The Patsy (1964).

Review #1710: The Patsy.

Cast: 

Jerry Lewis (Stanley Belt), Everett Sloane (Caryl Fergusson), Phil Harris (Chic Wymore), Keenan Wynn (Harry Silver), Peter Lorre (Morgan Heywood), John Carradine (Bruce Alden), Ina Balin (Ellen Betz), and The Four Step Brothers. Directed by Jerry Lewis (#1404 - The Bellboy)

Review: 

The working title of the film was Son of Bellboy, and I suppose it makes sense to do a loose connection with The Bellboy (1960), since each featured Lewis playing a bellboy named Stanley that got into hijinks. Of course, the previous film was in black & white while having Lewis speak minimally while this feature has quite an interesting main set filled with color (green carpeting, for example). At any rate, what we have here is a movie that dares to aim for amusement with a character that will occasionally bubble into that light of painful awkwardness without becoming fodder to grouse about. It just so happens to involve a patsy surrounded by yes men that might as well be still prevalent today with regards to carefully packaged entertainers fit for the masses (whether through television or video screen). Sure, times have changed in the past five decades when it comes how they come out onto our attention…think about it: in a time of influencers and products made for folks eager to consume product before next product, there is something interesting about seeing a movie where all the steps don't necessarily have to come together to make something people want to watch in public. I think in that regard it makes for a fairly decent movie, albeit one with a slightly less smooth hit-and-miss ratio of gags to time when compared to some of other films with Lewis, who also co-wrote the film with Bill Richmond (a frequent co-writer for films with Lewis as director, as Richmond, a musician-turned gagman, would work on seven of the twelve completed films); this was the fifth film that Lewis directed. But hey, if 101 minutes seem useful enough to go with a mix of guests with notable character presences, this will be right up your alley.

The toadies certainly make it count in pulling strings handily enough without over-reaching, although I am skewed positively because of my familiarity with Wynn, Lorre, and Carradine (even though the latter two basically are there to play yes-man and watcher, respectively). At any rate, this was the last film appearance for Lorre, who died five months before the release of the film along with the penultimate film appearance of Sloane. Of course, a film with a bit to say about show business has a few cameos (much as a star vehicle about Vegas just happens to have George Raft). They mostly come and go without seeming too ragged, at least when your list goes from Scatman Crothers to Hedda Hopper to Ed Sullivan - the middle cameo probably gets the most mileage, probably because of a silly hat that ties with artifice. I respect Lewis and his commitment to the bit when it comes to a character that isn't necessarily meant to be funny all the time but can still generate worthy curiosity without artifice (and no, it isnt just "being himself", it just means he plays his hand without standing to cliches). Balin plays okay as the straight toady that has some sensibility and makes a fair match for Lewis. The bit involving a makeshift tie, done without dialogue, is a fairly neat little sequence to help round the film down, clicking. The last gag is probably my favorite, since it takes down the last bit of artifice when it comes to making entertainment with awareness, and apparently it came about because Lewis couldn't think of a good ending. The film has touched of biting humor in poking at the star system within promoters and the very artifice of Hollywood without becoming a spiteful piece to shudder at. Folks familiar with the timing of Lewis in his execution of directing and acting will find it worthy for a look, and this also extends to those not as familiar with Lewis. Life goes on with or without a star or patsy to kick around, so enjoy as many pieces of entertainment with them, I suppose.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.