My Friend Irma (1949) starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn
My Friend Irma was originally a long-running radio series. It went on to become a pair of successful movies, the sequel being My Friend Irma Goes West. In this first film, the comedy team of Martin & Lewis were included as comedy relief. However, much like Abbott and Costello‘s first movie role in One Night in the Tropics, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis‘ roles were gradually expanded – not quite stealing the show, but coming close.
Notable moments include The Donkey Serenade performed by Martin & Lewis in the club, as well as Dean and Jerry’s interaction at the juice bar. Also, both films are included on 1 DVD, so there are a bit of price savings. Also, both films are available on The Martin & Lewis Collection Volume 1.
Plot summary for My Friend Irma co-starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis
Based on the long-running radio show. Irma is a likable airhead who meddles in her roommate’s love life. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, in their first screen appearance, are juice-bar operators who are discovered when a self-proclaimed manager hears Martin’s golden voice. Irma’s roommate wants to marry her rich boss but instead falls in love with Martin.
Editorial review of My Friend Irma courtesy of Amazon.com
One croons. The other cavorts. Fans couldn’t get enough of them! Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made their crowd-pleasing film debuts in My Friend Irma, a 1949 funfest based on the long-running radio show. The guys are juice-bar operators who get a shot at new careers when a self-proclaimed manager discovers that Martin is better at squeezing out a musical “C” than Vitamin C. Their story intersects with the antics of Irma (Marie Wilson), the likable airhead who meddles in the romantic life of her roommate (Diana Lynn). Irma may be a queen of loopiness, but it’s Lewis who walks off as America’s clown prince. Exclaimed the Los Angeles Examiner: “There just hasn’t been anything like him on land, sea or celluloid.”