In an interview, Wilder once said, "I am a sucker for Dean Martin. I thought he was the funniest man in Hollywood." Well, I agree. I'm a tremendous fan of his. But I'm pretty neutral about this movie. Admittedly, over time it's grown on me a bit, but I still find it to be just a little over the edge in terms of sexual innuendos. And this gets down to the problem I have had with a number of Billy Wilder's films. Wilder did some great films, both in terms of those he wrote and those he directed. The time period during which this film was made was the most cynical of Wilder's career...and I'm just not that cynical. So this was a difficult film for me to enjoy -- a rabid Dean Martin fan with Dean in a film that I really don't like. In fact, released just after his tremendous hit of "Everybody Loves Somebody" I really wanted to see this film back in 1964, but it was held in such disdain that my small town theater would not show the film.
However, as I said, this film has grown on me...a bit...over the years. The idea is clever...Dino (pretty much playing himself, although a bit over the top) ends up stranded in a desert town called Climax. He unwittingly stays overnight at a male piano teacher's (Ray Walston) house who just happens to be half of a song-writing team (with Cliff Osmond) that has little talent. Can they sell a song to Dino (even under duress)? Or will the piano teacher's wife (Felicia Farr) be too distracting. Solution -- substitute a local barmaid (Kim Novak) for the wife, let Dino get seduced, and see what happens.
Dean turns in a really good performance because he entertainingly makes fun of his own image. Dean could do more with a look or a throwaway line...
Although I liked other Kim Novak roles much better (for example "Vertigo"), she does bring a certain sensitivity to the role of the local prostitute that many actresses probably couldn't have accomplished.
Ray Walston was not a strong enough actor to take such an important role in a film. As a minor supporting actor, fine. But he has a lot of screen time in this film, and he wasn't up to it. It borders on slapstick exaggeration. And to think that Billy Wilder wanted Jack Lemmon for the role! Felica Farr is quite good as the wife. Ironically, she was Jack Lemmon's wife! Cliff Osmond is good in his role as the co-songwriter.
There are also some interesting small supporting roles here. Mel Blanc as a dentist. Howard McNear (the barber on Andy Griffith's show) as Farr's father. Doro Merande as Farr's mother. And Henry Gibson as a bar patron.
There is one song (supposedly by the untalented songwriters, but actually based on unpublished work by the Gershwins) called "Sophia" that Dean actually recorded in 1964, and while it is decidedly corny, it also has a nice melody. But, as Dino said in the film, "I need another Italian song like a giraffe needs a strep throat!" Looking back now, one wonders what all the fuss was about back in 1964. It almost seems tame. So it's good for watching...at least once.
However, as I said, this film has grown on me...a bit...over the years. The idea is clever...Dino (pretty much playing himself, although a bit over the top) ends up stranded in a desert town called Climax. He unwittingly stays overnight at a male piano teacher's (Ray Walston) house who just happens to be half of a song-writing team (with Cliff Osmond) that has little talent. Can they sell a song to Dino (even under duress)? Or will the piano teacher's wife (Felicia Farr) be too distracting. Solution -- substitute a local barmaid (Kim Novak) for the wife, let Dino get seduced, and see what happens.
Dean turns in a really good performance because he entertainingly makes fun of his own image. Dean could do more with a look or a throwaway line...
Although I liked other Kim Novak roles much better (for example "Vertigo"), she does bring a certain sensitivity to the role of the local prostitute that many actresses probably couldn't have accomplished.
Ray Walston was not a strong enough actor to take such an important role in a film. As a minor supporting actor, fine. But he has a lot of screen time in this film, and he wasn't up to it. It borders on slapstick exaggeration. And to think that Billy Wilder wanted Jack Lemmon for the role! Felica Farr is quite good as the wife. Ironically, she was Jack Lemmon's wife! Cliff Osmond is good in his role as the co-songwriter.
There are also some interesting small supporting roles here. Mel Blanc as a dentist. Howard McNear (the barber on Andy Griffith's show) as Farr's father. Doro Merande as Farr's mother. And Henry Gibson as a bar patron.
There is one song (supposedly by the untalented songwriters, but actually based on unpublished work by the Gershwins) called "Sophia" that Dean actually recorded in 1964, and while it is decidedly corny, it also has a nice melody. But, as Dino said in the film, "I need another Italian song like a giraffe needs a strep throat!" Looking back now, one wonders what all the fuss was about back in 1964. It almost seems tame. So it's good for watching...at least once.