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Information

Year
1961
Runtime
95 min.
Director
Jerry Lewis
Genre
Comedy
Rating *
6.4
Votes *
2,302
Checks
1,264
Favs
51
Dislikes
34
Favs/checks
4.0% (1:25)
Favs/dislikes
2:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. nosex's avatar

    nosex

    see the bisection sets in godard's TOUT VA BIEN and many of wes anderson's films 11 years 5 months ago
  2. greenhorg's avatar

    greenhorg

    'The Ladies Man' seriously had my attention for maybe 30 minutes when it seemed like there was a strange, mysterious plot unfolding. After graduating college, Jerry Lewis's Herbert Herberts (or whatever: this movie confirms Roger Ebert's warning about comedies that use "funny" names) is presented with a world that seemingly only offers gigolo work for men. This is certainly hinted at with sly winks for the odd female dormitory where Lewis is hired for unspecified work, suggesting perhaps some sort of 'Children of Men'-esque scenario of fertile male remnants in a world of (fall-out induced?) mass sterility. But then there is a sinister hint that maybe his character will be sacrificed or some such after three days, suggesting this could also be a 'Wicker Man'-esque cult or coven.

    These speculations were unfortunately much more interesting than what *actually* happens, which is exactly nothing. There is in fact no plot, just unrelated (and mostly unfunny) skits about Lewis doing odd jobs at a boarding house.

    At its best the movie has the anarchic sense of humor of the Marx Brothers, and operates by cartoon logic (e.g. a scene that represents panic by having Lewis split into several clones that run chaotically over the large multi-level doll house set). My favorite anarchic bit is an absurdist jazz dance between Lewis and a literal 60s goth woman.

    Lewis at least tries to resurrect the dead physical comedy of Keaton and Chaplin, but the problem is, unlike say Rowan Atkins's later attempt with Mr. Bean, Lewis just isn't that great at it! Like a hyperactive middle school student, Lewis is a frustratingly undisciplined comedian whose gags are mostly of the cheap class clown variety: "I am making random weird faces, PLEASE LOOK AT ME!!" So 'The Ladies Man' feels like it had promise, occasionally entertains, but is largely disappointing.
    1 year 10 months ago
  3. CinemaDump's avatar

    CinemaDump

    I don't have a lot of experience with Jerry Lewis but generally I like him. I've seen him in Martin Scorsese's King of Comedy which isn't at all his typical role and I've also seen him in The Nutty Professor. TNP hasn't aged very well if you ask me but it's definitely better than the modern retelling of the story with Eddie Murphy.

    The Ladies Man isn't really the kind of movie that could be very well remade. It takes place in an all women's boarding house with Jerry Lewis playing the most sensitive man on earth. The kind who is reduced to tears multiple times. The way in which The Ladies Man is filmed is really cool because the boarding house set is built as if it were a dollhouse. Apparently the most expensive set for a family comedy at the time, the effect of panning from one room to another without any cuts is nice to watch as is the effect of zooming out and getting long shots of the entire, open-roomed house.

    Synopsis

    Herbert H. Heebert has just graduated from college in a small town by the name of Milltown. It should be one of the happiest days of his life and he's so thrilled because he wants to go discuss marriage plans with his childhood sweetheart Faith who he's waited for all his life (Shary Layne). His feelings of delight are quickly dashed as he sees Faith leave with another man. Herbert swears he'll never get involved with women again and leaves for California to live out his days as a bachelor. He gets hired soon after in a boarding house without fully knowing the details of what he's getting himself into.

    Review

    The rude awakening that Herbert gets treated to is really funny. Here's a guy who gets to work and live in a boarding house with no one else but young women who are aspiring actresses or musicians. Besides the harmless pet that is Baby of course. But no, Herbert refuses any sort of closeness with women and makes that abundantly clear many times. He tries to leave many times but the ladies of the boarding house block his exits and want to help him by making him feel needed.

    Jerry Lewis is an interesting comedy performer. In The Ladies Man, it's like he's a modern Charlie Chaplin with lots of physical comedy. He makes crazy facial expressions along with lots of clumsy moments where he's falling all over the place or making other things fall all over the place. He's also what I'd call a "sound comedian." He screams, shouts and does everything else in between. It's not the kind of comedy you really see anymore but that's what makes it so interesting to watch. Imagine a silent comedy film with lots of clever gags, but updated with sound and I guess you get a good idea of what TLM is like.

    Speaking of the jokes and the gags, there is some absolute gold here. On more than one occasion I was crippled with laughter. I would say that 90% of what's in The Ladies Man has aged well over the last 53 years and anyone can appreciate what's there. The jokes in TLM are quotable and memorable and that's what makes it a true comedy classic. I'll probably never get tired of the hat gag with Buddy Lester as the intimidating Willard C. Gainsborough.

    The Ladies Man is a historical piece of comedy that truly is a must watch. Again, my experience with Jerry Lewis is pretty limited but I loved him in this film. It really is his film with Lewis starring, directing, producing and even writing. Apparently, Mel Brooks was the original screenwriter for the film but most of his material was removed and rewritten, so he didn't want to be credited. I can tell you that Jerry Lewis' work didn't make me miss Mel Brooks at all.

    Rating

    7.5/10
    9 years 7 months ago
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In 5 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #100 in BBC's The 100 Greatest Comedies of All Time
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    BBC's The 100 Greatest C…

    100
  2. This movie ranks #371 in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
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    1001 Movies You Must See…

    371
  3. This movie ranks #450 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    450
  4. This movie ranks #483 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
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    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    483
  5. This movie ranks #616 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
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    616
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