Sailor Beware is a 1951 film starring the comedy team of
Martin and LewisMartin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
and is an adaption of a 1933 play of the same name. It was released on February 9,
1952The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
by
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
.
After meeting in the navy recruiting line, Al Crowthers (
Dean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor and comedian. He was one of the best known musical artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The...
) and Melvin Jones (
Jerry LewisJerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer, film director, singer and humanitarian. He is best-known for his slapstick humor in stage, screen, television, radio, recording and is also known for his charity fund-raising telethons and position as national chairman for the...
) become friends. Al has tried to enlist before, 11 times, but was always rejected because of a bad knee. However, he keeps trying so that he can impress women, including
Betty HuttonBetty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born as Elizabeth June Thornburg, a daughter of railroad foreman Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum...
in a cameo role as 'Hetty Button'.
Sailor Beware is a 1951 film starring the comedy team of
Martin and LewisMartin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
and is an adaption of a 1933 play of the same name. It was released on February 9,
1952The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
by
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
.
Plot
After meeting in the navy recruiting line, Al Crowthers (
Dean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor and comedian. He was one of the best known musical artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The...
) and Melvin Jones (
Jerry LewisJerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer, film director, singer and humanitarian. He is best-known for his slapstick humor in stage, screen, television, radio, recording and is also known for his charity fund-raising telethons and position as national chairman for the...
) become friends. Al has tried to enlist before, 11 times, but was always rejected because of a bad knee. However, he keeps trying so that he can impress women, including
Betty HuttonBetty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born as Elizabeth June Thornburg, a daughter of railroad foreman Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum...
in a cameo role as 'Hetty Button'. Melvin, meanwhile, is allergic to women's cosmetics and his doctor prescribed ocean travel, so he decided to join the navy as this was the only way he could afford to follow doctor's orders.
Unbeknown to Al, the naval requirements have been lowered and this time he has been accepted, as has Melvin. They are assigned to Lardoski (
Robert StraussRobert Strauss may refer to:* Robert Strauss , American actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nominee* Robert P. Strauss, American economist* Robert Schwarz Strauss , American diplomat and politician...
), a bully they met in line and referred to as 'fathead'.
While in San Diego, Melvin falls in love with a woman Hilda Jones (
Marion MarshallMarion Marshall is an American actress.Marshall's first film appearances were in the 20th Century Fox films Gentleman's Agreement and Daisy Kenyon in 1947...
), who does not wear makeup. However, Melvin seems to attract women to him, and Lardoski wagers with Al that Melvin has to kiss any girl he names. Al agrees and Lardoski picks
Corinne CalvetCorinne Calvet was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films.Born Corinne Dibos in Paris, Calvet studied criminal law at the Sorbonne and made her debut in French radio, stage plays and cinema in the 1940s before being brought to Hollywood in the 1940s by producer Hal Wallis...
, who is playing at a nightclub in Honolulu. The crew then get sent out on the next submarine to Hawaii, in which Melvin is caught on deck when the ship is submerging. Upon his rescue he is tied to a torpedo for the rest of the voyage to avoid any more incidents.
Once in Hawaii, Al romances Corinne while Melvin also vies for her affection in order to gain a kiss to win the bet which his shipmates have informed him about, and is unsuccessful in comforting Hilda who becomes jealous. Lardoski tries to prevent the kiss by getting the shore patrol to arrest Melvin, but he disguises himself as a hula dancer and gains the kiss. Al wins the bet (and Corinne), and Melvin works things out with Hilda.
Cast
- Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor and comedian. He was one of the best known musical artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The...
... Al Crowthers
- Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, film producer, writer, film director, singer and humanitarian. He is best-known for his slapstick humor in stage, screen, television, radio, recording and is also known for his charity fund-raising telethons and position as national chairman for the...
... Melvin Jones
- Corinne Calvet
Corinne Calvet was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films.Born Corinne Dibos in Paris, Calvet studied criminal law at the Sorbonne and made her debut in French radio, stage plays and cinema in the 1940s before being brought to Hollywood in the 1940s by producer Hal Wallis...
... Corinne Calvet, herself
- Marion Marshall ... Hilda Jones
- Robert Strauss
Robert Strauss may refer to:* Robert Strauss , American actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nominee* Robert P. Strauss, American economist* Robert Schwarz Strauss , American diplomat and politician...
... CPO Lardoski
- Leif Erickson
This article is about the 20th century American actor. For the 11th century Viking explorer, see Leif EricsonLeif Erickson was an American actor...
... Cmdr. Lane
- Don Wilson ... Mr. Chubby
- Vince Edwards
Vince Edwards was an American actor, director, and singer, best known for the role of TV doctor "Ben Casey".-Early life:...
... Blayden (billed as Vincent Edwards)
- Skip Homeier
Skip Homeier is an actor.-Biography:Homeier was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America. He began acting as Skippy Homeier at the age of six, on the radio show Portia Faces Life. From 1943 until 1944 he played the role of Emil in the Broadway play, Tomorrow the World...
... Mac
- Dan Barton ... 'Bama
- Mike Mahoney ... Tiger
- Mary Treen ... Ginger
Cameos
Betty HuttonBetty Hutton was an American stage, film, and television actress and singer.-Early life:Hutton was born as Elizabeth June Thornburg, a daughter of railroad foreman Percy E. Thornburg and his wife, the former Mabel Lum...
has an unbilled cameo as Dean's girlfriend, who is curiously named Hetty Button.
James DeanJames Byron Dean was an American film actor.Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause, in which he starred as troubled high school rebel Jim Stark...
appears briefly in one of the scenes in the locker room, and even has a line of dialogue: "That guy's a professional!"
Duke MitchellDuke Mitchell was an Italian-American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director...
appears briefly as the cornerman in the boxing scene. He would later team with
Sammy PetrilloSammy Petrillo was an American nightclub and movie comedian best known as a Jerry Lewis lookalike.-Early life and career:...
and star in
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn GorillaBela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla is a 1952 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring horror veteran Bela Lugosi and nightclub comedians Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo in roles approximating Martin and Lewis.-Plot:...
, in which they play
Martin and LewisMartin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
-like characters.
Alternate title
It was released in the United Kingdom under the title
Panic in the Parlour by
British Lion FilmsBritish Lion Films Corporation is a film production and distribution company active under several forms since 1919. Until 1976 they were also film distributors as British Lion Films Ltd, with a distributor filmography of 232 films. As a production company they are still active and have produced...
.
Re-release
The film was re-released on a double-bill with another
Martin and LewisMartin and Lewis were an American comedy team, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. The pair first met in 1945; their debut as a duo occurred at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 24/25, 1946....
film,
Jumping JacksJumping Jacks is a 1952 film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. The movie was released by Paramount Pictures.-Plot:Chick Allen is a paratrooper. He invites his former partner, Hap Smith , to help out with a show that he and the other soldiers are preparing...
in 1957. It was re-released a second time in 1968.
DVD release
The film was included on an eight-film DVD set, the
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One, released on October 31, 2006.