Thats My Boy (1951 film)

Plot

Junior Jackson (Jerry Lewis) is the nerdy son of a former All-American football hero, Jarring Jack Jackson (Eddie Mayehoff). His mother (Ruth Hussey) 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 (Dean Martin) 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 co-ed Terry Howard (Marion Marshall). 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!"

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.

Cast

Spin-off

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.

DVD release

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

Comic book adaptation