WHO'S GOT THE ACTION?

US, 1962, 93 minutes, Colour.
Dean Martin, Lana Turner, Eddie Albert, Walter Matthau, Nita Talbot, Margo, Paul Ford, John Mc Giver.
Directed by Daniel Mann.

Who's Got The Action is a slight and light comedy about gambling - set in the '60s but with Damon Runyon overtones. Dean Martin is pleasantly suave as the hero and Lana Turner tries her hand at comedy. Eddie Albert is much more at home in this kind of film, as is Walter Matthau as the gangster. There are humorous performances by Paul Ford and John Mc Giver as judges. The material is fairly obvious but pleasant enough to pass the time - American style comedy.

1. Popular American style entertainment? The appeal of the stars? The gloss of the film? Comedy and gambling?

2. The conventions of the romantic comedy? Mistaken identities - as applied to gambling and reform? The situation humour? Traditions of the Damon Runyon gangster type film with comic gangsters? Poking fun at the law? Marriage and romance complications? This film within these traditions?

3. Colour photography, Panavision? The American cities and locations? The score? The nightclub songs? Dean Martin's final song?

4. The plausibility of the plot - sufficient for the romantic comedy? Melanie and her anxiety about Steve? Marital jealousy? Steve and his law practice, Clint and his help - as well as waiting for Melanie? The gambling? The complications of the set-up with Melanie as agent and the complications as regards raising the money? Steve gaining money, Melanie selling the furniture? The complications with the neighbour, Saturday? The gangster? The growing complications and the final confrontation?

5. Steve as hero - the Dean Martin type, gambling, success, neglecting his wife, the deals with Clint? The confrontation with the judges, with the gangsters? The resolution?

6. Melanie as heroine - Lana Turner's glamorous style, the plausibility of her becoming a betting agent? The clash with the gangsters? The friendship with Clint? The friendship with Saturday and the selling of the furniture? The humorous joke with the policeman?

7. The contribution of Clint as the best friend - the would-be romance, the gambling, getting the money and the various devices e.g. at the restaurant under the table? The gangster types - Walter Matthau and his computer, his wanting class and style, not wanting to marry Saturday? His threats of the various underlings? The gangsters and their confrontations? Money-lenders? The world of racing and gambling?

8. The humour of the two judges and their gambling? Their particular styles and devices for gambling - the courtroom sequences?

9. The theme of marital bliss and ambiguity? The humour about marriage?

10. The parody of gangster themes? The computers? The gangster's moll and her having the heart of gold and wanting class?

11. The humour at the expense of the law? The gamblers and their reactions to the judges? The races?

12. The build-up to the final confrontation its farcical style?

13. The tradition of popular American comedy how particularly American? Its basic themes?