who are discovered when a self-proclaimed manager hears Martin's golden voice. Irma's roommate wants to marry her rich boss, but instead falls in love with Martin.

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Plot Keywords:

boss | manager | show business | blonde | orange juice | 

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Taglines:

The Comedy, KISS HIT You Shouldn't Miss!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ma bonne amie Irma

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jerry Lewis was originally cast to play Al. But it was decided to let Lewis act similar to his onstage comic persona and the character of Seymour was created for him.

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Goofs

When Irma (Marie Wilson) falls down the hole in the street in the first scene of the movie, a pair of hands can be seen catching her.

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Quotes

Jane Stacy: [to Irma] Oh, sweetie don't cry. You can't help it. It's just that nature gave some girls talent and brains, and with you it slipped you a mickey.

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Connections

Referenced in My Three Sons: My Friend Ernie (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Just For Fun"
(uncredited)
Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Sung by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

User Reviews

.....and introducing Martin & Lewis.

Solid if unspectacular movie that is of interest mainly for being the debut of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis. As a beginning piece for the duos body of work it does set something of a standard, a kind of benchmark niche as it were, Martin sings and gets to woo the sexy lady whilst Jerry clowns around and gets the laughs, not that there are too many laughs to be had here because there isn't that many if one is honest. Yet the film still has a 40s charm with it's array of interesting characters that never stretch to annoying limits, performances are steady from all involved, and as a romantic comedy it is well worth a watch, and not least because it has a very interesting segment about who should be the bigger name of the two out of Masrtin & Lewis........now that one makes for quite a story some way down the line wink wink. 5/10 and worth a watch on its own merit for fans of cheeky charm 40s rom-coms, and of course for Martin/Lewis completists like me.