Cinderfella

Starring:Jerry Lewis, Ed Wynn, Judith Anderson, Henry Silva, Robert Hutton, Count Basie, Joe Williams, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Del Moore, Kathie Browne, Shari Lee Bernath, Anne Dore, Stephen Hammer, Nola Thorp, Robert Jordan, Richard Klein (II), Barry Gordon, Stephen Jay, Norman Leavitt, Milton Frome
Director: Frank Tashlin
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The team of Jerry Lewis and director Frank Tashlin (The Geisha Boy) were at the peak of their hit-making prowess with Cinderfella, a klutzy take on the fairy tale. Jerry is the stepson in a snooty family, dominated by wicked stepmother Judith Anderson and lounge-lizard brothers Henry Silva and Robert Hutton. Fairy godfather Ed Wynn turns up one day, not only promising "Fella" a happy-ever-after but basically accusing the old fairy tale of ruining the lives of countless married couples by raising unrealistic expectations of Prince Charmings in every home. (Tashlin always had a nose for psychoanalytic explanations along with the pratfalls.) The movie's very slow--especially whenever Ed Wynn is around--and has a strange taste for "interior monologue" songs, emphasizing the mawkish side of Lewis's personality. The good comic scenes are worth it, especially a lengthy sequence at an elongated dinner table, which Lewis must navigate repeatedly. His physical skills are showcased in a musical mime to Count Basie's "Cute" (Basie and his orchestra also appear in the big ballroom scene) and some violently geeky dancing. This one is unlikely to win over non-Jerry fans, but the already initiated will be fine with it. --Robert Horton
Description
In CINDERFELLA, Lewis plays Fella, a good natured klutz left to take care of his stepmother and her two spoiled sons in a fabulous mansion. Fantasy provides Fella with a way of coping with his life until the day his fairy godmother appears and helps him win the heart of a beautiful princess.

Jerry Lewis - The Legendary Jerry Collection (The Bellboy / Cinderfella / The Delicate Delinquent / The Disorderly Orderly / The Errand Boy / The Family Jewels / The Ladies Man / The Nutty Professor / The Patsy / The Stooge)
Average customer rating:

I'm a Sucker for All Things Silly

Almost Perfect

Jerry Lewis Rocks!

Classic Laughs!

The Bellhop

Jerry Lewis - The Legendary Jerry Collection (The Bellboy / Cinderfella / The Delicate Delinquent / The Disorderly Orderly / The Errand Boy / The Family Jewels / The Ladies Man / The Nutty Professor / The Patsy / The Stooge)
Starring: Jerry Lewis
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000ANVQ4G
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com

This 10-DVD boxed set is a delight for anyone afflicted with a susceptibility to the fractured antics of Jerry Lewis, or "Le Roi du Crazy" to the French. This set emphasizes Lewis's busy period after the breakup with Dean Martin, when he was exerting more influence over his vehicles (six of the titles are directed by Jerry himself) and almost single-handedly keeping Paramount Pictures propped up with his box-office take. The set curiously includes one of the Martin-Lewis pictures, 1953's The Stooge, which has echoes of the real-life vibe between Jerry and Dino.

The other titles include Lewis's 1957 solo starring debut, The Delicate Delinquent, and his directing bow, The Bellboy (1960). The latter is an often-ingenious and plotless collection of gags with Jerry as a bellhop in Miami Beach's Fountainebleau Hotel. His character doesn't speak (making the connection with silent cinema more pointed), but in one uproarious sequence the obnoxious movie star "Jerry Lewis" comes to visit the hotel.

The Ladies Man puts Lewis alone in a boarding house full of women. This film's bizarre sexual politics (and its amazing cut-away set) helps explain why French critics such as Jean-Luc Godard consider Lewis a cinematic genius--Godard actually borrowed the cut-away set idea for his film Tout va bien. The Errand Boy is a cascade of gags strung together on the set of "Paramutual Pictures," a movie studio that employs Lewis's klutzy gofer; it features one of Jerry's best musical miming routines. The Patsy is another good one, as nebbish Jerry is drafted into impersonating a famous deceased celebrity, but by 1965's The Family Jewels the inspiration is flagging a bit.

