Artists and Models (1955)

A lot of fun.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

1955 vehicle for long time film comedy partners, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Here they played painter Rick Todd, and his friend and roommate Eugene Fullstack, a comic book enthusiast who talks in his sleep. In doing so her narrates adventure stories in his slumber. The struggling artist that Rick is, he seeks to exploit the situation to his advantage. In the same apartment building lives Abigail Parker, (Dorothy Malone) who works as an artist for the comic book that Eugene is a huge fan of. She shares a flat with Bessie (Shirley MacLaine), who models for Abigail's artwork. Fate brings all four of them together, and Bessie finds herself falling for Eugene.Marking the fourteenth pairing together of then major Hollywood stars Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis as a comedy duo (although Martin had been a professional singer who found himself eventually teaming up with Lewis), it was a collaboration that had unsurprisingly proven to be a fruitful one given their success. With Artists and Models it seems it may have been something of a problematic shoot seeing as it went $100,000 over budget which was a considerable sum back then and may have set alarm bells going for regular movie goers, and professional movies critics. However, while far from being a classic of 1950's cinema, the movie makes for a palatable enough diversion. they pretty much played to what had now become established form. Playing very much to established type as aspiring artist, Rick Todd and his roommate and amiable, would be children's author Eugene Full Stack, the two men bounce effortlessly off one another. Rick is the smooth talking, self-assured ladies man while Eugene is the goofy man-child, with the former acting in something of big brother role to his more naive, sweet natured companion. For all of what could potentially be a potentially sleazy charmer, Martin as he did with his past characters manages to be likeable with a subtle vulnerability. He clearly loves his close friend even though we see him him become disenchanted with the burdensome complexion of their relationship. As their neighbors in the apartment building where the two leads live, Dorothy Malone and Shirley MacLaine portray professional artist, Abigail Parker and her friend Bessie Sparrowbush who models for her drawings. They act as female counterparts (with Eugene ultimately modelling for Dorothy) and the obligatory love interests as Bessie develops a crush on Eugene, and Rick's affections for his fellow artist become plane to see. Their respective relationships are deftly contrasted with their being a growing smoldering, sexual tension between Rick and Dorothy, while there is a more innocent, coy playfulness between Eugene and Bessie. However, due to the attitudes and standards of today's more "progressive" and "politically correct" age, Rick's come on's Abigail's might been seen less than harmless flirtations than they are acts of harassment. This is even though it becomes abundantly apparent due to her simmering that she is indeed attracted to the good looking Lothario and is playing hard to get. While the dynamic of the male/female gender roles might prove offensive for some, I personally find it hard to care and while not necessarily defending Ricks behaviour, I was willing to see it as a historical reflection of the mores and customs of the era. The movie's slight plot which relies heavily on well worn conventions does on the other hand does give Rick something of a moral quandary, with his loyal associate narrating outlandish sci-fi stories in his sleep which he ponders on exploiting for financial gain by selling them to comic book magnate Mr. Murdock (a droll, forthright Eddie Mayehoff). It's peppered with trademark musical interludes, which while bright and breezy bow to conformity with the endearingly scene of the artist performing a sing and dance routine in the street with a little girl while passersby and onlookers smile inanely. It's fanciful stuff by contemporary standards but enjoyable if derivative. There are also a string of requisite comedy scenarios which range from Eugene sitting down to a largely imaginary meal with Rick, to the lovable goofball's visit to a massage therapist upon to fix his sacroiliac which descends in to absurd and comical complications. And it's this sense of absurdity that moves in to the movie's final act, as by a bizarre improbable twist of fate, Eugene's slumberous ramblings have inadvertently revealed intel which provokes the interest of both the American CIA and Russian KGB. It's the kind of standard trope that became typical fare in the then present and future comedies. It all culminates in a predictable stand-off towards it's denouement before the four main protagonists take their figurative final bows, and to summarize it's charming if modest fluff at best with some funny moments and well performed musical numbers (although MacLaine does overstretch her vocal abilities in a scene she shares with Lewis) that while dated to some extent, is largely inoffensive if you don't take it too seriously. A movie you could sit down and watch with you grandmother, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

