Movie review – M&L#14 - “Artists and Models” (1956) ***1/2

One of the best, if not the best, Martin Lewis films, full of tremendous energy and good cheer. Both stars are in top form, even if they are separated for much of the running time, but when they are together its gold. It’s gold when they’re apart too. Many of their films involved them struggling to make it in the big city, and getting involved with friends (usually two love interests) – I think this family feeling was and unsung reason behind their film’s success.

Two main reasons this is better than their usual output: first, Frank Tashlin directed, giving the film life and energy and gorgeous colour (the musical numbers are all well done, particularly the finale); there is lots of his sly humour and satire, like the Rear Window gag, the spy satire and the comic book author who just wants blood and guts.

The second, the female actors are top notch. Dorothy Malone is spirited as Dean’s girl, Shirley MacLaine steals the show as the “bat girl” desperate to seduce Lewis (there is some hilarious scenes when she does this); there’s also Anita Ekberg in the perfect Anita Ekberg role, i.e. playing a model, looking great and not saying much, and Eva Gabor as a mata hari type. The women are frequently wearing not much: Malone walks around in a towel, she and Maclaine show off their legs, Ekberg and Gabor wear low cut dresses, etc. Structure-wise it’s a shame the spy stuff wasn’t introduced earlier, it has real meat. Affectionate and good natured movie.