Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)


Hook, Line & Sinker is a 1969 American comedy film produced by and starring Jerry Lewis. It was released on April 16, 1969 by Columbia Pictures. This was both, the final film for both director George Marshall, whose career dated back to 1916 and was Lewis' last movie for Columbia.

Plot

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 marlin swordfish piercing his chest.

Cast

Hook, Line & Sinker was filmed under the working title Kook's Tour.
The film was shot from April 1 — June 20, 1968 at the Columbia Ranch in Burbank using the exterior of the same house seen on TV's Gidget. The interior scenes were filmed on the same sound stage used for TV's Bewitched, although the colour scheme was substantially altered.
This was veteran character actress Barbara Pepper's final role.

Release

The film opened at the Center theatre in Boston on April 13, 1969 and grossed $7,000 in its first week. It went into general release on June 6, 1969.
It was the first Jerry Lewis film released under the MPAA's new film rating system. It was rated G.

Home media

The film was released on DVD through Sony Pictures manufacture on demand program on November 6, 2012. It was re-released on DVD in a Jerry Lewis Triple Feature collection with Three on a Couch and Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River on January 16, 2018.