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      The Stooge

      Released Dec 31, 1952 1h 40m Comedy List
      Reviews 78% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score A singing comedian (Dean Martin) flops on his own, then soars with a sidekick (Jerry Lewis) but insists on hogging the show. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 29 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member 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 bander 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An inside look at vaudeville, with the two boys not really getting along quite as the should. Everyone can see what's happening but the two main characters. This film was held for release about a year & a half, as their fans were not yet prepared for this side of Martin & Lewis. Incredible performances. While watching, don't forget that Jolson started as a stooge! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Like all the Martin & Lewis films, "The Stooge" is uneven and lightweight, but easily wins you over if you allow it the thoughtless freedom it requires. The movie gives you one of the better glimpses of M&L's actual stage routine, and in those scenes the appeal of the legendary twosome is in clear relief. When working together, bouncing off one another, the movie is charming and funny, with a remarkable yet easy-going energy that is hard to turn away from. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie-which makes up the actual plot, its cheap characterization, and its raison d'être-is so flimsy and poorly thought through that it dulls even the best bits of stage comedy. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The Martin/Lewis team opts for sentimental melodrama and falls flat. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Possibly the best Martin-Lewis film given some of the parallels with their true story together. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member sweet movie the perfectly shows that Martin and Lewis were a match made in comedy heaven. they may have had a falling out, but in their glory days like this, it was gold Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Stooge

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      Critics Reviews

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      Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Whenever there's something that might be funny, we're socked over the head with sentimentality and our need for laughter evaporates. Rated: C+ Jul 28, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A singing comedian (Dean Martin) flops on his own, then soars with a sidekick (Jerry Lewis) but insists on hogging the show.
      Director
      Norman Taurog
      Screenwriter
      Fred F. Finklehoffe, Sid Silvers, Fred F. Finklehoffe, Martin Rackin
      Distributor
      Paramount Pictures
      Production Co
      Paramount
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Dec 31, 1952, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 40m
      Sound Mix
      Stereo
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