One More Time (1970/I)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writer:

Michael Pertwee (screenplay)

Release Date:

May 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Never before were they together again for the second time!

Plot Keywords:

Second Part | Sequel | Number In Title

Cast

Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Charles Salt
Peter Lawford	...	Christopher Pepper
John Wood	...	Figg
Dudley Sutton	...	Wilson
Maggie Wright	...	Miss Tomkins
Ester Anderson	...	Billie (as Esther Anderson)
Percy Herbert	...	Mander
Anthony Nicholls	...	Candler
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Belton
Edward Evans	...	Gordon
Sydney Arnold	...	Tombs
Leslie Sands	...	Inspector Grock
Moultrie Kelsall	...	Minister
Glyn Owen	...	Dennis
Lucille Soong	...	Kim Lee

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, some violence and sensuality. (2004 re-rating)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:A | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG (2004 re-rating) | USA:GP (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Herefordshire, England, UK

Company:

Chrislaw Productions

Trivia:

This marks the only film directed by Jerry Lewis in which he did not appear.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

Soundtrack:

One More Time

Yes, Cushing and Lee ARE in It!

Follow-up to Salt and Pepper where Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. played two very middle-aged swingers running a night spot called Salt and Pepper. This time around the two get into trouble for repeated problems and ask Lawford's lookalike brother(yes, he plays him as well) for money. Turns out he is a Lord and owns the family castle given up by Pepper so long ago. Also turns out he is involved in smuggling diamonds and is a double agent, etc... Lawford's brother is killed and Lawford as Pepper assumes his brother's role and hilarity is to ensue - NOT! While I believe this to be a more engaging and slightly more amusing vehicle than the original Salt and Pepper, it really doesn't have a lot going for it. Jerry Lewis directs his buddies Davis and Lawford and with his special brand of humour. We get Davis trying to be Jerry Lewis in several scenes: a scene with him seeing how everything is huge in his new bedroom at the castle where he looks and everything looks so huge. I have seen Lewis pull this same thing countless times. Davis; not sure if this is a compliment or not, is no Lewis; however. He just doesn't have the same lunatic spirit though he has some scenes which are slightly amusing. Most of the time he does come off as being very flat because the material is so tiresome and over-used. The brightest spots in the movie are Lawford's as he pulls off playing the two brothers really rather well. The plot is ridiculous. Are we really to believe that these two over-the-hill guys are hip swingers? Davis of course sings a few tunes including the somewhat catchy "One More Time" as the opening and end credits roll. For me the only fascinating aspect of the film is the addition of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in brief - and I mean BRIEF - cameos. In one scene Davis finds a wooden secret panel in the castle that has behind it , down some steps, a laboratory with Cushing standing, a woman on a gurney, and Lee bearing fangs. Cushing has a brief line or so as does Lee. Their screen time is embarrassingly slight. Why Lewis didn't given them a bit more time amazes me as THIS scene is the opening scene in this film's theatrical trailer! Unfortunately Cushing and Lee maybe have 30 seconds of screen time. But if you are a completist in either's filmography, you will have to endure One More Time at least once.