Hook, Line & Sinker | |
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Directed by | George Marshall |
Produced by | Jerry Lewis |
Written by | Rod Amateau |
Starring | Jerry Lewis Peter Lawford Anne Francis Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | 395,484 admissions (France) |
Hook, Line & Sinker is a 1969 American comedy film starring Jerry Lewis. It was shot from April 1-June 20, 1968 and released on June 6, 1969 by Columbia Pictures. This was the final film for director George Marshall, whose career dated back to 1916. This was also Lewis' last movie for Columbia.
Peter Ingersoll is about to undergo an operation at a hospital in Chile. Before beginning, the medical staff insists that he explain how his unusual condition came about.
He recalls his past life in California as an insurance salesman. His best friend, Dr. Scott Carter, breaks the news that Peter only has a short time left to live. His wife, although distraught, tells Peter to take the fishing excursion he has always dreamed of, advising him to charge it to credit cards. He runs up a bill of $100,000.
While traveling abroad, Peter is contacted by Dr. Carter and told that he was misdiagnosed and isn't dying. Now burdened with a large debt, Peter is urged by Dr. Carter to fake his death to avoid paying the bills and so his wife can collect a $150,000 life insurance policy. After seven years, when the statute of limitations is up, he can reappear.
Peter discovers that the whole thing was a scheme concocted by his wife and doctor, who are having an affair. He proceeds to wreck their plans.
However, while fishing in Chile, he ends up in that unusual predicament on that operating table ... with a swordfish (Marlin) piercing his chest.
The film was shot on location at the Columbia Ranch where the Gidget House was used as the exterior of the house. The internal scenes were filmed on the same sound stage used for Bewitched, although the colour scheme was substantially altered.
Hook, Line & Sinker was filmed under the working title Kook's Tour.
This film was the first Jerry Lewis film released under the MPAA's new film rating system. It was rated G.
The film was released on DVD through Sony Pictures manufacture on demand program on November 6, 2012.