SAILOR BEWARE

US, 1952, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Corinne Calvet, Robert Strauss.
Directed by Hal Walker.

Sailor Beware is very basic Martin and Lewis material. It does not stand up well to the test of time. It is of historical interest only, indicating the basic techniques and appeal of the pair at the time. Dean Martin is the straight man hero, the romantic interest, the pal to the underprivileged Melvyn, the singer of songs, the possible celebrity.

Jerry Lewis is Melvyn Jones, the small man, the hypochondriac, the cross-eyed whinging voiced comedian. He has some very basic routines - but has been much better in other films. Corinne Calvet has a guest role as a glamorous star. The screenplay derives from the old comedy The Fleet's In and is adapted for Martin and Lewis. However, the services style comedy seems very dated now.