User reviews

It's hard to see why Hal Wallis and Paramount held this film for two years before releasing it. Maybe they wanted a few more straight out comedy hits for Martin and Lewis before giving this one to the public.

The story has a somewhat true background based on writer Sid Silvers's experience as just such a stooge for singer/vaudevillian Phil Baker. They however didn't stay a team for any length of time in the way Martin and Lewis did.

Martin has a singing/accordion act that is going nowhere until he hires a stooge with whom he can do shtick with from the audience. Of course The Stooge is Jerry Lewis.

The Stooge was an uncomfortable film for both of these guys. It exposes the cracks in their own relationship. What's ironic here is that because of television in the sixties, everyone knows just how funny Dean Martin could be on his own.

Dino's given a whole bunch of film standards to sing in this, mostly owned by Paramount. He recorded all of them and they wound up on his first long playing album from Capitol records along with That's Amore. I still have that album.

There's one new song written for the film, A Girl Named Mary and A Boy Named Bill. Dino sings it solo and with leading lady Polly Bergen. Of course they play Bill and Mary in the film. On the Capitol recording Dean ends it in a falsetto that puts him poaching in Frankie Valli territory. It's one of my favorites of his film songs.

Fans will no doubt recognize Frances Bavier, Aunt Bee herself, as Jerry's mom. And Jerry has some great moments with nervous Percy Helton and with slow burn short order cook Donald MacBride.

Hal Wallis was nervous for nothing. The Stooge is one of the best team efforts for Martin and Lewis.

Some good comments here on this site already, so I really don't want to go over old ground, it is a portent of sorts, and there is no getting away from the fact that its central themes of narcissism and selfishness are striking a chord with the duo as the film draws to it's marvellous finale.

The film was held back for release for two years and it's not hard to see why in the light of the other Martin & Lewis out and out comedy offerings prior to this one. You see this offering is a drama with a comedy heart. Of course it's full of the maniacal moments one has come to expect from this pair, but we are never in any doubt that the core of the film is serious stuff. We are set up a treat by the makers because we are heartily involved with the mirthful nature for the first three parts of the film, and it's this that is the films chief triumph because when the shift in tone occurs: it hits you like a sledgehammer.

Maximum impact is gained by a cunning slant masquerading as comedy, and this makes the film, in my opinion, the duo's most poignant and accomplished piece of work, it's certainly not close to being the funniest one has to say, but it's an essential and great piece of entertainment from two very special entertainers. 8/10

It has its moments as a curious piece where one can't help but see this as a premonition of the future relationship between Dean and Jerry. All the laughs go to Jerry and the romance is looked after by Dean the man. I now know where Jim Carey got his facial expressions from.

Funny man Jerry Lewis is Ted Rogers and Dean Martin is Bill Miller in this Norman Taurog comedy from 1953.Dean's character gets angry when the clown gets all the attention, something that happened in the real life too.In 1956 these two split up.The Stooge is a marvelous Martin and Lewis picture.It's impossible to get bored while watching a Lewis and Martin movie.The movie has also some serious moments but the drama and comedy are well balanced in the movie.There's a lot of singing in this movie and it's amazing to see Jerry and Dean on stage entertaining people.Polly Bergen is wonderful playing Dean's love interest Mary Turner. Jerry Lewis is one of my favorite comedians of all time and after he stopped clowning with Dean he did very well alone.The master turned 75 years old the 16th day of March and it would be great if he still made some great comedies just like he did in the 50's and 60's. But you can laugh during these old movies of his and The Stooge is a must see for all the fans of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.

"The Stooge" is a different Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis movie. Although billed a comedy, it is mostly a drama. One can understand Paramount's long delays in its release. Made in early 1951, it didn't get general distribution in the U.S. for almost two years. It was first released in the UK on Nov. 15, 1951, then had a U.S. premier on Dec. 31, 1952, with general release in February of 1953.

