Once again Jerry Lewis shows off the energy and stamina he had as an entertainer as he carries the ball in scene after scene. But here the results are a little uneven at best.
Jerry revisits a singing bit he did on the old Colgate show singing "Sometimes I'm Happy" while a choir interrupts his song. It was great on the Colgate show where he purportedly rehearsed the choir as a surprise to his partner Dean but here he tells the audience they have been rehearsing for weeks. So why is he surprised when they do what they do? The original worked much better.
Jerry also does a silent bit as a lonely soul who longs for love and tries to find it with tips from a record narrated by guest Hans Conried. It's okay but goes on a long time without a lot of laughs.
Sophie Tucker has a solo number that makes one wonder how she could have been the "first lady of show business". It does not age well. It's better when Jerry joins her in song (he clearly loves her) but its nothing to write home about.
Betty Grable also has a forgettable solo number and then a second comedy number where Jerry plays a fumbling choir boy messing up her act.
I found the best stuff came at the end when Jerry worked with the orchestra, playing "concerto" with a hammy piano player and then doing a vaudeville dance number with a partner he fails to introduce. The man certainly could dance.
Certainly not the worst of the Lewis solo specials, but in the end a bit disappointing despite Jerry's energy and trying so hard.
Jerry revisits a singing bit he did on the old Colgate show singing "Sometimes I'm Happy" while a choir interrupts his song. It was great on the Colgate show where he purportedly rehearsed the choir as a surprise to his partner Dean but here he tells the audience they have been rehearsing for weeks. So why is he surprised when they do what they do? The original worked much better.
Jerry also does a silent bit as a lonely soul who longs for love and tries to find it with tips from a record narrated by guest Hans Conried. It's okay but goes on a long time without a lot of laughs.
Sophie Tucker has a solo number that makes one wonder how she could have been the "first lady of show business". It does not age well. It's better when Jerry joins her in song (he clearly loves her) but its nothing to write home about.
Betty Grable also has a forgettable solo number and then a second comedy number where Jerry plays a fumbling choir boy messing up her act.
I found the best stuff came at the end when Jerry worked with the orchestra, playing "concerto" with a hammy piano player and then doing a vaudeville dance number with a partner he fails to introduce. The man certainly could dance.
Certainly not the worst of the Lewis solo specials, but in the end a bit disappointing despite Jerry's energy and trying so hard.
