It’s Only Money (USA, 1962) 83 min B&W DIR: Frank Tashlin. PROD: Paul Jones. SCR: John Fenton Murray. MUSIC: Walter Scharf. DOP: W. Wallace Kelley. CAST: Jerry Lewis, Zachary Scott, Joan O’Brien, Mae Questel, Jesse White, Francine York. (Olive Films)
While scouring the vaults at Paramount, Olive Films found three Jerry Lewis vehicles previously unreleased to DVD. Of these, It’s Only Money is the best, and remains one of his most satisfying movies. This spoof is among the films the comedian made with his mentor Frank Tashlin, a former animator whose best features are commonly live-action cartoons.
Indeed, this film is a surreal joy that once again features Lewis as a low-level member of society, this time as Lester March, a TV repairman who dreams of being a detective like his friend Pete Flint (Jesse White). Once it is learned that a wealthy woman Cecilia Albright (Mae Questel) is offering a reward for the whereabouts of her long-lost nephew who is heir to her fortune, Lester and Pete are on the case.
Once Lester shows up at the Albright estate, it is evident upon seeing his face that he is the nephew! This draws the wrath of Ms. Albright’s lawyer (Zachary Scott, once again playing a cad) who wants to bump off Lester, so that he can marry her for her money.
Lewis’ character is an overgrown child (love the scene where he and Mae Questel dance to “Cocktails for Two”) who tries to make good in a hostile adult world where everything conspires against him. There is always so much energy onscreen, either with Jerry’s non-stop childlike banter, or Tashlin’s filling the frame with visual gags, subtle or otherwise.
But still, despite all of the slapstick and elaborate visual gags like the automatic lawnmowers, there is a curiously controlled tone to it. As much as I like Jerry Lewis, I can understand why he isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Even with Jerry in his element, the film never feels overdone or overbearing: Tashlin manages to make this enjoyable film rather mannered. It’s Only Money is an unsung comedy gem awaiting rediscovery – check it out!
Originally published in Vol. #1, Issue 25.
Greg Woods
Greg Woods has been a film enthusiast since his teens, and began his writing "career" at the same time- prolific in capsule reviews of everything he had watched, first on index cards, then those hardcover dollar store black journals, then an old Mac IIsi. He founded The Eclectic Screening Room in 2001, as a portal to share his film love with the world, and find some like-minded enthusiasts along the way. In addition to having worked in the film industry for over two decades, he has been a co-programmer of films at Trash Palace, and a programmer/co-founder of the Toronto Film Noir Syndicate. He has also written for Broken Pencil, CU-Confidential, Micro-Film, and is currently working on his first novel. His secret desire is for someone to interview him for a podcast or a DVD extra.