At War With the Army (1950)

Dean & Jerry test the waters

"At War With The Army", Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis' first starring feature (after 2 plum supporting roles in "My Friend Irma" and the sequel "My Friend Irma Goes West"), is clearly an excuse to see if this new comedy duo can carry a picture. And why not start them off in a service comedy? Look what "Buck Privates" did for Abbott & Costello!
AWWTA is based on a stage play, and really looks it. With the exception of a few outdoor scenes, most of the film is very "stagebound" as the characters occupy a handful of set pieces, and Martin & Lewis are obliged to share their screen time with a wide assortment of characters. Strangely enough, Martin & Lewis do not seem to be intentionally paired as a team here, since their characters only cavort in a few scenes together. One of the "convincers" that they are a team is the "Service Show" scene, obviously a holdover from their nightclub act. The problem is that their 2 characters are mostly at odds with each other, since one is Sargeant (Martin) while the other is a lowly Private (Lewis). Dean sings his songs as smoothly as he does in future movies, while Jerry sings a cute, funny novelty number that "The Navy Gets the Gravy While the Army Gets the Beans", and does a curious turn in drag singing a French accent, and mugging it up.
The film has a sort of "B-movie" feel to it, mostly because it was produced by someone else, and not Hal Wallis, who would give such polish & style to their following films. The DVD interpretation here is scratchy, dark & blurred in spots, but still viewable.
Although not their best by any means, AWWTA was a big hit when it first debuted, and was an indication that the best from Martin & Lewis was still to come. August 31, 2008

I love the young Jerry.

Jerry has such a humble approach in his character it is very easy to sink in. There is never a dull moment when he comes onto screen. I love his B&W's. April 6, 2008

Good Times Video...Skip it

What Dean & Jerry fan does not know of this movie?
My intention is to save those of us collectors time and money.

The Good Times Video version appears to have been recorded from a vhs - that was itself recorded from another vhs without Time Base Correction - about 10 times.

Add to that, its 1.33:1. Just last weekend I saw a Letterbox version on AMC...that's the copy I'm looking for.

Yep - that bad. Perhaps it was better than nothing, but now that something has hit the market, do yourself a favor, skip this version.
August 26, 2007

Martin and Lewis at their funniest!

This movie featured the comedic talents of the one and only Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. Their only movie not released by Paramount. The comedy surrounds the antics of life at the army barracks for these two and their superiors. Funniest part...Jerry Lewis in a dress! If you enjoy these two then you will like their first outing, "At War With the Army'! August 11, 2007

Not good quality

The movie is a good one but the quality of the dvd is bad! The sound is very low, picture is jumpy (I'm not sure how that happens on dvd?). I sent mine back and got the Martin and Lewis Collector's Edition with "At War with the Army" Movie included. I recomend that one instead. 6 1/2 hours of FUNNY! March 25, 2007

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