Main Cast: Jerry Lewis, Joan O'Brien, Zachary Scott, Jack Weston, Jesse White
Release Year: 1962
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
Plot
Jerry Lewis stars in this broad slapstick comedy as Lester March, a TV repairman who dreams of some day being a private detective like his friend and role model Mr. Flint (Jesse White). One night, Lester sees a report on television about Cecilia Albright (Mae Questel), the elderly owner of a successful electronics empire. Cecilia is looking for her missing nephew, who will be the heir to her estate, and Lester decides that this is a case he should try to crack. However, when Lester pays a visit to Cecilia's estate, more than one person remarks that he looks an awful lot like the missing person in question -- including Gregory DeWitt (Zachary Scott), Cecilia's money-hungry attorney who would just as soon the nephew not be found so he could have the fortune to himself. Gregory attempts to kill Lester, but he turns out to be much harder to get rid of than anyone expected. It's Only Money was directed by Frank Tashlin, who after directing a number of classic animated shorts for Warner Bros. moved on to live-action films and made several classic Jerry Lewis vehicles, including two features with onetime partner Dean Martin. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Tambi Larsen - Art Director, Hal Pereira - Art Director, Bobby Van - Choreography, Edith Head - Costume Designer, Ralph Axness - First Assistant Director, Frank Tashlin - Director, Arthur P. Schmidt - Editor, Walter Scharf - Composer (Music Score), W. Wallace Kelley - Cinematographer, Paul Jones - Producer, Sam Comer - Set Designer, James W. Payne - Set Designer, Farciot Edouart - Special Effects, John P. Fulton - Special Effects, John Fenton Murray - Screenwriter
It's Only Money was filmed from October 9-December 17, 1961. It was released on November 21, 1962 by Paramount Pictures.
Plot
Lester March (Jerry Lewis) is a 25-year old orphan who is an electronics repairman. However, his real passion is detective novels, and he dreams of someday becoming one. His best friend, Pete Flint (Jesse White) is a detective, and they see a program about a weathly, single woman, Cecilia Albright (Mae Questel} who is looking for her long-lost nephew. The mention of a $100,000 reward gets their attention. Flint allows March to join him as they sneak into the Albright mansion in hopes of solving the mystery and collecting the reward.
During their attempt to sneak in, Albright's lawyer (Zachary Scott) sees them and recognizes March as being the long-lost nephew, Charles Albright, Jr. The lawyer was responsible for Charles Albright, Sr.'s death, and his plan is to marry Cecilia and kill her to inherit the entire fortune. With the help of the butler (Jack Weston), they plan to kill March so he does not interfere with that plan.
The family nurse, Wanda Paxton (Joan O'Brien) discovers March's identity and falls in love with him. The lawyer's plans are foiled, March's identity is revealed, and Paxton and March are married.
