At War with the Army (1950)

Alvin Corwin is low man on the totem pole, and goes from one mishap to another at an army training camp in World War II.

Director:

Hal Walker

Writers:

James B. Allardice (based on a play by), Fred F. Finklehoffe (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mike Kellin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Martin	...	1st Sgt. Vic Puccinelli
Jerry Lewis	...	Pfc. Alvin Korwin
Mike Kellin	...	Sgt. McVey
Jimmie Dundee	...	Eddie
Dick Stabile	...	Pvt. Pokey
Tommy Farrell	...	Cpl. Clark
Frank Hyers	...	Cpl. Shaughnessy
Danny Dayton	...	Supply Sgt. Miller (as Dan Dayton)
William Mendrek	...	Capt. Ernest Caldwell
Kenneth Forbes	...	Lt. Davenport
Paul Livermore	...	Pvt. Jack Edwards
Ty Perry	...	Lt. Terray
Jean Ruth	...	Millie
Angela Greene	...	Mrs. Deborah Caldwell
Polly Bergen	...	Helen Palmer

Storyline

Alvin Corwin is low man on the totem pole, and goes from one mishap to another at an army training camp in World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

military | u.s. army | soldier | u.s. soldier | 20th century | 

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Taglines:

THE FUNNIEST PICTURE EVER! (re-release print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

El tonto del batallón

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fred F. Finklehoffe Productions, Screen Associates Inc., York Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin perform their special "impersonation" together, they are re-enacting scenes from Going My Way (1944) starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald.

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Goofs

You don't render a hand salute indoors. And you don't render a hand salute to an uncovered officer. He should have come to attention until he was put at ease.

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Quotes

Pfc. Alvin Korwin: Remember that song we wrote together?
1st Sgt. Vic Puccinelli: Yeah, what about it?
Pfc. Alvin Korwin: We got a telegram from the music publisher and he wants us to put the song on a record and send it to him right away.
1st Sgt. Vic Puccinelli: Go ahead and make a record of it.
Pfc. Alvin Korwin: No, I want you should record it.
1st Sgt. Vic Puccinelli: Get Bing Crosby.
Pfc. Alvin Korwin: I like you better.

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Connections

Featured in E! True Hollywood Story: Dean Martin (1999)

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Soundtracks

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)
(uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by J.R. Shannon
Sung by Dean Martin

User Reviews

"The Navy Gets The Gravy, But The Army Gets The Beans."

For their new comedy team of Martin and Lewis Paramount acquired the rights to a short run play on Broadway entitled At War With The Army and adapted it for Dean and Jerry. Although they don't have all that much together time on screen, Dean and Jerry do have their moments individually and together.

At War With the Army was their first starring feature and while the vehicle seems stage bound in its first half, the second half more than makes up for it. Especially with Jerry Lewis on the obstacle course being 'helped' by Sergeant Mike Kellin.

Kellin, who was in the original Broadway cast, really competes with Lewis for the laughs in this film. His characterization as a brain dead drill sergeant is really good.

Dino gets to sing Tona Wanda Hoy in this film and while it sold a few platters he never got a real big hit out of a Martin and Lewis film until That's Amore in The Caddy.

At War With the Army bears some resemblance to the Abbott and Costello films Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives where Bud and Lou play separate roles and aren't really a team. Dean and Jerry do that here, but there's enough team work so their fans wouldn't be disappointed.

The film was directed by Hal Walker who did a few of their early films and who had good training as he did a Road picture or two with Paramount. They also did a takeoff of Going My Way with Jerry nailing Barry Fitzgerald down. Then again everyone said Dino sang like Bing anyway.