"The Stooge" though filmed in 1951, was not released until 1953 due to it's dramatic theme which made studio execs rather nervous.
Bill Miller (Dean Martin) is a successful vaudeville performer along with his partner Ben Bailey (Richard Erdman). At his wedding to Mary Turner (Polly Bergen) Miller announces that he is going solo much to the chagrin of his manager Leo Lyman (Eddie Mayehoff). Miller bombs as a solo act. Lyman gets the idea to hire a stooge who will sit in the audience and trade barbs with Miller.
Ted Rogers (Jerry Lewis) is hired for the role. The act is a huge success but Miller refuses to give Ted his proper recognition for the success. While sitting in the audience, Ted meets freckle faced "Frecklehead" Tait (Marion Marshall) who develops a crush on Ted. In spite of urgings from Lyman and Mary, Miller continues to deny Ted his proper recognition. When the act is booked into Sutherland's Revue things come to a head, Ted walks away and.............................
Though there are some funny moments here, Martin as the egotisical self-centered Miller takes away from the humor. His on stage act, even with Lewis frankly stinks. He really is not a likeable character until the final Hollywood happy ending. However we are given a peak into Martin's dramatic talent which would serve him well following his breakup with Lewis in 1956. Lewis has his moments such as the scene in a diner with owner Donald MacBride and his clumsy exit from Percy Helton's office.
Others in the cast include Frances Bavier ("Ain't" Bea in TV's "Andy Griffith Show") as Lewis' mother, Charles Evans as impresario Mr. Sutherland (i.e. Ziegfeld) and Don Haggerty as Mr. Wintson.
Martin and Lewis would do much better when they stuck to their original formula of Martin as the suave nightclub performer and Lewis with his madcap comedy.
Bill Miller (Dean Martin) is a successful vaudeville performer along with his partner Ben Bailey (Richard Erdman). At his wedding to Mary Turner (Polly Bergen) Miller announces that he is going solo much to the chagrin of his manager Leo Lyman (Eddie Mayehoff). Miller bombs as a solo act. Lyman gets the idea to hire a stooge who will sit in the audience and trade barbs with Miller.
Ted Rogers (Jerry Lewis) is hired for the role. The act is a huge success but Miller refuses to give Ted his proper recognition for the success. While sitting in the audience, Ted meets freckle faced "Frecklehead" Tait (Marion Marshall) who develops a crush on Ted. In spite of urgings from Lyman and Mary, Miller continues to deny Ted his proper recognition. When the act is booked into Sutherland's Revue things come to a head, Ted walks away and.............................
Though there are some funny moments here, Martin as the egotisical self-centered Miller takes away from the humor. His on stage act, even with Lewis frankly stinks. He really is not a likeable character until the final Hollywood happy ending. However we are given a peak into Martin's dramatic talent which would serve him well following his breakup with Lewis in 1956. Lewis has his moments such as the scene in a diner with owner Donald MacBride and his clumsy exit from Percy Helton's office.
Others in the cast include Frances Bavier ("Ain't" Bea in TV's "Andy Griffith Show") as Lewis' mother, Charles Evans as impresario Mr. Sutherland (i.e. Ziegfeld) and Don Haggerty as Mr. Wintson.
Martin and Lewis would do much better when they stuck to their original formula of Martin as the suave nightclub performer and Lewis with his madcap comedy.