Sailor Beware (1952)

Although allergic to kissing girls, Seaman Melvin Jones, through a fluke TV appearance, gets the undeserved reputation of a great kisser dubbed "Mr. Temptation" and is pursued by amorous young females.

Director:

Hal Walker

Writers:

James B. Allardice (screenplay) (as James Allardice), Martin Rackin (screenplay)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvet

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dean Martin	...	Al Crowthers
Jerry Lewis	...	Melvin Jones
Corinne Calvet	...	Corinne Calvet
Marion Marshall	...	Hilda Jones
Robert Strauss	...	CPO Lardoski
Leif Erickson	...	Cmdr. Lane
Don Wilson	...	Mr. Chubby
Vince Edwards	...	Blayden (as Vincent Edwards)
Skip Homeier	...	Mac
Dan Barton	...	'Bama
Mike Mahoney	...	Tiger
Mary Treen	...	Ginger

Storyline

Because of a misunderstanding Melvin Jones is inducted into the Navy despite his numerous allergies. When appearing on a TV show sponsored by a lipstick manufacturer, fluke circumstances cause him to be perceived as an irresistibly great kisser by viewers, and he is undeservedly hyped in the media as "Mr. Temptation." His shipmates bet their pay that he can get Corinne Calvet, a sexy French chanteuse, to kiss him. Despite his allergy toward kissing girls, he tries not to let them down even though it threatens his relationship with girlfriend Hilda.

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Plot Keywords:

dancing | slapstick comedy | tap dancing | navy | undeserved reputation | 

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Taglines:

Man the laugh-preservers ... lower the roar-boats ! Everybody's going overboard ... for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

At Sea with the Navy

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wallis-Hazen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Betty Hutton makes a cameo in the first scene, portraying the girl Dean Martin leaves behind before joining the Navy.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film, the recruiting officer gets squirted and the stain jumps around 3 or 4 times.

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Quotes

Melvin Jones: There's no basis for metabolism, certain unaware of the fact that there are other men concerned here, and you still can't feel that a physical being is abstract. You've got to base the full heart and soul on the ingredients that other people are aware of the fact that physical being is isn't even evolved. Isn't that right?

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Connections

Referenced in Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)

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Soundtracks

JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE
(uncredited)
Music by Joseph J. Lilley
Lyrics by Frank Loesser

User Reviews

Dean's singing and Jerry's allergies

After At War With The Army which assured Martin&Lewis of stardom another service comedy seemed in the offing so Sailor Beware was on tap as the fifth vehicle for Dean and Jerry. This story begins at the recruiting office where Dean is enlisting again for the 11th time knowing he's a 4- F. And Jerry with all his allergies isn't sure they'll take him.

Guess what folks; the standards of enlistment were lowered so both get in. Which is a bit of a tragedy to Dean after saying goodbye to his latest girlfriend Hetty Button. Why they would take Jerry God only knows, but both of them run into their nemesis at the recruiting center Robert Strauss a former Navy man who has been given back his rating of CPO upon his taking the oath again.

Dean gets his series of songs and Jerry has some great moments during basic training on a submarine to Hawaii and then as the object of a bet to see if he can thaw out the been through the mill Corinne Calvet. It seems as though because of a local TV contest on Don Wilson's show Jerry gets the reputation as a lady killer. But Dino has Calvet earmarked for himself.

Best bit in the film is a boxing match with Jerry fighting to defend his honor when he's challenged. One of the seconds of his opponent is James Dean whom you will have to watch carefully for and not blink. Of course Jerry wins the fight, but not exactly with the Marquis of Queensbury rules.

Hetty Button is of course Betty Hutton making an unbilled appearance twice in Sailor Beware. Dino's best song in this film is Never Before written by Jerry Livingston and Mack David.

Don't you beware of this film, it's pretty funny.