At War with the Army (1950) starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen
At War with the Army – Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis’ first starring movie. They’re in the Army during World War II, and about to ship out …
Synopsis
1st Sergeant Vic (Dean Martin) and Private Alvin (Jerry Lewis) are drafted into the Army during World War II. Although they were best friends who were partners in a nightclub song-and-dance act before joining the Army, Vic has to act like a sergeant. Something that Alvin doesn’t understand. And, Vic is an inept, comedic klutz. Vic wants to ship out and see action. And there’s a lot of commotion in that office. Especially as they approach the zany ending.
Comedy highlights
- Jerry’s “The Navy gets the Gravy” song
- The “haunted” soda machine.
Dean’s gone into town to meet with Helen. But he leaves the music at the base. Jerry wants him to record a song they wrote,to send to a music publisher, in a booth there. So, since Jerry’s restricted to base, he has to follow him there … In drag!- Jerry doing maneuvers. I especially like him burrowing under the field.
- For the base’s talent show, Dean & Jerry imitating Bing Crosby & Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way.
- The madcap ending, with the various identity mixups, resolving the various subplots.
Cast
- Dean Martin (The Stooge) as 1st Sergeant Vic Puccinelli. Former song and dance man, now a sergeant in the Army. He wants to get transferred to the front. In the meanwhile, he’s juggling multiple girlfriends.
- Jerry Lewis (Visit to a Small Planet) as PFC Alvin Korwin. Vic’s best friend and former partner. He’s married and they’re expecting their first child. He wants a 3-day pass to visit his wife, but he’s not getting it. Also, there’s a song that he & Vic wrote that a music publisher is interested in.
- Mike Kellin as Sgt. McVey
- Jean Ruth … Millie. Vic’s former girlfriend, who keeps walking into the office to see Vic. And, keeps missing him. But she really needs to talk to him …
- Angela Greene (Night of the Blood Beast) as Mrs. Deborah Caldwell. Well-versed in the base gossip, which she shares with her husband. So he can make informed decisions.
- William Mendrek … Captain Ernest Caldwell. He’s in charge of the madhouse.
- Tommy Farrell (The Strip) as Cpl. Clark
- Polly Bergen (That’s My Boy) as Helen Palmer. Vic’s latest girlfriend. He plays the same “we’re about to be shipped out” line that worked with Millie.
- Danny Dayton (Guys and Dolls) as Supply Sgt. Miller.
- Paul Livermore (Commando Cody) as Pvt. Jack Edwards. Vic’s rival for Helen. He’s not above Millie-related blackmail.
- Frank Hyers as Cpl. Shaughnessy
- Ty Perry as Lt. Terrey
- Jimmie Dundee (Sullivans Travels) as Eddie
- Dick Stabile (My Friend Irma Goes West) as Pvt. Pokey
Songs
- You and Your Beautiful Eyes. Lyrics by Mack David.Music by Jerry Livingston.Sung by Dean Martin and Polly Bergen
- Tonda Wanda Hoy. Lyrics by Mack David. Music by Jerry Livingston. Sung by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis separately.
- Beans. Lyrics by Mack David. Music by Jerry Livingston. Sung by Jerry Lewis and cast.
- Swanee River. Written by Stephen Foster, Played by the band
- Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby). Music and Lyrics by J.R. Shannon. Sung by Dean Martin
Editorial review of At War with the Army courtesy of Amazon
The first starring vehicle for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, At War With The Army features Martin as the smooth, confident ladies man and Lewis as the bumbling, inept dolt who wreaks havoc everywhere he goes. As Martin bursts into song, Lewis struggles to understand the workings of a Coke machine, successfully creating a character pattern for future Lewis & Martin movies. Lewis is spectacular singing “The Navy Gets The Gravy But The Army Gets The Beans,” and is at his slapstick best in this musical comedy set in a WWII army training c amp. Lewis is a hopeless private and Martin an overbearing First Sergeant – the two were raised in the same neighborhood before enlisting, and now they find themselves dealing with a loudmouth drill instructor, a sly supply sergeant, a hen-pecked company commander, and a battalion of other zany military characters.
[Updated August 23, 2023]