My Friend Irma Goes West

My Friend Irma Goes West is a 1950 American comedy film based on the radio show My Friend Irma, and featuring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis (Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). The film is directed by Hal Walker.[3] This sequel to My Friend Irma (1949) was released May 31, 1950, by Paramount Pictures.

My Friend Irma Goes West
Directed byHal Walker
Produced byHal B. Wallis
Screenplay byCy Howard
Story byParke Levy
StarringJohn Lund
Marie Wilson
Diana Lynn
Dean Martin
Jerry Lewis
Music byLeigh Harline
CinematographyLee Garmes
Edited byWarren Low
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • May 31, 1950 (1950-05-31)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.4 million (US rentals)[1]
10,530 admissions (France)[2]

Plot

The movie picks up where My Friend Irma left off, Al (John Lund) is still trying to promote Steve's (Dean Martin) career. Eventually, he gets booked to a local TV station and is spotted by a movie producer. He is offered a contract and Steve, as well as the rest of the gang, Irma (Marie Wilson), Jane (Diana Lynn) and Seymour (Jerry Lewis), all head to Hollywood.

The trip ends suddenly when the producer is discovered to be an escaped lunatic. Al tries to set things straight by taking the gang to Las Vegas to work at a casino, but things aren't as they seem. Irma causes havoc by wrecking a rigged roulette wheel, and she gets kidnapped and held for ransom until Al can raise $50,000.

Meanwhile, Seymour, dressed as an Indian brave, locates Irma and rescues her. The publicity received during the entire incident brings another movie offer... this time for Irma and Seymour.

Cast

Production

My Friend Irma Goes West was filmed from January 31 through March 18, 1950. Although At War with the Army was made before this film it was not released until December 1950, making My Friend Irma Goes West the second Martin and Lewis film released.

Reception

Critical review

The New York Times staff reviewed the film and wrote: "The only people who had trouble smiling yesterday in the Paramount Theatre were the ushers and the cashiers. They were too preoccupied handling the overflow crowds to notice what was going on up on the screen. In fact, we had a bit of trouble, too, keeping track of the dialogue which fills in the gaps between sight gags in "My Friend Irma Goes West" because the audience was having a laughing spell. During the first ten minutes of this helter-skelter comedy we missed most of Jerry Lewis' witty remarks, for every time he opened his mouth the audience went into hysterics. There were a lot of young, high squeaking voices bouncing off the rafters, but while the small fry may have been most responsive they did not account for all the merry sounds. Jerry Lewis, the slight, abject, elastic young man, and his straight-man-accomplice with the velvety baritone singing voice, Dean Martin, are responsible for about ninety-nine and nine-tenths of the fun in "My Friend Irma Goes West". Marie Wilson, who plays the title role; John Lund, as her bungling boy friend, Al, and Diana Lynn, as Irma's normal roommate, work hard in carrying the other one-tenth of the picture. There is a marked reduction in the quality of the show when Martin and Lewis are off the screen and sometimes even they are victimized by the silly script. However, M. & L. are in there pitching most of the time and most of the time they are in top form."[4]

Home media

My Friend Irma Goes West has been released twice on DVD. It was originally released on a two-film collection with My Friend Irma on October 25, 2005. A year later it was included on an eight-film DVD set, the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One, released October 31, 2006.[5]

References
  1. 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1950', Variety, January 3, 1951
  2. Jerry Lewis films French box office information at Box Office Story
  3. "My Friend Irma Goes West". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  4. The New York Times Staff (August 3, 1950). "My Friend Irma Goes West, With Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, at the Paramount". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  5. "Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection - Vol. 1". Paramount Pictures. Hollywood: Viacom. 2006. ASIN B000HEWEJE. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
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