My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)

En route to Hollywood, singer Steve, his partner Seymour and fiancée Jane, Jane's airheaded roommate Irma, and Irma's con artist fiancé Al have a series of misadventures and end up involved with a murderous gang.

Director:

Hal Walker

Writers:

Cy Howard (screenplay), Parke Levy (screenplay)

Stars:

John Lund, Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn

Cast

Credited cast:
John Lund	...	Al
Marie Wilson	...	Irma Peterson
Diana Lynn	...	Jane Stacey
Dean Martin	...	Steve Laird
Jerry Lewis	...	Seymour
Corinne Calvet	...	Yvonne Yvonne
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Sharpie Corrigan
Don Porter	...	Mr. Brent
Harold Huber	...	Pete
Joseph Vitale	...	Slim
Charles Evans	...	C.Y. Sanford
Kenneth Tobey	...	Pilot
Dick Stabile	...	Band Leader
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tamba the Chimp	...	Pierre

Storyline

In this sequel film, all the characters remain the same; Al is still unemployed, Jane still has show-biz aspirations for boyfriend Steve; Steve and Seymour are still partners, and Irma is still Irma, which isn't all that easy. Al gets Steve a singing job on television, which is seen by a Hollywood producer. He signs Steve to a long term movie contract, and all hands depart for Hollywood. But, alas, the producer turns out to be an escaped lunatic, and they end up in Las Vegas, where Irma manages to get kidnapped by gangsters, who are very unhappy with Irma.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | contract | train | television | roulette | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Irma is kidnapped by the "notorious Corrigan Gang". Their leader Sharpie, a ruthless murderer, is played against type by endearing, lovable director-turned-actor Lloyd Corrigan in an obvious in-joke.

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Goofs

This is a sequel to My Friend Irma (1949). However, at the end of that movie, Al and Steve are waiting at the church for Irma and Jane for a double wedding. Also, Irma has won a radio contest worth $50,000 (approximately half a million dollars today, adjusting for inflation). At the beginning of My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), the weddings never happened and neither did the financial windfall. Steve and Seymour are back working at the orange juice stand, setting up similar plot circumstances as the first movie (much like a typical radio or TV sitcom).

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Quotes

Slim: [to Pete about Irma] Don't shoot her in the head. The bullet'll never go through.

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Connections

Spoofs The Letter (1940)

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Soundtracks

Fiddle and Gittar Band
Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Sung by Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis

User Reviews

Chaotic, But Still Pretty Funny

Wacky comedy where the gags keep coming from every direction. Poor Irma, to get in movies she's got to get to Hollywood with her troupe of friends, agents, boyfriends, and monkeys. Will she make it or will she keep getting on trains to Chicago. It's special fun for us geezers who recall ditzy Irma's popular radio show where Wilson also starred. Then too, the production date is 1950. So, the movie includes such period snippets as: TV is just beginning, Hopalong is a favorite show, and Margaret Truman's singing career is a common joke. Thus it's also nostalgia time for many of us. And oh yes, mustn't forget the glimpse of a rural Las Vegas before it became fun city.

All in all, the flick's a humorous delight that proves even Jerry Lewis is funny in small doses. Here he shares the laugh stage with a dippy Irma, an unexpectedly funny John Lund, and the superlative Pierre who mugs it up in true Chimp fashion. Then too, Martin shows his leading man stuff but unfortunately gets a clunky song to warble. And how about cutie Diana Lynn, sort of an early Debbie Reynolds. Too bad her career was cut short by a stroke.

I could have done without the gangster bit, but at least director Walker keeps things moving. Then too, the various threads aren't always blended but who cares. In short, the 90-minutes manages more than its share of laughs, along with a starting gate for the 50's unforgettable Martin and Lewis.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Friend Irma Goes West

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wallis-Hazen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1