The Caddy (1953)

Fresh and Exciting

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The Caddy (1953) *** (out of 4) Joe Anthony (Dean Martin) and Harvey Miller (Jerry Lewis) are big stars on the stage but it wasn't always like that. A reporter wants to know where they came from so we flashback to when Miller was about to marry the sister of Anthony. Before doing so the two men decide to try and win money playing golf since Miller at one time was great but just couldn't play in front of people. Soon they begin to take off but things take a turn when Anthony becomes interested in a woman (Donna Reed).THE CADDY is another successful teaming between Martin and Lewis. The film is certainly one of the better ones that the duo made together as there are plenty of nice laughs, a good supporting cast and then there's the soundtrack, which includes Martin's greatest hit "That's Amore." Apparently both Martin and Lewis were very goof golfers so I'm sure both were jumping at the chance to play around on the golf course and this here leads to a lot of fun.Some of the film's highlights include real life golfers who are used in the film and of course Lewis' crazy antics are there to mess everything up. One of the funniest sequences happen inside the locker room where Lewis gets soap in his eye because he doesn't know how to operate the water. Another funny sequence takes place early on in a department store where Lewis causes chaos. It's not all Lewis here as Martin gets a nice role as well but once again he gets the "mean guy" role. He's certainly good in the part and there's no question that "That's Amore" turned out to be one of the greatest moments of his career. Reed and the supporting cast are fun as well.THE CADDY certainly isn't a flawless movie but there's enough charm and laughs to make it worth watching.

In some Martin/Lewis movies, Jerry is the one that is hard to take but in this one - it is Dean. Dean Martin is a total schmuck through MOST of it. *Spoiler* Jerry is his future brother-in-law and friend, acting as caddy. He is the son of a famous golfer and knows the game but can't play in front of people. He is supposed to help Dean win and then the winnings, when they appear, will benefit the whole family (Jerry then being a part) but Dean meets Donna Reed (AKA money). He appears smitten by the 'good life' and doesn't want to admit to her that he isn't rich, like most of the golfer set, and admit to her too that Jerry is his friend. Jerry, the caddy, is then treated horribly by EVERYONE (even fellow caddies). Dean, when he sees it, allows it and even contributes towards it. To me, this part of the movie is very hard to sit through - though all is well in the end. Donna Reed is not just 'the rich b----' but turns out to be okay. I 'still' don't understand why Dean is so upset towards the end, when he stalks off. Jerry is the one who should be angry. And oh, the reviewer who complained about Jerry's horning in on Dean's songs ... come on - do you really think he was the one to make that call? The studio did. Their movies were, after all, made to make money and Jerry's shenanigans were very popular. Jerry Lewis does have huge ego (to this very day and I am, by no means, a fan) but it really was Dean's idea to end the partnership and there are always two sides to every story.

When Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis split up in 1956, the consensus was that Jerry's comic talents would sustain his career, but that Dino would have a rough going. Well the consensus only had that half right. Most critics did focus on Jerry's talents, Dean was the straight man who sang a nice song occasionally. But of all their joint films, The Caddy is best remembered for Dean's singing of That's Amore. The Harry Warren-Jack Brooks song sold a lot of records for Dean, putting him on something of an equal footing with his partner. It was nominated for an Oscar that year and until ten years or so later when Dino revived a song called Everybody Loves Somebody and made it his theme, That's Amore became the song most identified with the man from Steubenville, Ohio.Of course Jerry has his moments in The Caddy, clowning with the various golfers who made cameo appearances here, doing a comic obligato after Dean sings That's Amore and a number called The Gay Continental. But That's Amore made this of all their films, Dean's triumph.In fact Dino had another great reason to enjoy this film. Though not as publicized in fact he was as passionate about the game of golf as that other noted singer on the Paramount payroll, Bing Crosby. If he wasn't involved in any of the scenes on a given day, you would find Martin on the links invariably.The plot such as it is involves Jerry Lewis as the son of a noted golf pro who also has an extreme case of stage fright. Jerry is engaged to Barbara Bates who is Dean's sister. Both come from an Italian fishing family. Father Joseph Calleia is a commercial fisherman and mother Argentina Brunetti runs a restaurant, specializing in seafood and pasta.Jerry agrees to coach Dean and be his caddy. A lot of money can be made from professional golf although Calleia doesn't believe it. If this story sounds familiar that was the attitude of the patriarch of another San Francisco Italian fishing family named DiMaggio when three of their sons opted for careers in baseball. I guess Joe and his brothers Vince and Dom must have been flattered because they didn't sue Paramount.Donna Reed plays the socialite sponsor of golf tournaments who falls big time for Dean. And Jerry gets to have another straight man in this film in the person of Clinton Sundberg, Reed's snooty butler. In fact Jerry gets even another substitute straight man in Fred Clark who is his and Bates's boss at the job they have at a department store. Although to be fair, Lewis rehashed some material here the Marx Brothers originally used in The Big Store.The Caddy is one of the Martin-Lewis teams best and funniest comedies and if that don't get you, That's Amore will.

I love Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, and this film had to be one of the funniest, aside from Sailor Beware. Martin and Lewis have a great chemistry that is so much fun to watch. I haven't seen all their movies yet, but after seeing The Caddy, I'll have to see them all! You have to see this movie.