Main Cast: John Lund, Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis
Release Year: 1950
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
In 1949, Paramount put together a film version of the radio series My Friend Irma. It was assumed that the main attraction would be scatter-brained Irma, delightfully played by Marie Wilson. Instead, the picture was stolen by a couple of young upstarts named Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Accordingly, My Friend Irma Goes West concentrates almost exclusively on Martin and Lewis, with poor Marie Wilson virtually consigned to a supporting role in her own picture. The story begins when Irma and her friends head westward on the incorrect assumption that Steve Laird (Dean Martin) has landed a movie contract. During the train trip to California, Steve's goonish pal Seymour (Jerry Lewis) is entrusted with a pet monkey, owned by movie star Yvonne Yvonne (Corinne Calvet). There's a contretemps with gangsters and a kidnapping before a happy ending can be realized. Some critics found Jerry Lewis' moronic mugging to be tasteless; others were too busy laughing to be upset. Having proven their mettle with the two My Friend Irma flicks, Martin and Lewis were awarded with their own vehicle, At War With the Army. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Corinne Calvet - Yvonne Yvonne; Lloyd Corrigan - Sharpie; Don Porter - Mr. Brent; Harold Huber - Pete; Joseph Vitale - Slim; Charles Evans - Mr. C.Y. Sanford; Kenneth Tobey - Pilot; David Clarke - Deputy sheriff; Charles Dayton - Reporter; Jimmie Dundee - Deputy; Al Ferguson - News vendor; James Flavin - Sheriff; Roy Gordon - Jensen; Gil Herman - Attendant; Rose Higgins - Indian Woman; George Humbert - Chef; Stan Johnson - Reporter; Paul Lees - Unemployment clerk; Mike Mahoney - Cigarette gag man; Wendell Niles - M.C.; Gregg Palmer - Attendant; Napoleon Whiting - Waiter; Chief Yowlachie - Indian chief; Bob Johnson - Redcap; Ivan Browning - Reporter; Julia Montoya - Indian woman; Jasper Weldon; Maxie Thrower - Bartender
The movie picks up where My Friend Irma left off, Al (John Lund) is still trying to promote Steve's (Dean Martin) career. Eventually, he gets booked to a local TV station and is spotted by a movie producer. He is offered a contract and Steve, as well as the rest of the gang, Irma (Marie Wilson), Jane (Diana Lynn) and Seymour (Jerry Lewis), all head to Hollywood.
The trip ends suddenly when the producer is discovered to be an escaped lunatic. Al tries to set things straight by taking the gang to Las Vegas to work at a casino, but things aren't as they seem. Irma causes havoc by wrecking a rigged roulette wheel, and she gets kidnapped and held for ransom until Al can raise $50,000.
Meanwhile, Seymour, dressed as an Indian brave, locates Irma and rescues her. The publicity received during the entire incident brings another movie offer... this time for Irma and Seymour.
Production
My Friend Irma Goes West was filmed from January 31 through March 18, 1950. Although At War with the Army was made before this film it was not released until December 1950, making My Friend Irma Goes West the second Martin and Lewis film released.
My Friend Irma Goes West has been released twice on DVD. It was originally released on a two-film collection with My Friend Irma on October 25, 2005. A year later it was included on an eight-film DVD set, the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One, released October 31, 2006.