A feast for the eyes. It's candy box Technicolor the whole way with lots of skimpy costumes and color loaded sets. Of course, director Tashlin specialized in cartoonish fare like A and M. Team him with the cartoonish comedian of the day, Lewis, and you've got the perfect visual counterpart. Then add impish Shirley MacLaine, the perfect loopy foil to Lewis, and you've got perhaps the best Martin and Lewis feature. Forget the plot, which is incidental anyway. Then too, Lewis's antics are much at times. Instead, catch that centerpiece with MacLaine and Lewis on the stairway. It's brilliantly done, a combination of mugging and acrobatics, showcasing their athletic skills. I don't know how they rehearsed since the timing and coordination are so precise. Besides, one misstep on the staircase and somebody's sporting a plaster cast. Probably shouldn't forget Martin's tuneful rendition of Innamorata (means "female sweetheart" in Italian). As I recall, it was a popular radio hit, as well. All in all, the crazy comedy manages bouncy entertainment the whole way. It also provides a chance to catch the scene-stealing MacLaine on her way up the show biz ladder. (In passing— the grisly content of comic books was an object of national debate in 1954, which likely accounts for the movie's comic book theme. That debate ended with a self- imposed code of content governing the industry for years.)

This may be the best of the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy movie pairings. "Artists and Models" is fairly sophisticated with witty dialog along with the antics. And the antics in this one are very good, with some highly imaginative skits. On top of that, this film is a satire. It spoofs or pokes fun at many interests. Among these are superstitions that were very popular in the mid-20th century (astrology and numerology). It ravages comic books and hits quite hard on television. It spoofs the toy industry, government security and military top-secret plans. It has fun with spying during the Cold War – spoofing the CIA and Soviet KGB.The cast includes some short appearances by top Hollywood glamour girls of the day; and the entire cast perform well. Dean is Rick Todd, Jerry is Eugene Fullstack, Shirley MacLaine is Bessie Sparrowbrush, and Dorothy Malone plays the other female lead as Abby Parker. Eddie Mayehoff is hilarious as Mr. Murdock and Kathleen Freeman as Mrs. Muldoon appears to have two roles. She is the apartment owner or manager and she reprises one of her Swedish massage roles for great laughter. Several comedy skits that often have hijinks or antics are innovative and hilarious. The first is a one-bean dinner, with Jerry doing the carving that leads viewers to some healthy howling. There is a stairway scene that's a riot with Jerry and a young Shirley MacLaine in just her second movie. And, a chiropractic double skit is a riot. Jerry is maneuvered and mangled on a massage table with some very funny twists (literal), and then coerces Dean and three women onto the table for a very funny menagerie, which he then escapes. One very funny scene doesn't involve either lead. Murdock is chewing out Abby for not delivering the right stuff for his comic books. "You're supposed to be an artist and a writer of children's stories," he says. "..62 pages of drawings, and no blood. Not even an itsy bitsy nosebleed. Suffering catfish, you call this a Murdock book for kiddies? With no stranglings? With no decapitations? Where are they? Look at the competition we're getting from television. Night before, I counted 13 murders – four stranglings, nine suffocations and six poisonings (sic) – on two channels in one hour. And another thing. Just you think of this, girl. When they're able to show that red blood gushing out of open wounds in spectacular color – and they'll get it free, right into the living rooms there… sponsored by those friendly used car dealers."In one scene, two men are in a far building spying on Murdock in his office. We can't see the face of one who's looking through binoculars. The other guy asks what they are doing down there. In a voice that sounds very much like that of Jimmy Stewart, the other guys says, "I can't see too well through this 'Rear Window.'" What a hoot. This film came out when Dwight Eisenhower was president. Ike like to golf and often was in the news around his golf outings. One of the CIA agents thanks Rick for helping them uproot the KGB spies. "Who knows, the President might invite you to the White House," he says. "I doubt that," Rick replies. "Why?" the agent asks. ""I shoot in the low 70s," Rick answered. "Artists and Models" has four or five songs. There weren't any memorable tunes, and most just weren't that good. The film could easily have done without the musical numbers. Just a little rewrite would be needed. Martin and Lewis made two films together in supporting roles before they became top billing and films were scripted for and around them. The first starring role for the duo was "At War with the Army" in 1950. They made 16 films together from 1949 to 1956, and all were box office successes.

This is probably the best of the films featuring Martin and Lewis. This film is also a fine parody due to the fact that this film was shot during the period when there it was being debated over how the comic books that were out during that time were affecting children (those arguments would lead to the "comics code"). The other highlight of this film was looking at Shirley MacLaine was chasing after Jerry (the girl must have needed glasses). These scenes provide much of the humor as Jerry's character Eugene is scared to death of the aggressive Betsy. Its also interesting to note that MacLaine's character Betsy is interested in astrology and MacLaine would later become known for her new age interests, including astrology.