IT'S ONLY MONEY

US, 1962, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Jerry Lewis, Zachary Scott, Joan O'Brien, Jesse White, Jack Weston.
Directed by Frank Tashlin.

It's Only Money is minor Jerry Lewis. He shows his usual talents - with some delight and with some insanity! He is directed by Frank Tashlin, former cartoonist and animator who wrote and directed so many of his vehicles. The film seems a small production with low budget - black and white, short running time. However, there is a very good cast with the opportunity to see Zachary Scott and an early film of Jack Weston. There are some humorous routines and parodies, a reliance on the image of Jerry Lewis as the poor little man - with the irony about the money theme. Though minor, a good enough example of Lewis' style.

1. The appeal of Jerry Lewis? Screen presence, comedy routines. zany styles? Adult appeal? Children? The working with Frank Tashlin (and the influence of cartooning and animation)? A Jerry Lewis vehicle of the early '60s?

2. Small production, srnall budget. black and white photography, musical score? Quality of the cast?

3. The importance of special effects: TV sets. electronics. the chase by the electronic lawnmowers, the murder attempts and the farcical escapes?

4. Jerry Lewis' routines and his skill and timing: the explosions, the television set out the window, the patter with the electronic jargon, his being chased by the lawnmowers. the shaving of the portrait? His romantic sequences. the snoring, illustrations of his awkwardness?

5. The typical Jerry Lewis character: the orphan, the ordinary young man, awkward, his desire to be a private eye, his helping Flint,, the naivety of his investigation and his success, the encounter with Wanda,, the delight of the aunt, Leopold and the murder attempts, Gregory and the suave manner and opposition? His survival? The discovery of the truth? His detachment from money - but his gaining it? The transformation from the awkward to the hero?

6. Wanda: nurse. discovery of the truth, her love, wanting to marry without mention of the money, her appeal to the police and her being humiliated, the adventures with Flint. the happy ending?

7. Zachary Scott's roles as suave gangster and the reprise of his performances here? Suave. controlled? ills studied response to the infatuated fat woman? His control over Leopold?

8. Leopold as the smiling and self-proud killer? The various attempts? His failure and his reputation?

9. The aunt and the satire on the fat woman? Her singing 'Isn't It Romantic?', the yoga sequence, dancing with Jerry Lewis, the wedding dress etc.? A genial butt of satire?

10. Flint and the parody of the private eye type, the TV set, his attraction towards women and their kissing him, the murder attempts and the knockout?

11. The use of the missing heir and murder plot? Audience expectations? Satisfying Jerry Lewis comedy? The Jerry Lewis image?