The Caddy (1953)

Although gifted golfer Harvey Miller is too nervous to golf in public tournaments, he acts as coach and caddy for friend Joe Anthony.

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Edmund L. Hartmann (screenplay) (as Edmund Hartmann), Danny Arnold (screenplay)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Martin	...	Joe Anthony
Jerry Lewis	...	Harvey Miller, Jr
Donna Reed	...	Kathy Taylor
Barbara Bates	...	Lisa Anthony
Joseph Calleia	...	Papa Anthony
Fred Clark	...	Mr. Baxter / Old Skinhead
Clinton Sundberg	...	Charles - the Butler
Howard Smith	...	Golf Official
Marshall Thompson	...	Bruce Reeber
Marjorie Gateson	...	Mrs. Grace Taylor
Frank Puglia	...	Mr. Spezzato
Lewis Martin	...	Mr. Taylor
Romo Vincent	...	Eddie Lear - Agent
Argentina Brunetti	...	Mama Anthony
Houseley Stevenson Jr.	...	Officer

Storyline

The origin of Anthony and Miller, a wildly successful comedy team, can be traced back several years to Harvey Miller's stage fright on the golf links. Although the son of a skilled golfer and an outstanding player in his one right, Miller is too nervous to golf in front of a gallery. He becomes coach and caddy for Joe Anthony, his girlfriend's brother, who must convince his fisherman father that hitting a little ball into a hole can be more lucrative than trawling the Pacific Ocean. While on the PGA tour, their natural comedic abilities are recognized by a shrewd agent who senses their talent and potential, and a new comedy team is born.

---

Plot Keywords:

golf | comedy team | slapstick comedy | microphone | golf player | 

---

Taglines:

Goofy Golfers . . . winning the laughing cup!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Sport

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actual footage of Dean Martin's and Jerry Lewis' 1951 appearance at New York's Paramount Theater is integrated into the film's opening.

---

Goofs

When leaving motel room 108 and getting into Donna Reed's speedster Martin puts his golf clubs in the trunk - but it doesn't close fully and visibly bounces back up a little.

---

Quotes

Kathy Taylor: [At an elegant country club soiree] Good evening.
Joe Anthony: [Feeling underdressed and out of his element] I better make that 'good night.' I'm out of uniform.
Kathy Taylor: You're positively stunning. So what if you left your dinner jacket at home?
Joe Anthony: I left it in Kansas City, but I can show you the pawn ticket.
Kathy Taylor: I believe you. Shall we dance?
Joe Anthony: Only if I lead.
Kathy Taylor: You can lead.

---

Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

---

Soundtracks

(It Takes A Lot Of Little Likes To Make) One Big Love
Music by Harry Warren
Lyric by Jack Brooks
Sung by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

User Reviews

Jerry may have set a breaking record in this film

"The Caddy" is one of more than a dozen comedy films that Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made together. Their pairing made them both famous in films. This has the usual mayhem that Jerry's Harvey Miller causes or gets into. In one scene in the department store in which he works, he trips, slides, rolls on a coaster table, and clumsily stumbles around and smashes numerous merchandise displays. This scenario includes toppling and breaking several shelves of chinaware and dishes (no doubt, this was not expensive stuff for props). This could very well have established some sort of record for breakage in a comedy film.

Dean sings a few songs, including the debut of a song that would be a major hit and become his signature song for years, "That's Amore." Harry Warren wrote the music and Jack Brooks wrote the lyrics for the song specifically for this film. The song was nominated for a 1953 academy award. Although it didn't win, it was a smash hit with audiences and rose to No. 2 on the Billboard charts that year.

As the title alludes, the film centers a lot around the sport of golf. Jerry gets in some of the best humor there. With legendary golfers Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, there's also some very good golf shots.

This isn't the best of their pairings, but it will entertain folks who like this sort of comedy. I don't recall thinking Jerry was that funny when I watched his films as a kid and later on TV. His later solo movies, when he wasn't such a loud, complaining goofball, had more spontaneous humor, I thought.

Anyway, fans of the two will enjoy this film, and maybe some in the younger audiences will still find it quite funny. Golfers will enjoy seeing the famous pros on the course with the Dean and Jerry.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

So Where's the Money?

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

York Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1