Starring Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Mona Freeman, and Don DeFore
Directed by Norman Taurog
Music by Jerry Livingston; Lyrics by Mack David
At War With the Army was such a hit, Martin and Lewis did two more musicals set around the Armed Services in 1952. Jumping Jacks throws them back into the Army for what I suspect is the only musical revolving around paratroopers. This was originally written for either Danny Kaye or Bob Hope during World War II, but they already made military comedies and turned it down. It was eventually reworked and updated for Martin and Lewis and the Korean War era. How does this tale of a performer who is reluctantly recruited into the Army ranks when his buddy wants him to appear in a show look now? Let's begin with comedian Hap Smith (Lewis) and his act with his current partner Betsy Carter (Freeman) and find out...
The Story: Hap convinced to help out his former stage partner Chick Allen (Martin), who is now putting on shows with his fellow soldiers to boost morale. Chick and his paratrooper crew need to impress General Timmons (Ray Teal), who doesn't think much of their shows. They pass Hap off as a soldier and sneak him onstage. He goes over so well, the general convinces them to keep him with the show. T
rouble is, he thinks Hap's an actual soldier. Chick doesn't want his men to get into trouble, so he passes Hap off as Private "Dogface" Dolan (Richard Erdman) to keep him around. Hap does everything he can to get away, but Chick keeps dragging him back. It's not until he gets caught in war maneuvers that he manages to get away...but even then, he manages to save the day.
The Song and Dance: Once again, this is mostly Lewis' show. He's having a ball, jumping on beds, mugging to the officers in charge, and trying everything he can to get out of the Army. Big, craggy Robert Strauss also does well as Sargent McClusky, who can't understand why Hap keeps trying to flee. Filming at the actual Airborne Department of the Infantry School (now the United States Army Airborne School) adds verisimilitude to the war scenes.
Favorite Number: The film literally puts its best foot forward right away with Betsy singing about how "I Can't Resist a Boy In Uniform" in her and Hap's stage number, even he tears apart said uniform. "The Parachute Jump" and "The Big Blue Sky Is the Place for Me" are the big chorus numbers in the Army show. The first has Lewis dancing with a mop, then playing the parachute rope like harp strings. Martin's romantic solo, sung to Betsy as they dance together, is "I Know a Dream When I See One." He and Lewis insist that they need to "Keep a Little Dream Handy" at the show.
What I Don't Like: Not only does Martin not have much to do, he really comes off as a major jerk here. The plot simply makes no sense at all, even by the standards of their films. Hap said he didn't want to be in the show, and he really shouldn't have been forced into staying. Freeman has even less to do. She disappears for the final third of the film without explanation. Lewis can overdo it occasionally, especially when he's excited and his little-boy voice gets grating.
The Big Finale: Not one of Martin and Lewis' better films as a team. For major fans of either star only. Casual viewers will want to start with one of their later non-military comedies or Lewis' solo vehicles.
Home Media: Available on streaming and as part of an 8 movie DVD collection.
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