That's My Boy (1951 film)

That's My Boy is a 1951 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis and marked the first time that Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had "roles" as opposed to previous efforts in which they played an extension of their nightclub act. It was released on May 31, 1951 by Paramount Pictures.

Plot
Junior Jackson is the nerdy son of a former All-American football hero, Jarring Jack Jackson. His mother is another former star athlete, having been a champion Olympic swimmer. Junior is something of a disappointment to his father, who has a difficult time understanding how two athletes could produce such a weakling.

Junior is more interested in animal husbandry than sports, but his father has other plans. In exchange for free tuition to college, Bill Baker makes a deal with Jarring Jack to turn his son into a football star.

Junior somehow makes the team, in addition to falling for beautiful student Terry Howard. He is too shy to talk to her, however, so she winds up falling for Bill. Some misadventures follow, including Junior scoring a touchdown—for the opposite team.

To keep up the ruse (and free education), Bill and Terry continue to support Junior and build his new-found confidence. Junior confides to Bill that he intends to marry Terry, so a guilt-ridden Bill gets drunk and makes a scene at Terry's dorm. As a result, he is expelled.

Junior, finding out the truth about Bill and Terry, is determined to make things right. He goes on to win the big game single-handedly and lives up to his father's expectations, who proudly exclaims, "That's my boy!"

Cast

 * Dean Martin as Bill Baker
 * Jerry Lewis as 'Junior' Jackson
 * Ruth Hussey as Ann Jackson
 * Eddie Mayehoff as Jarring Jack Jackson
 * Marion Marshall as Terry Howard
 * Polly Bergen as Betty "Babs" Hunter
 * Hugh Sanders as Coach Wheeler
 * John McIntire as Dr. Benjamin Green
 * Francis Pierlot as Henry Baker
 * Lillian Randolph as May the Maid
 * Selmer Jackson as Doc Hunter (as Selmar Jackson)
 * Tom Harmon as himself (Football Announcer)
 * Gregg Palmer as Student (as Palmer Lee)
 * Hazel Boyne as Housemother (billed as Hazel "Sonny" Boyne)
 * Frank Gifford as 'Junior' Jackson - Football Sequences
 * Don Haggerty as Tom, Masseur

Songs

 * Ballin' the Jack - Dean Martin, Polly Bergen, and Ensemble
 * I'm in the Mood for Love - Dean Martin

Production
That's My Boy was filmed from December 6, 1950 through January 10, 1951. Location scenes were at Occidental College in northeast Los Angeles.

Home media
The film was included on an eight-film DVD set, the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One, released on October 31, 2006.

Television
A single-season CBS television series based on this film aired from 1954-1955, with Mayehoff reprising his role as Jarring Jack Jackson. Gil Stratton played "Junior" Jackson, and Rochelle Hudson was cast as the wife and mother, Alice Jackson. The series was rerun by CBS during the summer of 1959.

Comic book

 * Eastern Color Movie Love #12 (December 1951)