The Jerry Lewis Films: An Analytical Filmography of the Enigmatic Comic Genius

There are many ways of entertaining ourselves and I dont know of anything more popular a sfilm. There are plays,a concert, stand up comedy..but films and you can rent a film and it wont break the bank and the odd time you may find the one like john steinbecks the pearl which glistens and lights so much on your light..have you seen such a film. I dont know if in this book of jerrys films you will find one..have I found one. The art of chaplain Lewis hails from, and there are many other popular comedians who followed from that great performer, and lIke Chaplain they built their audience and rapport with people through standup touchin gon their lives in acts...and then the films are quite different. Let us start in 1966..after a long career first with dean martin, in a series of films and night club routines, and they built a great audience, faithful and Jerry had it in him to be more of an artist than Dean. You can see a bit of their background and history in the film the Stooge, and other films you may want to look at include Scared Stiff and Money from Home. After these films increasing acrimony began to seep through into film and they called it quits. Surprisingly Paramount was more interested in Lewis, as a film performer than Martin. Lewis had something few could offer, slapstick, classical routines, children type comedy and an entrance into foreign markets. Who else was doing Jerrys type of comedy..1966 after many films with mentor frank tashlin, a great talented director writer who did much to forward jerrys career and gave himinsight into comedy..and top that! It was a difficult director to react against, and it led him to refine and develop his own forays which are distinct from Tashlin, whoose early skills can be seen in Son of Paleface. Theres a wholeness to the films of Tashlin the Lewis character as a classical clown against the background of the scene and Lewis painted his scenes in a different light from the perceptions of the Klutz..sometimes the suicidal klutz in the late film Cracking Up. 1966 Tashlin was gone, his main director, Paramount, Dean..he was now at Colunmbia..strangely enough at the same time dean wa signed for Matt helm. One of the more original Lewis films, The Family Jewells where Chaplin like he plays many roles, and each fits nicely into the film, and theres a child actress wonderfully played in the film, an input like Chaplins great film the KId, and there are many comic elements and strangely its like a picture postcard..it seem like a Tashlin type film. Are all these comic creations, from all strata of life Dickens like the reason why? He made other memorable films, the Nutty professor, its only money, disorderly orderly, errand boy, Visit to a small planet(many enjoy this talky film)..Family Jewells shows is more in this vein..1966 Columbia decides to write somrthing for him, and they decide on a more adult Lewis. Three on a couch from the writers of Sabrina..romance. They like all those characters, they see that too, internatioinal audience and they mix it with a plot about a person on the psychiatrists couch,,and three women..and all the elements dont fit in, the characters dont, it doesnt really relate to our world, nothing like the Family Jewells, although much publicized, a great success, the creative people were all gone he wa son his own. After the Big Mouth Columbia wouldnt allow him to direct, and after troubles at Paramount(he left since they would not bank Three)..he wasnt allowed to direct at Columbia..and they wouldnt finance Which way to the FRont..and he lost his audience and its unfortunate he couldnt get his films into the cinema, they had an audience in continental europe, the misfit and i enjoy his films, I like the Tashlin films and his and some of the solo ones..some stood up better than others..read the book and judge for yourself. Nutty Professor..was a great success..trying to adapt to changing mores..it didnt work an dhe lost his young audience..A comeback film is Hardly Working and Smorgasbord was barely released. He mentions the later WB Which way to the FRont. A film barewly released here, Columbia wouldnt finance it, and warners barely released it? Chaplin's best work is a film at the front a war film, it escapes my memory, and in comparison this is not his best kind of work, its an enjoyable film, for these days we dont see this kind of comedy..and recouped its costs in Germany and also France his films have done well, their satiric quality is greatly appreciated a venue where Chaplins film have done well. THree Stooges, Marx Bros, Laurel & Hardy, Abbot and Costello..clowns of yesteryear..also Hal Roaches Little Rascals..after the mid 60's they had a niche audience..Jerry and romance and compare the sentimental Chaplin and his mixture of love and comedy..does Jerry and his characters ever achieve that love, that romantic love, would the characters of Three on a COuch, with the multiple funny characterizations call him 20 years hence. Every comedian is good in some areas, and hes compared in others. The reviewer here too goes into some areas and has his own favourites and knock downs..Jerry didnt like the modern post 65 world of films..the modern comics, eddie murphy, steve martin, robin williams, the toilet comics,..and the TV charlie Sheen? Its a good book, not everyone will agree, or likes whats written, Ive developed my own different view of his art..and the comedians..and i liked bob hope, the three stooges, frank tashlin..the more moderns will require more time to figure out..jerry likes Robin Williams of the new comics..hes a s new as jonathon winters...

Waitin’ for this for a long time.Nothing “Hollywood” about this Hollywood book , just a solid, satisfying journey back , inviting wonderful memories of going to “Jerry films” for 20 years .Great incisive and insightful analysis and we are treated to Jerry’s own criticisms . For all his ego, he sure knows how to objectively judge his movies.I found some foreign films he was involved with , of which I was unaware .Too bad it misses “Max Rose”.For the record my faves are: living it up, Rock a bye baby, the bellboy , the errand boy, it’s only money, the nutty professor , the big mouth , and The King of Comedy.

As a kid, I loved Jerry Lewis films. As an adult--not so much. But, I wanted a reference book that would cover the Martin & Lewis movies and this has them all. Well done.

Easily the definitive work on Jerry's film career, this book is a MUST for fans and comedy buffs. The softcover release is very affordable with a terrific cover and Jerry's comments at the conclusion of each and every chapter on his work are fascinating, honest and fun to read. My pal Jim and his co-author Ted have done superb work here, covering every one of the Martin and Lewis comedies we grew up with then through Jerry's hit and miss solo career... and when he hits, classic comedy ensues. Celebrate the 90th birthday of this last link to the vintage film comedies of another era by purchasing this MUST HAVE history of films of Jerry Lewis.

This book is a must for fans of Jerry Lewis, for students of film, for historians, and pop culture buffs!!This is an especially wonderful publication for fans who don't want to dig up gossip, but simply want to appreciate the work of the entertainer they admire. This book is packed with information and wonderful black and white photos (many not avaliable anywhere else).I appreciate that the authors dedicated the book to Mr. Lewis and it reads like a well-referenced and studied labor of love.