March 16 Jerry Lewis

Happy Birthday to Jerry Lewis and Guy Kibbee.

I have always liked Jerry Lewis, even as a small child. My family never understood why I liked him, but back when there were only 4 o 5 television channels if a Jerry Lewis film was one, they would always tell me so I would be able to watch. Usually I was in another room already watching it. I was very fortunate to see him in person a few years ago as part of a speaking engagement. He still loves to make people laugh at age 85.

I watched probably my favorite film of his Cinderfella. It is the male version of Cinderella, Jerry Lewis as Fella. I hesitate to call it a musical. Jerry Lewis does sing, but the main music is part of the comedy, a pantomime that Jerry performs to. A stepmother and two handsome stepbrothers instead of ugly stepsisters. Fella's father was rich and hid his money. In his will Fella's father said that everything was left to his wife, but she had to take care of Fella. Right at the start you see the difference in Fella's status. His bed is a twin mattress on top of a california king spring. As he goes into the hallway there is defiantly a dividing line between the house and Fella's part. Fella's part has no carpet and the walls are dulled, unpainted for many years. He is a servant in his own household. When he is serving the family he wears a blue waiters jacket, but when he is part of the family he takes off the jacket. At the dinner table is at least 20 feet away from the rest of the family, he has a paper table cloth on top of the regular table cloth,, the dinner wear is ordinary while the family has china and has plastic over the chair. As he eats if the family needs something he changes out of his dinner jacket into the waiters jacket. When called he has to get up to find what they want. When he does he goes back to his chair, changes coats serves the family goes back to his chair changes into his dinner jacket and sits down to eat his cold food. The family requests a lump of sugar in the coffee, refilling the wine glasses and lighting of a cigarette. When he gets praise for the meal, he doesn't know how to handle the compliment. As he is cleaning the pool, his fairy godfather played by Ed Wynn visits him telling him he will be going to a ball and will be a person. The stepbrothers try to get Fella to tell them where the money is hidden so they act nice and include him in their events.

The stepmother is holding a ball for Princess Charming, played by Anna Maria Albergetti, whose country's color is periwinkle. When she first visits the family Fella watches her arrive in violet car from his room, which he has been locked in by the family. Fairy Godfather visits him. I think this scene shows how good of an actor that Jerry is. As the Fairy Godfather tells his story he looks very doubtful, amazed and as if the Fairy Godfather is crazy. Fella has been to chosen to correct the error of the original Cinderella story. That women were waiting for their Prince Charming, but since there was only one Prince Charming they had to settle for who ever was available, making the men miserable for being second best. The stepbrothers do their best to charm the Princess. The night of the ball, Fella wears his father's suit, which is too big and his family laughs at him and won't allow him to attend the ball. He is ordered to go into the cellar and stoke the coal. Fella decides to take what is his. The Fairy Godfather is appalled by his lack of faith, gets him ready for the ball.

Jerry Lewis always makes great entrances in films. At the ball Count Basie is playing with a full orchestra. Jerry (in a red tuxedo and gray in his hair) makes his entrance walking down the steps to the ball. The camera starts off from behind showing him creatively going down the steps and the crowd parting to the sides of the steps to watch him. The camera switches to the front and he comes down with style, grace and the Princess is watching every movement. He then crosses in front of every woman who are also captivated. As the song ends he stands in front of the Princess. He requests a dance. When the Princess asks who she is dancing with he replies “Someone who is truly fond of you and who worships you.” They dance a combination of Fred and Ginger, Gene Kelly and the Twist. As midnight hits Jerry has to leave, leaving his black leather shoe. At home one of his stepbrothers confronts Fella and asks where his red coat is. He then asks for the money, which Fella gives him. It rains down from the tree, knocking the brother over. The family decide to leave. Fella gives them the money so they can stay. Fella decides to leave. As he is leaving on his bike he is stopped by the Princess. He denies it is shoe and the Princess follows him saying she loves him. But he feels he is not good enough and rides away. He slowly walks back to her and they waltz in the garden. It transitions into the two of them alone the ballroom and with Count Basie Orchestra playing, balloons drop from the ceiling and “and they lived happily ever after” appears on screen.