The studio's concern was over audience reaction to how Martin's Bill Miller treated Lewis's Ted Rogers. Indeed, what is comedy within the story on the stage probably won't seem funny at all to most audiences of the movie. The problem is that had this been a biopic it would be okay to show past relationships and treatments, whatever they were like. But, presenting it as a comedy itself - for the movie audience, it doesn't work at all.

This is actually a fairly good film as a drama that shows that relationship between the two characters. One can understand also why Jerry Lewis would like it as a favorite movie - no doubt from that dramatic side. While Ted is a funny and sometimes silly stooge from the audience that makes Bill's stage act work - as a comedy, Ted is not a dumbbell who doesn't understand the gist of the audience laughing at his antics. So, within the movie, he's into the act. Perhaps Paramount couldn't see, as some within the movie apparently can't either, that Ted was okay with that. Ted is basically shy and doesn't like or want to be in the limelight. But, he enjoys goofing around, singing and being silly with Bill, and getting audiences to laugh.

Bill does show concern for Ted in their travels and a couple of scenes. The problem with the film is that it portrays Bill's ego as one thing, but his actual relationship with Ted as another. People react to the bad ego and the selfishness and false pride that Bill shows. Dean Martin's acting job wasn't as natural as it usually was with Jerry, and that has a dampening effect on getting into the story.

So, with all of that - people who expect a typical Martin-Lewis comedy here will be let down. It's a hard stretch even to label it a comedy. But it's there. My guess is that audiences aren't prepared for this and because of that, Paramount considered that the movie wouldn't go over very well. And, they were probably right. Too bad they couldn't promote it as a dramatic comedy and publicize to that effect so that audiences might enjoy the film as Jerry Lewis - the actor, in real life, saw and appreciated it. But, then again, they might have thought that to be box office poison - a Martin-Lewis film as drama rather than comedy.

The film's opening written prologue on the screen doesn't resolve the problem, but intimates that some comedy and laughter are to follow. "New York, 1930. The story is about some names in the bright lights on the Great White Way... and a certain dim bulb."

One other comment is needed here - to distinguish this film from the real life and team of Martin and Lewis. At least one other reviewer thought this film was an accurate reflection of the Martin-Lewis relationship and partnership in real life. Don't believe that for a moment. Any number of sources are available that give their background. Jerry Lewis was in command and was the driving force for their comedy. He did what he did because he was so good at it and loved it. And, he knew how to milk it for all it was worth. It was Dean Martin who eventually tired of the partnership when they finally split. And, a big part of the reason was Jerry's iron-fist control of the plots, routines and films.

Also, in real life, Lewis was a prominent humanitarian. He began what became known as the Jerry Lewis Telethon on TV in 1966 to raise money to fight muscular dystrophy. By his last hosting of the annual telethon in 2009, he was credited with raising almost $2.5 billion for the MD charity.

Here are a couple favorite lines from the film.

Mary Turner Miller, "You'll keep on looking out for him, won't you, Leo?" Leo Lyman, "For ten percent, I'd look after my own mother-in-law."

Sam Robertson, "Is he bleeding, Ms. Regan?" Miss Regan, "No, I don't think so." Sam Robertson, "Oh, too bad."

Sam Robertson, "Miss Regan." Miss Regan, "Yes?" Sam Robertson, "Tell me the truth. Do you honestly think he's human?" Miss Regan, "I've heard people bet both ways."

The Stooge is not really a comedy, though you do get some laughs. This pretty good early Martin & Lewis film somewhat mirrors their real life act when they first met and teamed.

