On November 7, 1955, the Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin film, Artists and Models, premiered. The film also starts Shirley MacLaine and Dorothy Malone.
The story revolves around a struggling painter (Martin) and his comic-book addict of a roommate who talks in his sleep (Lewis). Martin’s character ends up writing a comic based on the stories that Lewis tells in his sleep. Unfortunately, the stories include part of a secret formula our government has and that other governments want. Eva Gabor plays the seductress spy sent to obtain the rest of the secret formula.
In the end, good prevails, Eva’s character is left tail up in a large flower pot, and Lewis and Martin get their girls (MacLaine and Malone).
The love story between the leads is predictable, but entertaining. Lewis and MacLaine share a quirky dance on the stairs outside their apartment building. The choreography is fresh and fun. Lewis’s physical comedy is top rate. Martin sings several numbers in the film. What a smooth voice he had.
I absolutely loved Edith Head’s costuming of this film, with the “bat girl” costume being my favorite. Eva wears a beautiful blue dress when her character attempts to seduce Martin and Lewis.
She even gets a turn in the “bat girl” costume when her character kidnaps, then slips a mickey to Lewis’s character.
This is a fun film, with a solid cast. You can find the film in the usual places, but it is not available via Amazon Prime at the time of this post. Shop around for the bargain deal.
