Living It Up (1954)

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Ben Hecht (play)
Jack Rose (writer)

Release Date:

23 July 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

THEY'RE LAFFIN' IT UP! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

An unsophisticated stationmaster from provincial New Mexico fraudulently claims that he is dying in order to get an expense-paid dream tour of New York.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Super Chief | Bad Doctor | Radioactivity | Yankee Stadium New York City

Cast

Dean Martin	...	Dr. Steve Harris
Jerry Lewis	...	Homer Flagg
Janet Leigh	...	Wally Cook
Edward Arnold	...	The Mayor
Fred Clark	...	Oliver Stone
Sheree North	...	Jitterbug Dancer
Sammy White	...	Waiter
Sid Tomack	...	Master of Ceremonies
Sig Ruman	...	Dr. Emile Egelhofer
Richard Loo	...	Dr. Lee
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Conductor
Walter Baldwin	...	Isaiah Jackson
Fay Roope	...	Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brick Sullivan	...	Cop

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16815, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

East 111th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

York Pictures Corporation

Quotes:

Wally Cook: [to Homer] They'll boil you in oil in Macy's window after they marinate you for a week in Gimbel's.

Movie Connections:

References Sabrina (1954)

Soundtrack:

How Do You Speak to an Angel?

Where's "Salomee" ???

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.