Themes: Rise and Fall Stories, Faltering Friendships
Main Cast: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen, Marion Marshall, Eddie Mayehoff
Release Year: 1952
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
Filmed right after 1951's At War with the Army, the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis vehicle The Stooge was shelved until late 1952 to make way for another military farce, Jumping Jacks. When Stooge finally hit the screens Martin and Lewis fans were surprised by its dramatic content and the subdued performances of its stars. Martin plays an obnoxious vaudeville singer named Bill Martin, who gets nowhere professionally until he is accidentally teamed with goofy would-be comic Ted Rogers (Lewis). Bill and Ted climb to the top of the showbiz heap with a riotous act wherein Bill's onstage singing is interrupted by Ted's heckling from the audience (not unlike Martin and Lewis' genuine nightclub act). As his fame grows, so does Bill's ego, and eventually he ditches Ted to strike out on his own. Without his partner, however, Bill is a failure, so it's up to faithful Ted to save the day and patch up the friendship. The "femme angle" (to use Variety's phrase) is handled by Marion Marshall as Frecklehead Tait and Polly Bergen as Mary Turner. It's worth noting that The Stooge was Jerry Lewis' favorite Martin and Lewis comedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Stooge is an oddity in the canon of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis films in that it lacks the over-the-top freneticism that is usually associated with them (and with Lewis as a solo performer). It's also an oddity in that, intentionally or not, it seems to cut close to the bone in terms of the pair's real life relationship. And, finally, it's a drama with comic bits rather than a real comedy. It would be nice to report that this change-of-pace outing was a breath of fresh air, but while it's a pleasure to have Lewis more controlled than usual, it also must be admitted that Stooge is overall a pretty dull affair. The restrained comedy doesn't feel comfortable, and the drama is handled obviously and far too heavily. The stickiness of the climactic reunion is simply too much, and the story is too one-sided, too geared to Lewis' character. Rather than creating complex, believable characters, we're given dramatic stereotypes, and they just don't hold the screen. Martin and Lewis do well enough; they just don't have much to work with. Martin is in good voice, however, as is his paramour Polly Bergen. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Entertainer Bill Miller (Dean Martin) believes that he has the ability to become a solo performer. He and his partner Ben Bailey (Richard Erdman) split up and go their separate ways. Miller fails miserably, and his manager, Leo Lyman (Eddie Mayehoff) thinks it would be a good idea to perform with a "stooge." Enter Ted Rogers (Jerry Lewis), who plays an accident-prone foil for Miller. Soon afterwards, Miller's act is a hit.
Along the way Rogers is unaware that he is the real reason the act is a success, and becomes very loyal to Miller. Even though he receives no billing, he defends his "partner" when someone suggests he is being taken advantage of by Miller.
However, even Miller's wife Mary (Polly Bergen) is ashamed of his treatment of Rogers...going so far as to threaten him with divorce. Miller is more determined than ever to prove he can make it as a single and fires Rogers, and promptly regrets his decision as his first act as a true solo artist flops. He address the audience and admits that the "stooge" was the true heart and soul of the act. Rogers, who is sitting in the audience, comes to his rescue by joining him onstage and the two finally become true partners!
The Stooge was filmed between February 19 and March 24, 1951 and although it was filmed before two other Martin and Lewis films, Sailor Beware and Jumping Jacks, this film was withheld from distribution by Paramount because they were concerned about the audience's reaction to the way Martin treated Lewis in the film.
Jerry Lewis has stated that this is his favorite Martin and Lewis film.
DVD releases
The Stooge has been released twice on DVD. It was originally released on October 12, 2004. Two years later it was included on an eight-film DVD set, the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Collection: Volume One, released on October 31, 2006.
