Genre: Classics, Comedy Directed By: Daniel Mann Written By: Jack Rose In Theaters: 25 Dec. 1962 On Disc/Streaming: 28 July 1993 Runtime: 93 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Box office: $1,600,000 (US/ Canada) | Cast: Dean Martin as Steve Flood Lana Turner as Melanie Flood Eddie Albert as Clint Morgan Walter Matthau as Tony Gagouts Paul Ford as Judge Boatwright Nita Talbot as Saturday Knight John McGiver as Judge Fogel Jack Albertson as Hodges |
“Who’s Got the Action?” is a 1962 American comedy film about a man suffering from an addiction to gambling starring Dean Martin, Lana Turner, Eddie Albert, and Walter Matthau.
Steve Flood (Dean Martin) is an attorney who can’t seem to stay away from the racetrack or the Hollywood nightclubs.
His activities cause concern for law partner Clint Morgan (Eddie Albert) and wife Melanie Flood (Lana Turner).
While Clint has a crush on Melanie, she takes matters into her own hands by avoiding his and becoming a bookmaker.
She works closely with head bookie Tony Gagoots (Walter Matthau) to recover the money without her husband suspecting in order to keep the money in family.
When everyone goes astray from the letter of the law, they end up before the court and two different judges played with comedic solemnity by Paul Ford and John McGiver.
Lana Turner plays Melanie Flood.
With her sleek glamour and his characteristic casualness, Lana and Dean Martin were something of an “odd couple”, when they teamed up for this film. The whole cast enjoyed making this film though and most spectators will find that the pleasure is mutual.
This film garnered a mixed reaction from critics.
Time however liked it very much: ” The syndicate has the last laugh in this yak derby, but the customers get most of the others. “Who’s Got The Action? “is not the merriest oatsmobile that ever came down the track, but Dean and Lana make a surprisingly smooth entry.
For those who dote on Turner trivia, “Who’s Got The Action?” displayed Lana in her 4th screen bathtub scene – and a higly elaborate one it was. Her previous dunkings occurred in “Ziegfeld Girl“, “The Merry Widow” and “The Lady Takes A Flyer.”
Lana had fond memories of this movie. She remembered lots of laughs. It involved horse racing, a passion of hers and of Fred May’s (her 5th husband). As for her part in the film itself, it was a demanding role, which freed her up to simply having fun with it and play with bits of business, like using reading glasses as the aspiring playwright pens her masterpiece. She’s at her best playing the comedy scenes with Eddie Albert and with Margo, who played a wacky maid.
Edith Head was Lana’s costume designer. At $750 , Edith Head claimed this was the most expensive negligee she had ever designed for a movie. It was made from embroidered Alençon lace and custom colored to compliment Lana’s skin tone.
Trailer:
Lana Turner did a lot of movies. She really loved being a moviestar.
Here are the most important films in which she starred. Just click the links for more info, photos and videos.
20 April 1937: A Star Is Born
9 Oct. 1937: They Won’t Forget
24 Oct. 1937: The Great Garrick
1 Jan. 1938: The Adventures of Marco Polo
22 July 1938: Love Finds Andy Hardy
12 Aug. 1938: Rich Man, Poor Girl
9 Dec. 1938: Dramatic School
28 April 1939: Calling Dr. Kildare
18 Aug. 1939: These Glamour Girls
29 Sept. 1939: Dancing Co-Ed
19 April 1940: Two Girls on Broadway
19 July 1940: We Who Are Young
25 April 1941: Ziegfeld Girl
12 Aug. 1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 Oct. 1941: Honky Tonk
18 Febr. 1942: Johnny Eager
27 Aug. 1942: Somewhere I’ll Find You
1 April 1943: Slightly Dangerous
19 Aug. 1943: Du Barry Was A Lady
13 Nov. 1943: The Youngest Profession
23 Aug. 1944: Marriage Is a Private Affair
8 March 1945: Keep Your Powder Dry
1 Oct. 1945: Week-End At The Waldorf
2 May 1946: The Postman Always Rings Twice
5 Nov. 1947 : Green Dolphin Street
1 Nov. 1947: Cass Timberlane
29 April 1948: Homecoming
20 Oct. 1948: The Three Musketeers
1 Sept. 1950: A Life Of Her Own
2 March 1951: Mr. Imperium
5 Sept. 1952: The Merry Widow
25 Dec. 1952: The Bad And The Beautiful
25 Aug. 1953: Latin Lovers
1 May 1954: Flame And The Flesh
7 Sept. 1954: Betrayed
13 May 1955: The Prodigal
4 June 1955: Sea Chase
14 Dec. 1955: The Rains Of Ranchipur
12 Jan. 1956: Diane
13 Dec. 1957: Peyton Place
30 Jan. 1958: The Lady Takes A Flyer
2 May 1958: Another Time, Another Place
30 April 1959: Imitation Of Life
23 June 1960: Portrait In Black
19 July 1961: By Love Possessed
2 Nov. 1961: Bachelor In Paradise
25 Dec. 1962: Who’s Got The Action?
24 Febr. 1965: Love Has Many Faces
27 April 1966: Madame X
30 April 1969: The Big Cube
7 Nov. 1974: Persecution
27 Oct. 1976: Bittersweet Love
31 Oct. 1980: Witches Brew
21 May 1982: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Lana’s biography “Lana, the Lady, The Legend, The Truth“, “The Films Of Lana Turner” by Lou Valentino and “Lana Turner, The Memories, The Myths and The Movies” by Cheryl Crane.