With this, Martin & Lewis's seventh feature together, they're reunited with the following co-stars from previous movies: Polly Bergen-who was in At War with the Army and That's My Boy-playing Dean's wife who once again has a wonderful duet with him, Marion Marshall-who was also in TMB as well as Sailor Beware-playing Jerry's girlfriend, Eddie Mayehoff-previously Jerry's father in TMB is now Dean's and eventually Jerry's manager, Richard Erdman-previously the person Jerry passes himself off as in Jumping Jacks is Dean's previous performing partner here, and Mary Treen-previously the assistant of Corrine Calvet in SB is now the assistant of Jerry's boss before Jerry's teaming with Dean. In this one, Dean is an entertainer who's trying to make it as a single but his act sucks when he tries that so Jerry is picked to play a stooge for him. I'll stop there and just say that while I liked the way the actors switched from comedy to drama during the transitional scenes, sometimes I think the screenplay or maybe the direction didn't make them seamless enough to be believable to me. In fact, I found Jerry and sometimes Dean more funny offstage than when they did their act on-stage. And I think it was a mistake to make it seem like Jerry didn't know what he was doing the whole time he's on stage especially whenever it's obviously not the case-such as when he has to go on by himself after Dean drinks too much to do so and does a great parody of Maurice Chevalier. Nevertheless, this is another enjoyable Martin & Lewis picture that gets a recommendation from me. P.S. Frances Bavier, as Jerry's mom, was a nice surprise to me especially when she did his laugh. And what a coincidence that both her and Ms. Treen are in this picture since Ms. Bavier replaced Ms. Treen as the housekeeper in the first episode of "The Andy Griffith Show"!

I haven't seen this movie in years, but a flick like this one just cannot be forgotten! I am in my early twenties and for more than half my life, I have been a film buff of movies old and new. Martin and Lewis are one of my all time favorite comedy duos, and at one time, I was renting movies here and there so that I could see all of the films they made together, and ones the lively, virtuous humanitarian Lewis did during his solo career.

When I saw this movie, it just blew me away. This film is the most dramatic film those boys ever made--and if you're thinking that that can't possibly be saying much since most of their movies were screwball comedies, I'm here to tell you you're mistaken. This movie is funny, but it's also very impassioned and heart-rendering, so you might do yourself a favor by keeping a box of tissues near you when viewing it.

Both Martin and Lewis are great in these dramatic and comedic roles as a comedy team that splits up because Lewis' character is under-appreciated and emotional mistreated by Martin's character. In a oddly coincidental way, this movie seemed to foreshadow the boys' split up in '56, but of course, in the movie, there is a happy ending. And while everyone knows that both Dean and Jerry went on to have successful solo careers and reunited as friends years later, I think that it would have been great to have seen them do a couple more films together that were as unforgettable as this one.

Martin & Lewis were everywhere in the 1950s. Movies. TV. I remember the duo very well and watching them as a child, I thought Jerry Lewis was hilarious. I haven't seen them together since those days. When I saw "The Stooge" recently on TCM, my memories took a big jolt.

This is a really is an unpleasant, uncomfortable movie. Lewis plays a pathetic nitwit who should be kept on a leash for his own good; instead he is exploited by show biz types. Dean is Dean, a competent crooner with a pleasant, easy going manner. Dean Martin never reached his stride until he cut the umbilical cord from Jerry and took up with the Sinatra Rat Pack.

There's nothing funny about "The Stooge." The movie is a curio, an example of what the public applauded as comedic entertainment 60 years ago: the eccentric combo of Martin & Lewis.

About two years ago my mom asked me to get her a movie with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. I had heard of both of them and seen them on TV here and there but had never seen a movie with the two of them. I looked online and found "The Stooge." I didn't know if it was a good one or not because I had never heard of it, so I bought it. So on Christmas day we watched the movie together and I absolutely loved it! I never knew Jerry Lewis was that funny and I had know idea Dean Martin was a comedian, I just knew he was a beautiful singer. I recommend this movie to people of all ages. It has to be one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I am 25 years old and with all of the comedies that are out these days, "The Stooge" is still one of the best! Classic!!

