Jumping Jacks (1952)

Nightclub comic Hap Smith assumes the identity of another soldier so he can tour army bases in a revue with his ex-partner Chuck Allen.

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Robert Lees (screenplay), Frederic I. Rinaldo (screenplay) (as Fred Rinaldo)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mona Freeman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dean Martin	...	Cpl. Chick Allen
Jerry Lewis	...	Hap Smith
Mona Freeman	...	Betsy Carter
Don DeFore	...	Lt. Kelsey
Robert Strauss	...	Sgt. McClusky
Richard Erdman	...	Pvt. Dogface Dolan (as Dick Erdman)
Ray Teal	...	Brig. Gen. W.W. Timmons
Marcy McGuire	...	Julia Loring
Danny Arnold	...	Pvt. Evans

Storyline

Hap Smith, nightclub entertainer, has a new act since his former partner Chick Allen joined the army: with lovely new partner Betsy Carter, Hap plays a clownish parody of a soldier. Meanwhile, Chick is organizing a soldier show at Fort Benning and finds he needs his old partner's help. To get onto the base, Hap impersonates a hapless real soldier, Dogface Dolan; but circumstances force them to prolong the masquerade, creating an increasingly tangled Army-sized snafu.

---

Plot Keywords:

military | comedy team | nightclub | entertainer | two word title | 

---

Taglines:

IT'S A RIP-ROARING RIOT! When Dean and Jerry Reach For Their Rip-Cords...

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Locos del aire

Filming Locations:

Fort Benning, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hal B. Wallis purchased a completed screenplay from Paramount, titled "Ready, Willing and Four F", and used it as the basis for this film. The screenplay was written in 1943 by Frederic I. Rinaldo. Robert Lees received a screenplay credit, while Brian Marlow is credited as story writer.

---

Goofs

During the "The Parachute Jump" number, Chick keeps missing his cue to sing the words and hold notes.

---

Quotes

Sgt. McClusky: You know I'm beginning to like you.
Hap Smith: You are? Is that good?
Sgt. McClusky: Yeah! And I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.
Hap Smith: What?
Sgt. McClusky: I'm not half as tough as I sound.
Hap Smith: You're not?
Sgt. McClusky: Nah! It's just something that comes over me. Sometimes I think I'm my own worst enemy.
Hap Smith: No, you're not, Sarge. Not as long as I'm alive.

---

Connections

Referenced in Martin and Lewis (2002)

---

Soundtracks

I KNOW A DREAM WHEN I SEE ONE
Music by Jerry Livingston
Lyrics by Mack David
Sung by Dean Martin

User Reviews

Martin & Lewis early slapstick

Starting in 1949 and through the early 1950s, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made 16 films together. Their match-up is the familiar one of comedy teams. A straight man, who often gets the gal, and a goof-up, klutz or clown. So, we had had Laurel and Hardy, Crosby and Hope, and Martin and Lewis.

This is one of the earlier Martin-Lewis comedies. As with most of their films, Dean's singing and their comedy routines play in the plot. So, we get a little singing and dancing along with a wacky story of sorts. After Chick (Martin) goes in the Army, Hap Smith (Lewis) finds himself a female partner for a new show. But before they can get launched in the big time, Chick calls for help that only Hap can provide. So, he sneaks on base to help with a show for the troops.

Well, it's not hard to imagine what happens from there on. The base is a fictitious one, of course, but for this one Paramount did some film shooting at Ft. Benning, GA, and the Army parachute school.

While this and similar films still bring a chuckle here and there, they don't seem as funny as they must have been to audiences in the mid- 20th century. I remember watching these in theaters as a youngster. Slapstick can still be good and very funny, but I think the comedy with actors completely changing their voices was a phase from that period that hasn't lasted.

This film is OK for some laughs and the music and comedy. The rest of the cast provide nice support for the two leads.