JohnHowardReid Copyright 1955 by Paramount Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Criterion: 25 August 1955. U.S. release: August 1955. U.K. release: 14 November 1955. Australian release: 30 December 1955. Sydney opening at the Capitol (ran one week). Nationally re-issued by Paramount in the U.S.A. on a double bill with "The Caddy" in 1963. 9,250 feet. 102 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Escaping a pursuing gangster, an adult poses as a 12-year- old in order to travel half fare on the train.NOTES: The original movie starred Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers in the roles now played by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, respectively.As a team, Martin and Lewis never achieved anything like the success overseas that they enjoyed in the United States. Their most successful features in foreign shores were in order: Sailor Beware (1952), Hollywood or Bust (1956 — their last movie together), My Friend Irma (1950), Living It Up, Three Ring Circus (both 1954), Pardners (1956), Money From Home, Scared Stiff (both 1953). Even these were only moderately popular at the box-office. My own favorite is Artists and Models (1955), which like The Stooge (1953) and You're Never Too Young failed miserably outside America. That's My Boy (1951) and The Caddy (1953) barely recovered overhead and advertising costs, while My Friend Irma Goes West, At War with the Army (both 1950) and Jumping Jacks (1952) returned a modest profit.COMMENT: Thanks to the presence of Raymond Burr, this one is a fair deal funnier than the average Martin and Lewis vehicle. Fans will enjoy the slapstick chase ski finale despite the use of obvious doubles in which Lewis (real name Joseph Levitch) has one good joke when he discovers his picnic sandwich is ham. The color photography is always nice, there are lots of girls milling around (who join Dean and Jerry in one high-stepping production number). Dean also has the usual number of obligatory songs which he renders in his usual pleasant style.Unfortunately it is just impossible to accept Lewis as a child which undermines a lot of the comedy, especially when Diana Lynn tries so valiantly to play it straight. Nina Foch (pronounced "Forsh') has another of her characteristically acidic, other-woman roles and Veda Ann Borg makes her usual effective moll. Hans Conried has some moments as a French barber. Lewis mugs away with his usual abandon but thanks to the script and Mr. Burr is occasionally amusing. Taurog's direction rates as a great deal livelier than usual.

moonspinner55 Role-reversal remake of 1942's "The Major and the Minor" has Jerry Lewis stepping into the part originally played by Ginger Rogers, but unfortunately this anemic outing is missing a lot more than just Ginger. Lewis attempts to pass for a child when boarding a train; he's successful, but the deception leads to a string of comic and romantic confusions. Sidney Sheldon adapted the screenplay, tossing in musical moments for Dean Martin (playing yet another in his stable of second-bananas) and a jewel-robbery subplot (which is dire). Diana Lynn, who played the wily teenager in the original film, plays Lewis' love-interest here. She's cute; Jerry isn't. *1/2 from ****

SanDiego Considered the best of the Martin and Lewis comedies, this remake of "The Major and The Minor" (with Lewis in the Ginger Rogers role as an adult disguised as a child to qualify for a half-fare train ticket) improves on the original with a never ending romp of slap-stick humor, musical comedy numbers, and color. Diana Lynn, who plays a teacher, played the teenage roommate to Ginger Rogers in the original. Diana Lynn also starred in Martin and Lewis' debut films "My Friend Irma" and "My Friend Irma Goes To New York." Lewis as a boy is never really believable, but that's okay, it's meant as a spoof of anyone who has tried to pass off an older child as younger for half fare tickets. Most important, the humor is very, very fast and funny. Despite some nice musical moments between Dean and Jerry, there is no mistaking this is Jerry's tour-de-farce, and the reason for their split up obvious. Enjoy the pinnacle of their partnership.

Petri Pelkonen I liked this movie. Jerry Lewis was a great kid in it. Jerry Lewis is one of the best comedians of the century.