There are some genuine laughs in this comedy that first appears to be another Doris Day/Rock Hudson type sex comedy but ends up being anything but. Notice I say "some" laughs, not a lot. The non-sensical plot deals with a novelist wife (Lana Turner) of an attorney (Dean Martin) with an addiction to betting on horse races. She decides to teach her husband a lesson so she can win him away from his obsession, and for some odd reason (seemingly to put him on a loosing streak),becomes a bookie herself. This brings in involvement from the mob and two judges (Paul Ford and John McGiver) who are associates of Martin's. To get her scheme rolling, Turner utilizes the assistance of her husband's lecherous partner (Eddie Albert) and the sexy next door neighbor (Nita Talbot) who just happens to be the gangster's moll! He is played by none other than Walter Matthau in another one of his early mob roles, and if there is any indication that he was a reincarnation of 30's character actor Ned Sparks, this movie is it. Martin spends a lot of the film intoxicated (indicating another problem),while Turner seems to be out of sorts with this type of comedy, as if she was a last minute replacement for Kim Novak. It is the character performers who end up the most interesting, and they also include Jack Albertson and Ned Glass (Doc in "West Side Story"). Albert's real-life wife, Margo (looking a lot like Ethel Merman!),plays the nosy Latin maid, and overdoes her imitation of Lupe Velez. The film, new on DVD, features some beautiful Technicolor photography and an ironic twist at the end that makes the ridiculous plot line palatable. Talbot, a much underrated comic, steals every scene she is in, while Ford and MacGiver are as always lovable buffoons.

You know if this were a serious film, Lana Turner would have hustled off Dean Martin to Gamblers Anonymous and that would be the end of it. But movie comedy demands a crazy scheme as a premise.

In a scheme worthy of Lucy Ricardo, Lana decides to take over Dino's action. She enlists his lecherous law partner Eddie Albert in on it. Albert pretends that he's got a new bookie who's the best in town. Martin goes for it.

Of course the idea is based on the fact that Dino will lose, but the money will then stay in the family. Instead Dino gets on a hot streak causing all kinds of unforeseen complications.

Who's Got the Action has a cast full of familiar faces doing what they do best. I suppose tops in the supporting cast is Walter Matthau, playing big time bookie who's wondering who's the new competition in town stealing the action from a mounting list of his heaviest bettors.

Not the best that either lead has ever done, but still fine entertainment.

Dean Martin, Lana Turner, Eddie Albert, Paul Ford, John McGiver, and Walter Matthau star in this pretty funny movie about gambling, the mob, and horse races. Mom was confused by the plot and while part of me was too, I managed to laugh at many of the visual and verbal gags and characterizations that abounded. Especially seeing Matthau do some of his familiar deliveries brought a smile to my face. In other words, Who's Got the Action was enjoyable passable entertainment.