Two of the titles are directed by Lewis's mentor, Frank Tashlin. Cinderfella works a sentimental variation on the fairy tale; it's slow and at times mawkish, but some of Lewis's physical stuff is top-notch. The Disorderly Orderly is livelier, with a hospital setting and some of Jerry's most inspired babbling. The box also includes Lewis's acknowledged high point, The Nutty Professor, in its special-edition form. Its Jekyll-and-Hyde story is still the funniest and weirdest premise Lewis ever had. There are other Lewis films out there, but this box is definitely the cream of the career. If some of the jokes haven't aged well (and those who can't stand his mugging won't be convinced even by this set), Lewis still seems a more interesting filmmaker than he's usually given credit for. Extras include some disappointing commentaries with Lewis and Steve Lawrence, plus a smattering of outtakes, some of them funny and/or revealing of Lewis's directing technique. --Robert Horton

Description

Contains: The Nutty Professor, The Ladies' Man, The Delicate Delinquent, Cinderfella, The Bell Boy, The Errand Boy, The Patsy, The Disorderly Orderly, The Family Jewels, and The Stooge.

Customer Reviews:

I'm a Sucker for All Things Silly.......2007-06-19

This box set is right up my alley. No, it's not perfect. I also wanted Who's Minding the Store, The Geisha Boy, and Visit to a Small Planet. But you can't have everything. I do like the clear picture and sound on these films. What a fun trip down memory lane.
I haven't had a chance to watch the film which includes Dean Martin. That's back-burner for me. So, as for Jerry's films themselves...

The Good -
The Nutty Professor has been called his best. I really love it. Just great stuff, smooth and funny and colorful. But I hate the Buddy Love character. Totally one dimensional, one of the most obnoxious jerks you'd ever meet, and too much makeup. However, this movie has some truly brilliant comedy before it adds some maudlin goop (a lot of Lewis' work tends to do this sometimes, so you have to roll with it). This is probably the height of his talents.

The Ladies Man is a lot of fun at Miss Welonmelon's boarding house, with some great bits: the butterflies, feeding Baby, the Southern gal's incomprehensible dialogue, fixing the gangster's hat, wiping Welonmelon's portait (that always makes me laugh out loud!), and the microphone problem while broadcasting 'Up Your Street'. There's a rather sudden ending, but this is one of my favorites in Jerry's career. Amazing set, too.

The Bellboy is very enjoyable, and extremely rewatchable because it has a lot going on, one thing after another. The lunch counter gag kills me. And you can't beat Jerry tampering with a clay bust that's still wet. Very good overall. And his character has virtually no dialogue.

The Fair -
The Errand Boy is a fairly good comedy, a typical vehicle for Jerry Lewis. Again, slipping into pathos and mush (with the puppets) seems completely out of place with the pace and feel of this movie, no matter how charming and sweetly executed. But the scene where Jerry butchers all the last names is hilarious.

The Disorderly Orderly is part slapstick and part depressing psychological study. Some wonderful comic bits cannot overcome the serious feel that the movie plays with in the pretty blonde patient who is so bitter, resentful to everyone, and very troubled. If you took out all the parts with her and then extended the slapstick, you'd have a better flick. Just my opinion.

The Family Jewels is cute, definitely a family film; I liked this more than I remembered. Which uncle will young Donna choose to raise her? Granted, you know the ending long before it happens, but I loved the part when Jerry as the pilot takes the old ladies on a trip. Silly, surreal, and fun. Only on a plane with Jerry does the in-flight film become affected by the angle that the plane is flying. And Jerry gets to don five silly disguises in this movie, Uncle Julius being the same character as the Nutty Professor.

The Bad -
The Patsy just doesn't do it for me; taking the same exact concept as The Errand Boy (bigwigs need a substitute immediately and grab the first idiot they see), this movie grows tedious rapidly. It is not as funny as we expect.

Cinderfella is a musical that I don't care for; although it is nice to look at and has a few nice moments, the completely glacial flow kills it. It is slow, dull, and talky. It's not funny. (And Ed Wynn looks like he just returned from a three day drunk in Vegas.) Maybe this would have been a better film if Jerry had written it and directed it. Sorry, but a big yawn.

I still have to watch The Delicate Delinquent, but so far I am pleased with this collection. The bottom line is that this set has a handful of terrific movies that you just don't see on television any longer. And the gems make up for the duds, definitely.

Almost Perfect.......2007-03-08

The product was precisely what was ordered, but the back of the packaging had a gash in it that went through the plastic into the cardboard.

Jerry Lewis Rocks!.......2007-03-08

The Master. Unfortunately, we don't find this type of humor anymore, so we need to keep it alive.

