It's Only Money (1962)

Very Cool!!!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I had wanted to see this movie for years after hearing it was one of Jerry Lewis' best films, but for the longest time I couldn't find it anywhere. But I finally found a video store that stocked it, so I got it in my hands at last. And after watching it, I can safely report that its reputation is deserved. Sure, it's not a perfect movie - for one thing, Lewis is too old to be playing someone in his 20s. But Lewis' performance makes up for it, making his character amusingly goofy, but not TOO much so that he remains pretty sympathetic and not annoying. The script and direction are good, not just with Lewis but with the supporting characters, who do get a good amount of comic meat to work with. There isn't much plot, but the laughs do come in on a regular basis so you won't mind very much about that. The movie is breezy fun right from the start to the bizarre (but very funny) climatic sequence when Lewis is on the run for his life. This may not be Lewis' best film, but it's not very far behind, and would make a good introduction to anyone not familiar with him. Now someone convince Olive Films to get the DVD rights to Lewis' "Don't Give Up The Ship", which is just as funny, maybe even more so!

I've noticed that in Jerry Lewis' earlier solo films, he tended to play his roles a bit more...quietly. In films like "The Delicate Delinquent" and "The Sad Sack", Lewis was reasonably restrained. However, as the 1960s arrived, Lewis began a long period in which being loud and overplaying things was his schtick. This mugging was quite obvious here in "It'$ Only Money". He's very loud, his voice is much more intensely annoying and ethnic and he is anything but subtle. As a result, it's difficult going at times.The film finds Jerry playing a TV repairman. A rich inventor has recently died and Jerry's detective friend (Jesse White) wants to use Jerry to infiltrate the dead man's mansion. What no one knows at this point is that Jerry is the heir to the estate--the rich guy's long-lost son. The first to realize this is a shyster lawyer (Zachary Scott) who plans on using his homicidal assistant (Jack Westin) to kill Lewis before he can collect his fortune. And, his plan is to then marry the dead guy's sister (Mae Questel) and then kill her--and taking the fortune for himself. Can Jerry somehow survive? And, for that matter, can the audience survive the ordeal?! Considering how much Lewis mugs during the train recording sequence, when he's shaving and when looking at the painting of his dead father, it's doubtful. Subtle and well acted, it ain't! If you do watch, look for Barbara Pepper (Mrs. Zipfel from "Green Acres") and Mae Questel (the voice of Olive Oyl and Betty Boop). Pepper is just there in a cameo as the lady at the fishing pier and Questel plays Jerry's aunt with the very annoying voice (hence, it's easy to tell they are supposed to be related).

When the French deliver accolades regarding the genius of Jerry Lewis, this is, no doubt, one of the flicks they refer to.IT'$ ONLY MONEY provides the viewer with a perfect blend of Dir. Frank Tashlin's deft touch with a comedic script and the harnessing of star Jerry Lewis who, for this movie, walks a fine laugh-filled tightrope all the way with nary a mishap.Jerry has referred to Tashlin as his "mentor" and probably for that reason, the comedian has restrained himself from his usual on screen excesses. The result is unbridled humor from the star with special emphasis on featured player Jesse White who is a perfect foil to Jerry's man-child character.Eye candy is provided by the lovely Joan O'Brien who portrays Jerry's girl. Uh! Oh! Opposites do attract,especially in the movies.IT'$ ONLY MONEY pays off with interest.

In this offering, Jerry was a stupid television repairman who is an heir to a fortune that an unscrupulous attorney wants for himself. Many attempts are made to insure that Jerry does not live to get the inheritance. Of course, they all fail. The action was so predictable that I considered the whole show to be very dull - just so much more slapstick Jerry.