''Jumping Jacks'' is a 1952 American semi-

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

starring the comedy team of

Martin and Lewis Martin and Lewis were an American comedy duo, comprising singer Dean Martin and comedian Jerry Lewis. They met in 1945 and debuted at Atlantic City's 500 Club on July 25, 1946; the team lasted ten years to the day. Before they teamed up, Martin w ...

. The film was directed by Norman Taurog, and released by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. It was one of the military comedies that marked the duo's early career. Brigadier General Frank Dern, Deputy Chief of the US Army's Information Office praised ''Jumping Jacks'' as something that would "contribute to troop morale within the Army."

Plot

United States Army Corporal Chick Allen is a paratrooper preparing a show with other soldiers. The general, however, was unhappy with the quality of past shows and is threatening to eliminate them unless the quality improves, which is why Chick has invited his former partner, Hap Smith, to help out. Hap, who has continued their nightclub act with a new partner, Betsy Carter, poses as a soldier so that he can do one performance with the general in the audience. The show impresses the general so much that he arranges for the show (including Hap) to tour other camps. Fearing a court-martial, Chick and the rest of the performers pass Hap off as Private "Dogface" Dolan, while the real "Dogface" goes into hiding. Hap undergoes paratrooper training to keep up the ruse, but he is very accident prone. However, it works to his benefit as everything he does inadvertently is the "correct military conduct". The top sergeant takes notice and praises him. Understandably, Hap wants to return to civilian life and tries to sneak away at any chance he can get, but Chick always manages to stop him. During one of his escape attempts, during some war maneuvers, Hap destroys a key bridge and captures an enemy general. Hap is eventually exposed as a civilian, but is sworn in as a paratrooper and becomes a hero.

Cast

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

as Corporal Chick Allen *

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

as Hap Smith * Mona Freeman as Betsy Carter * Don DeFore as Lieutenant Kelsey * Robert Strauss as Sergeant McClusky * Richard Erdman as Private "Dogface" Dolan (billed as Dick Erdman) * Ray Teal as Brigadier General W.W. Timmons *

Marcy McGuire Marilyn Jeanne McGuire (February 22, 1926 – August 7, 2021) was an American actress and contralto singer who was active in the 1940s. Life and career McGuire was born on February 22, 1926, to James Joseph McGuire, a film projectionist and Anno ...

as Julia Loring * Danny Arnold as Private Evans

Production

''Jumping Jacks'' was filmed from December 3, 1951 through January 23, 1952. The original story (''Ready, Willing and Four F'') was written during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Robert Lees Robert Lees (July 10, 1912 – June 13, 2004) was an American television and film screenwriter. Lees was best known for writing comedy, including several Abbott and Costello films. Life and career Born in San Francisco, California, Lees ...

and Fred Rinaldo and acquired by

. It was offered first to

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...

, then to

Danny Kaye Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; yi, דוד־דניאל קאַמינסקי; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and ...

, but both turned it down because they had already done army comedies. Paramount made arrangements to bring Cantinflas up from Mexico for the film, but the war ended, making army comedies obsolete. The screenplay was updated for Martin and Lewis by Herbert Baker, who would write several other films for the team as well as write for Martin on '' The Dean Martin Show'' TV series and three of Martin's Matt Helm films. Principal photography took place at the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, assisted by United States Air Force units stationed at

Fort Benning Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...

, Georgia."Notes: 'Jumping Jacks'."
''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: November 14, 2015.

Reception

In his review of ''Jumping Jacks'' for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', Bosley Crowther, noted that the film appealed to Martin and Lewis fans. He said, "The Ripping and Roaring Society of Jerry Lewis Fans — or, at least, as many members of it as the Paramount Theatre can hold — was rolling in the aisles and generally acting in its customarily warm, responsive way at the opening performance of their hero's new picture, 'Jumping Jacks,' in that theatre yesterday. And the worst that a non-subscriber to that society and its sentiments can say is that the rabid behavior of the members seemed a bit on the over-wrought side." Reviewer and film historian Leonard Maltin considered it, "(a) good opportunity for plenty of sight gags when they join a military paratroop squad."Maltin, Leonard
"Leonard Maltin Ratings & Reviews: 'Jumping Jacks'."
''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: November 14, 2015.

Re-releases

''Jumping Jacks'' was re-released on a double bill with another

film, '' Sailor Beware'' in 1957 and on another double bill with '' Scared Stiff'' in 1958.

Home media

The film was included on an eight-film DVD set, the ''Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One'', released on October 31, 2006.

References

Bibliography

* , James L. and Ted Okuda. ''The Jerry Lewis Films: An Analytical Filmography of the Innovative Comic''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1994. .

External links

* * * {{Martin and Lewis 1952 films 1952 comedy films American aviation films American black-and-white films American buddy comedy films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Norman Taurog Films produced by Hal B. Wallis Military humor in film Paramount Pictures films Films about the United States Army 1950s American films