Classic Laughs!.......2007-02-22

Great Praice for 10 classics and lots of laughs! If you are a Jerry fan, you will really enjoy these movies! (especally "Family Jewels", Priceless!)

The Bellhop.......2007-02-20

This collection is a must for Jerry Lewis fans - a delightful return to the days when comedy was clean and presented by talented people.

Average customer rating:

Why did I use to like this?
Jerry can do better
Great Movie, but is something missing?
What fun!!!
Fairy Tale Gender Bender!

Cinderfella
Starring: Jerry Lewis , Ed Wynn , Judith Anderson , Henry Silva , and Robert Hutton
Director: Frank Tashlin
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

The Disorderly Orderly
The Nutty Professor (Special Edition)
The Bellboy
The Family Jewels
The Ladies Man

ASIN: B0002NY8SA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Amazon.com

The team of Jerry Lewis and director Frank Tashlin (The Geisha Boy) were at the peak of their hit-making prowess with Cinderfella, a klutzy take on the fairy tale. Jerry is the stepson in a snooty family, dominated by wicked stepmother Judith Anderson and lounge-lizard brothers Henry Silva and Robert Hutton. Fairy godfather Ed Wynn turns up one day, not only promising "Fella" a happy-ever-after but basically accusing the old fairy tale of ruining the lives of countless married couples by raising unrealistic expectations of Prince Charmings in every home. (Tashlin always had a nose for psychoanalytic explanations along with the pratfalls.) The movie's very slow--especially whenever Ed Wynn is around--and has a strange taste for "interior monologue" songs, emphasizing the mawkish side of Lewis's personality. The good comic scenes are worth it, especially a lengthy sequence at an elongated dinner table, which Lewis must navigate repeatedly. His physical skills are showcased in a musical mime to Count Basie's "Cute" (Basie and his orchestra also appear in the big ballroom scene) and some violently geeky dancing. This one is unlikely to win over non-Jerry fans, but the already initiated will be fine with it. --Robert Horton

Description

In CINDERFELLA, Lewis plays Fella, a good natured klutz left to take care of his stepmother and her two spoiled sons in a fabulous mansion. Fantasy provides Fella with a way of coping with his life until the day his fairy godmother appears and helps him win the heart of a beautiful princess.

Customer Reviews:

Why did I use to like this?.......2006-08-25

In the 1970s, Jerry Lewis movies were sporadically shown at 8 p.m. on New York station WNEW. At the time, I enjoyed these prime time showings, like this movie, "That's My Boy," and "Don't Give Up the Ship." How times have changed. Watching some of these movies today is downright painful. (Actually, all of them probably are; I just haven't seen them all recently.)

Cinderfella in particular struck me as a complete Jerry Lewis vanity project, probably no less than "The Nutty Professor." Both had Lewis combining his trademark childish antics with "serious" scenes of him supposedly being a devastatingly suave and irresistible ladies' man. Cinderfella had the additional detriment of regularly regaling us with Lewis' grating and self-indulgent renditions of maudlin songs not worthy of even a Disney cartoon. In later years, his singing would become the low point in all of his Muscular Dystrophy telethons.

Part of the problem was that Lewis didn't age well. When he was young and lanky, he could pull off the man-child role. But by the time of this movie, at the tender age of 34, he was already starting to puff up. He should have been evolving his comedic style, as Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks did as they aged. The same, old schtick becomes tiresome very quickly. It didn't help that he insisted on wearing two big, "macho" rings on his hands, which the supposedly unassuming and impoverished Fella never would have worn. Jerry, you're overcompensating. And, sorry, but you're no Dean Martin, who COULD pull off the easy charisma of a natural charmer and had a great voice (and didn't need and didn't wear as much finger bling).

Finally, the ending of the movie didn't work, either. Are we supposed to cheer that the princess ended up with Fella? After all, wasn't it drilled into our brains all through the movie that Fella is a clumsy and complete imbecile, mitigated only by the fact that he's well-meaning and kind? Quite frankly, I'm not sure I would wish him and his constant bumbling on any woman.