This was Jerry Lewis' favorite of his Martin and Lewis films. I'm guessing this is because this film had the type of maudlin sentimentality that Jerry would often include in the films he would go on to write, produce, and direct. The story has singer Dean Martin as a singer who during one performance has a hilarious back-and-forth banter with audience member Jerry. The two then scheme to plant Jerry in the audience for future performances to recreate the gag. Jerry becomes the real star of the show, but gets no billing or equal pay, and generally is exploited by Dean, to which Dean's wife, Polly Bergen, eventually confronts him over. It's a pretty lightweight drama and the sappiness works to a point, mostly thanks to Jerry's very sympathetic performance, but this isn't your usual wacky Martin & Lewis outing and the mix of comedy and drama doesn't quite mesh. Still, it is worth watching for fans of the comic duo and for fans of Jerry in particular.

One previous IMDB reviewer actually conceded how unfunny this thing is but defended it on the grounds that it's really a drama disguised as a comedy. Oh lordy. Suffice it to say that in the forty five minutes or so that I watched there was nothing even remotely dramatic going on, not even of the melo sort. Just a lot of comedy mirages and by that I mean scenes like the sleeping car sequence and Lewis' first attempt at song that, when first viewed, promised hilarity but the closer you got the more the laughs dried up. That this was Lewis' favorite of the duo's films should tell you all you need to know about Jerry's taste and the overall quality of the M and L movies. C minus.

STOOGE, THE (1952)

*** (out of four)

Dean Martin plays a singer wanting to make it on his own but he needs the help of a stooge (Jerry Lewis) in order to hit the big time. Once there, Dean decides he can make it solo. Outside his performance in THE KING OF COMEDY, I wasn't really a big fan of Lewis whose humor just really doesn't appeal to me. I had been told that his teamings with Martin were much better than his solo career and that's certainly something I'd agree with because THE STOOGE turned out to be a nice little gem. The film features all sorts of wonderful gags including a scene inside a diner and another were Lewis takes his first drink of alcohol. Even the songs are pretty good, which is why I was somewhat shocked that Paramount kept this on the shelf at first.

Their names are Bill and Ted, but that's where the excellence of their adventure ends in this, the eighth of seventeen films the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made in the 1950s. Ostensibly set in the 1930s during the sunset of vaudeville, it is pure corn but for the beauty and voice of Polly Bergen, who suffers through the nonsense with style. Of the film's seven songs, "A Girl Named Mary and a Boy Named Bill" is the best, only because Bergen and Martin actually come close to sounding like vaudevillians.

I'm 25 years old and have always had a huge respect for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. I hope one day to shake the hand of Jerry Lewis. Thing is, I never really sat down through any of their full length films because I'm your typical new movie kinda guy. I like to see what's just coming out in theaters and these older movies, well I usually just think of them as having poor quality and over drawn out moments. I caught this film on HBO and was absolutely hooked. Everything was so beautiful, so perfect in this film. The acting is terrific. The only thing that could have made this film even better is if they showed a few more cars but hey, we can't have everything, and well, I'm just a major car guy. The movie was made in 1953, pardon me, released in 1953. My daily driver is a 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air. This movie has really fired me up to watch a lot of older films. Pretty soon I'm sure I'll be commenting on a few others. I'm filling up my DVR with everything 50's and back as we speak. Here's the thing, I love new movies and anytime I find a new release that is set back in the 50's, I'm a major sucker for it. With this, there is no error in these movies; no "hey did you see that? That was a 1980's van in the background!" Okay, yes it's a bit cheesy but this movie really gave me a lot of inspiration to watch more classics. I LOVE this film!

I consider this little gem the best of the Martin and Lewis films. Not only is it funny, it's sweet and heartbreaking at times. Dean is his usual suave, handsome self. His singing in this one is top notch. Jerry is so sweet and lovable in this film, he just breaks your heart. I understand Hal Wallis didn't want to release this film for fear the fans of Dean and Jerry would hate it because of the way Dean treated Jerry in the film. It really parallels the real lives of Dean and Jerry. Dean as a singer, barely making it, Jerry as a pantomime artist also barely making it but when they met and teamed up the magic happened. Dean and Jerry's best effort by far.