''Sailor Beware'' is a 1952 American

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 ...

and is an adaption of a 1933

Kenyon Nicholson Kenyon Nicholson (May 21, 1894 – December 19, 1986) was an American playwright and screenwriter. Early life John Kenyon Nicholson was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on May 21, 1894, the oldest son of Thomas B. and Anne (Kenyon) Nichols ...

and Charles Robinson play of the same name. It was released on February 9, 1952 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 ...

. The

working title A working title, which may be abbreviated and styled in trade publications after a putative title as (wt), also called a production title or a tentative title, is the temporary title of a product or project used during its development, usually ...

was ''At Sea with the Navy''. It was the fifth film collaboration of

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 ...

and

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 ...

, who would make 16 movies together before their partnership's end.

Plot

After meeting in the Navy recruiting line, Al Crowthers and Melvin Jones become friends. Al has tried to enlist before, 11 times, but was always rejected because of a bad knee. However, he keeps trying so that he can impress women. Melvin, meanwhile, is allergic to women's cosmetics and his doctor prescribed ocean travel, so he decided to join the Navy as this was the only way he could afford to follow doctor's orders. Unbeknownst to Al, the naval requirements have been lowered and this time he has been accepted, as has Melvin. They are assigned to Lardoski, a bully they met in line and referred to as "fathead." While based in

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...

, Melvin falls in love with Hilda Jones, a woman who does not wear makeup. Melvin seems to attract many women, so Lardoski wagers with Al, betting that Melvin must get a kiss from any girl Lardoski names. Al agrees and Lardoski picks

Corinne Calvet Corinne Calvet (April 30, 1925 – June 23, 2001), born Corinne Dibos, was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films. According to one obituary, she was promoted "as a combination of Dietrich and Rita Hayworth", but her person ...

, who is performing at a nightclub in

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

. The crew then get sent out on the next submarine to Hawaii, with Melvin caught on deck when the ship is submerging. Upon his rescue he is tied to a torpedo for the rest of the voyage to avoid any more incidents. Once in Hawaii, Al romances Corinne at the same time Melvin vies for her affection in order to gain a kiss to win the bet, which his shipmates have informed him about. Melvin is unsuccessful in comforting Hilda, who becomes jealous. Lardoski tries to prevent the kiss by getting the shore patrol to arrest Melvin, but after disguising himself as a hula dancer, Melvin gains the kiss. Al wins the bet (and Corinne), and Melvin works things out with Hilda.

Cast

as Al Crowthers *

as Melvin Jones *

as Corinne Calvet, herself *

Marion Marshall Marion Marshall (June 8, 1929 – September 24, 2018) was an American actress. Career Marshall's first film appearances were in the 20th Century Fox films ''Gentleman's Agreement'' and ''Daisy Kenyon'' in 1947 (although they were both uncredit ...

as Hilda Jones * Robert Strauss as CPO Lardoski *

Leif Erickson Leif Erikson, Leiv Eiriksson, or Leif Ericson, ; Modern Icelandic: ; Norwegian language, Norwegian: ''Leiv Eiriksson'' also known as Leif the Lucky (), was a Norsemen, Norse explorer who is thought to have been the first European to have s ...

as Cmdr. Lane * Don Wilson as Mr. Chubby *

Vince Edwards Vince Edwards (born Vincent Edward Zoine; July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996) was an American actor and director. He was best known for his TV role as doctor Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film '' The Devil's Brigade''. Ear ...

as Blayden (billed as Vincent Edwards) * Skip Homeier as Mac *

Dan Barton Dan Barton (born Daniel George Berman; September 20, 1921 – December 13, 2009) was an American actor. Personal life Barton was the son of Matthew and Sonia (née Koenigsberg) Berman. He was the cousin of Star Trek actor Walter Koenig. He gra ...

as 'Bama *Mike Mahoney as Tiger * Mary Treen as Ginger

Cameos

* Betty Hutton has an unbilled cameo as Dean's girlfriend, who is curiously named Hetty Button. *

James Dean James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, ''Rebel Without a Cause' ...

appears briefly in one of the scenes in the locker room, and even has a line of dialogue: "That guy's a professional!" *

Duke Mitchell Duke Mitchell (born Dominic Salvatore Miceli; May 9, 1926 – December 2, 1981) was an American film actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director of 1970s gangster movies starring himself. Mitchell often performed his n ...

appears briefly as the cornerman in the boxing scene. He would later team with

Sammy Petrillo Sam Patrello (October 24, 1934 – August 15, 2009) was an American nightclub and movie comedian best known as a Jerry Lewis imitator. Early life Sammy Petrillo was born Sam Patrello in The Bronx, New York City, New York, to a show-bu ...

and star in ''

Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla ''Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla'' (also known as ''The Boys from Brooklyn'' and in England as ''Monster Meets The Gorilla'') is a 1952 American comedy horror science fiction film directed by William Beaudine and starring horror veteran B ...

'', in which they play

-like characters.

Production

''Sailor Beware'' was filmed from September 5, 1951 through October 12, 1951.

Re-release

The film was re-released on a double-bill with another

film, ''

Jumping Jacks ''Jumping Jacks'' is a 1952 American semi- musical comedy film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. The film was directed by Norman Taurog, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was one of the military comedies that marked the duo's ea ...

'' in 1957. It was re-released a second time in 1968.

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

External links

* * {{Martin and Lewis 1952 films 1952 comedy films American comedy films Military humor in film American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films American films based on plays Films directed by Hal Walker Films produced by Hal B. Wallis Paramount Pictures films Films about the United States Navy Films scored by Leigh Harline James Dean 1950s American films