First off, the transfer by Olive Films. Well, it's decent, although I purchased the Blu-Ray version, and to me it looks more like a normal version. But, still, thanks Olive Films for some of the films you are putting out! This film was toward the end of Lana Turner's career, although she was only 41 years old...and she looks 41 years old. The only really good film she had left in her after this was "Madame X", 4 years hence. On the other hand, although Dean Martin was 45 years old, he was just approaching his golden years on television and recordings. Unfortunately, his recent success in pictures ("Rio Bravo", "Bells Are Ringing") was already making him just a tad lazy. But, he had lots of hit movie years left when he made this.
Here, Dino has a bad gambling habit that is beginning to affect his marriage, although Lana initially suspects he is having an affair. When she learns about the gambling, she talks Dean's law partner (Eddie Albert) into helping her get involved in gambling -- as a pretend bookie -- in a convoluted plot to lead Dean to losing enough money to drive him away from gambling. Instead, he begins winning! Then the winning, by Dean and friends, gets out of hand and a syndicate mobster (Walter Matthau) attempts to find out who is getting the action (hence the title).
There's nothing wrong with this movie that a better director or script wouldn't have fixed. It's okay. Very watchable, but not memorable. Why? Dean was Dean...that's why so many of us went to see Dean Martin movies. Lana Turner was still lovely, though middle-aged. That's okay, too. Eddie Albert was a little disappointing...far from some of his stellar supporting actor roles. Walter Matthau in his pre-stardom days was what Walter Matthau usually was at that point in time. Paul Ford and John McGiver did their job as judges well (were there any romantic comedies during this period that John McGiver wasn't in?). But, the script was missing some punch, and considering we're talking about horse racing and the mob, it certainly could have had some.
Watch it once. Enjoy some good moments. And then move on.
Here, Dino has a bad gambling habit that is beginning to affect his marriage, although Lana initially suspects he is having an affair. When she learns about the gambling, she talks Dean's law partner (Eddie Albert) into helping her get involved in gambling -- as a pretend bookie -- in a convoluted plot to lead Dean to losing enough money to drive him away from gambling. Instead, he begins winning! Then the winning, by Dean and friends, gets out of hand and a syndicate mobster (Walter Matthau) attempts to find out who is getting the action (hence the title).
There's nothing wrong with this movie that a better director or script wouldn't have fixed. It's okay. Very watchable, but not memorable. Why? Dean was Dean...that's why so many of us went to see Dean Martin movies. Lana Turner was still lovely, though middle-aged. That's okay, too. Eddie Albert was a little disappointing...far from some of his stellar supporting actor roles. Walter Matthau in his pre-stardom days was what Walter Matthau usually was at that point in time. Paul Ford and John McGiver did their job as judges well (were there any romantic comedies during this period that John McGiver wasn't in?). But, the script was missing some punch, and considering we're talking about horse racing and the mob, it certainly could have had some.
Watch it once. Enjoy some good moments. And then move on.