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 | stationmaster | reporter | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The working title, as of October 1953, was "Great to be Alive".

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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

Dr. Steve Harris: [flirtatiously on board a plane] Now you tell me where you live, and i'll pick you up.
Wally Cook: My dear doctor, I live on the front page of the Morning Chronicle.
Dr. Steve Harris: On the what?
Wally Cook: [Louder] On the front page of the Morning Chronicle, and you can pick me up for seven cents! Now climb back in your horse and buggy and try your bedside manner on someone else!
Dr. Steve Harris: [Hearing the screech of the wheels touching down on the runway] What was that?
Wally Cook: We just came down to Earth!

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Connections

Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Living It Up (1970)

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Soundtracks

Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Bob Hilliard
Sung by Dean Martin

User Reviews

Arguably the Best Martin & Lewis Film

The strange appeal of the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis can perhaps best be understood in this movie, arguably the least off-putting (to scores of people who cannot abide Lewis) of the 17 films the guys made together. Almost all their films contained music, and Martin was a successful singer in his own right. Here he gets to sing "How Do You Speak to an Angel," and "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard in Old New York" (with Lewis), songs that were already known from the Broadway show on which it is based, "Hazel Flagg." If you want to sample Martin and Lewis, this is arguably the team at its best.

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