Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jerry Lewis | ... | Brendan Byers III / Field Marshal Erik Kesselring | |
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Jan Murray | ... | Sid Hackle |
John Wood | ... | Finkel | |
Steve Franken | ... | Peter Bland | |
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Willie Davis | ... | Lincoln |
Dack Rambo | ... | Terry Love | |
Robert Middleton | ... | Colonico | |
Kaye Ballard | ... | Senora Messina | |
Harold J. Stone | ... | General Buck | |
Paul Winchell | ... | Schroeder | |
Sidney Miller | ... | Hitler | |
Joe Besser | ... | Dock Master | |
Gary Crosby | ... | SS Guard | |
Danny Dayton | ... | Man in Car | |
Kathleen Freeman | ... | Bland's Mother |
Brendan Byers III is a wealthy playboy who wants to serve his country as a soldier, but he has been classified as 4-F (Registrant not acceptable for military service). He recruits volunteers among his employees for a privately-funded mission in the Italian front of the war. Byers impersonate the German general Eric Kesselring, with the plan to order German troops to retreat and give way to advancing Allied forces. Unfortunately for Byers, the impersonation comes with complication. He has to deal with the real general's Italian mistress, while the German authorities are investigating Kesselring's involvement in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Written by Dimos I
I had watched this as a kid but, not being much of a Jerry Lewis fan, I had completely forgotten it (not that it's in any way memorable). The film revolves around impersonation (which seems to be in the curriculum of every comic star!) - in this case a German officer - and, while not as bad as Leonard Maltin claims (awarding it a BOMB rating), it's not exactly classic stuff either - certainly leagues behind Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940), even if comparably narcissistic! Ironically, the scenes prior to the appearance of the would-be wacky General offer more felicities than the rather forced humor at Nazi expense!
The film was really Lewis' last gasp during his heyday; in fact, this proved to be his last vehicle to be released for 10 years (it's painfully apparent here that his particular brand of foolishness wouldn't pass muster in the age of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen)!