Living It Up (1954)

An unsophisticated stationmaster from provincial New Mexico fraudulently claims that he is dying in order to get an expense-paid dream tour of New York.

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Jack Rose (screenplay), Melville Shavelson (screenplay)

Stars:

Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Janet Leigh

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dean Martin	...	Dr. Steve Harris
Jerry Lewis	...	Homer Flagg
Janet Leigh	...	Wally Cook
Edward Arnold	...	The Mayor
Fred Clark	...	Oliver Stone
Sheree North	...	Sheree North - Jitterbug Dancer
Sammy White	...	Waiter
Sid Tomack	...	Master of Ceremonies
Sig Ruman	...	Dr. Emile Egelhofer
Richard Loo	...	Dr. Lee
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Conductor
Walter Baldwin	...	Isaiah Jackson
Fay Roope	...	Man

Storyline

Pretty Wally Cook, a reporter for the New York Chronicle convinces her editor to let her do a series of articles on Homer Flagg, a young man from New Mexico who is believed to be dying as a result of radioactive poisoning. Before she arrives out west, Homer learns from his doctor that the diagnosis was a mistake and he's perfectly healthy. That doesn't stop them from accepting Wally's offer of an all- expenses paid trip to New York. Everyone in New York takes pity on Homer, while Homer and his doctor try to keep up their pretense.

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Plot Keywords:

screwball comedy | champagne | vodka | reporter | caucasian actor playing asian character | 

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Taglines:

THEY'RE LAFFIN' IT UP! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der sympathische Hochstapler

Filming Locations:

Third Avenue El, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

York Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Remake of the 1937 Carole Lombard/Frederic March classic Nothing Sacred, with Lewis playing the Lombard role, Martin playing the doctor and Janet Leigh replacing Frederic March.

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Goofs

When Dean Martin is singing and playing guitar in his physician office, he is holding an acoustic guitar. His fingerings do not match the music and the sound is that of an electric guitar, not an acoustic guitar.

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Quotes

Homer Flagg: [to Dr. Harris as he sees a skeleton in his office closet] You probably thought nothing was wrong with him either!

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Connections

References Sabrina (1954)

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Soundtracks

How Do You Speak to an Angel?
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Bob Hilliard
Sung by Dean Martin

User Reviews

This is some funny stuff

Jerry Lewis plays a railroad worker Homer Flagg, who think he's dying on radioactive poisoning in three weeks.Dean Martin is his doctor Steve Harris, who tells him that's not the case.A beautiful New York reporter Wally Cook (Janet Leigh) comes to New Mexico wanting to write a series of articles about this "dying" young man.She takes both Homer and the doc to New York.Homer hasn't bothered the lady with the truth, that he's not actually going to die, because he's always wanted to go to NY.And of course the love sick doctor falls for the pretty reporter and so does Homer.The whole city of New York feels pity for the poor Homer. Norman Taurog's Living It Up (1954) is an extremely funny Jerry Lewis movie from the time he still made a team with Dean Martin.It's not only Jerry who makes you laugh hard, also Dean does that trick.Janet Leigh makes a perfect leading lady in the middle of the clown and the playboy.You can find awfully many funny scenes from the movie, like where Jerry pretends he's a doctor from Paris, Wienna and Hong Kong.He also pretends he's Dean's character while Dean is Jerry.Also the scene on the dance floor with Sheree North is pretty amazing.I saw this movie for the first time in seven years yesterday.It sure brought me back.