Gore Vidal’s TV (and later Broadway) play was more suited to the talents of Jerry Lewis than you might originally think, just based on the names “Gore Vidal” and “Jerry Lewis” – it was irreverent, fun and full of satire. But instead of Frank Tashlin directing it, who would have been perfect, they gave the job to Norman Taurog – and had it shot in black and white. Opportunities are thrown away wholesale and what could have been one of Lewis’ best movies has the aura of unfulfilled potential. It hurts in particular that Lewis isn’t allowed to have a happy ending with the girl.
The support cast includes Gale Gordon and Fred Clark (who were normally interchangeable as authority figures but here they’re in the same movie!). There’s a talking dog (well, a dog Lewis can talk to via ESP), a comic setpiece where Jerry visits a beatnik café and wows the locals.
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