Which Way to the Front?

Director: Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis

Overview

Brendan (Jerry Lewis) is an eccentric multimillionaire who is rejected for military service in this misfired comedy. Eager to help the Allies, he gathers a quartet of offbeat irregulars and sails to Italy to join the conflict. Brendan captures a Nazi general and masquerades as the enemy. When Allies arrive, he is mistaken for the real general. Jan Murray, Dack Rambo, John Wood and Steve Franklin help the inept but patriotic Brendan. Also appearing are Kaye Ballard, Neil Hamilton, and George Takei, all allumni of successful television programs from the late 1960s.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/18/2010
UPC:	0883316248904
Original Release:	1970
Rating:	G
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:36:00
Sales rank:	37,604

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jerry Lewis	Brendan Byers III,SS Guard,Bland's Wife,Lt. Levitch
Jan Murray	Hackle
Steve Franken	Bland
Dack Rambo	Terry
Willie Davis	Lincoln
Robert Middleton	Colonico
Paul Winchell	Schroeder
Sidney Miller	Hitler
Kaye Ballard	Mayor's Wife
Harold J. Stone	Gen. Luther Buck
Joe Besser	Dock Master
Gary Crosby	SS Guard
Mickey Manners	SS Guard
Danny Dayton	Man in Car
Kathleen Freeman	Bland's Mother
Neil Hamilton	Chief of Staff
Milton Frome	Executive
Bob Lauher	Sergeant
George Takei	Yamashita
Martin Kosleck	German Submarine Commander
Fritz Feld	Von Runstadt
Mike Mazurki	Rocky (uncredited)
Benny Rubin	Actor
William Wellman Jr.	Actor
John Wood	Finkel

Technical Credits

Dee Caruso

Gerald Gardner

Jerry Lewis	Director,Producer
Ralph Webb	Special Effects
Dee Caruso	Screenwriter
Gerald Gardner	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Jerry Lewis turned out some less-than-memorable films during the twilight of his career but this misguided effort may be the most tiresome. Which Way To The Front? is the kind of film where every element feels like it's off the mark. Despite an intriguingly odd premise, the script meanders to and fro with no semblance of pace or narrative drive. Almost all the gags fizzle out and they frequently take a long time to arrive at their tired punchlines. Lewis supplies the manic energy one would expect from one of his comedies but he seems to be going through the motions here (it doesn't help that his character is unsympathetic and a bit of a jerk). There is the occasional highlight -- the best moment arrives when Lewis double-talks his way out of having to give the password at a checkpoint -- but it's a lot of work to get those all-too-rare laughs. Finally, Lewis's direction is as static as it is slack and the jazzy soundtrack music he often favored in his films seems particularly out of place here. To sum up, Which Way To The Front? is one of Lewis's least appealing films. Even devoted fans may have a tough time getting through this one.

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