Jerry can do better.......2006-07-30

While many people have written off Jerry Lewis as a vulgar and unfunny celebrity whose fame seems unwarranted, I believe that the man has comedic talent - and occasional brilliance - but that he needs to be reined in with strong directors and scripts. When set free and loose, Lewis can be as manically annoying as Robin Williams and seem like nothing more than an adult with attention deficit disorder in serious need of medicine. When reined in and forced to tone down the volume on his antics and perosonality (someone needed to tell Lewis that simply making a lot of geeky facial grimaces and spastic movements does not constitute comedy), he is capable of developing his ideas into good comedy that elevates him from being yesterday's Adam Sandler to Laurel and Hardy quality status. Lewis also needed to be told that a Chaplin or a Keaton he would never be (Lewis was far too vulgar and not intelligent enough) but that there was nothing wrong with developing his own character of the schmo.
This film lacked a good script. The appropriation of the Cinderella story is weak and was only sturdy enough to support a tv sketch - not a movie. The direction is merely competent - but there are signs that Tashlin wouldn't or couldn't control Lewis (many scenes go on forever and editing was needed). Lewis has a few good moments miming to a Count Basie piece that show how good his timing could be. Mostly though, this is a bad movie.
And that is what can be frustrating about Lewis: the talent is there; it just is allowed to lie dormant through far too many bad, bad movies. If you took the good stuff out of all of the movies he made after "The Nutty Professor" and combined them, you wouldn't have enough to fill up two movies.

Great Movie, but is something missing?.......2006-02-28

I love Jerry Lewis movies, but upon viewing this Dvd version it seems that something has been cut out. My wife says she is almost sure there was more interaction between the Princess and "Fella". The Princess says she loves Fella in the end, but they have only really seen each other at the Ball. I'm not sure, maybe I just don't remember it as well as I thought. I still think it's a great movie that is good for family viewing. My Kid's and I loved it.

What fun!!! .......2006-01-02

Jerry Lewis fun!

When I was in 4th grade, a hundred years ago. and we lived in Maryland, when my birthday came I got to take the whole party to this movie! So, to me it was not only funny, it was special. I'll never forget sitting in the theater with all my little girl friends, in our best birthday party dresses and white shinny leather shoes, and hair bows, watching with enchantment.

Pass the popcorn and watch this movie with kids, or your poker buddies, it's fun! Jerry Lewis plays the male version of Cinderella, has a fairy God-father, has evil step brothers. He is sweet, funny, but also has feelings. Poor Cinderfella, when they are mean to him! But, it all works out in the end.

No cursing or nudity - which sure is a relief! We have grandkids over a lot here, so, we like our assortment of good family movies. You should too!

Fairy Tale Gender Bender!.......2005-12-18

"Cinderfella" was Jerry Lewis' answer to the classic Cinderella story. And he intended it to be a masterpiece. To say that it fell somewhat short of it's goal is putting it mildly, but it's not bad. The plot is, of course the familiar story, with a few (expected) variations. When his father dies, poor Fella (Lewis) is left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother (Judith Anderson) and her two no-good sons, Maximilian (Henry Silva) and Rupert (Robert Hutton). As he slaves away for his nasty step-family, Maximilian and Rupert attempt to find a treasure Fella's father has supposedly hidden on the estate. Meanwhile, hoping to restore her dwindling fortunes, the stepmother plans a fancy ball in honor of the visiting Princess Charmein (Anna Maria Alberghetti) whom she hopes will marry Rupert. Eventually, Fella's Fairy Godfather (Ed Wynn) shows up to convince him that he has a shot at winning the Princess himself. Lewis had big plans for the film's release. Although it was completed in January of 1960, he insisted it make it's debut that Christmas, complete with a holiday campaign and record album tie-in. In the meantime, he produced and starred in a low budget item called "The Bellboy" in order for Paramount to have a Jerry Lewis movie for summer release. "Cinderfella" was given a lavish production and a formidable supporting cast was recruited to co star with Lewis. He was indeed fortunate to obtain the services of Judith Anderson, who, while not a performer one would expect in a Jerry Lewis film, was nevertheless excellent as the stepmother, bringing just the right touch of arrogance to the part. Ed Wynn is reliably daffy as the Fairy Godfather,though, due to severe editing, he disappears before the climax, and is not seen again. Silva and Hutton do what they can as the stepbrothers, but the beautiful Alberghetti has nothing to do but fall hopelessly in love with the hapless Fella. The pace of the film is somewhat choppy, and several critics pointed out that the editing had left voids in the plot. The film originally ran 99 minutes, it ended up at 88. Sure enough, it was released at Christmastime, when it inspired some of the most scathing critical comment ever bestowed on a Lewis picture. Most of this was devoted to Lewis' own performance, and his frequent mugging, mixed with his pathetic attempts to play for sympathy. "Cinderfella" did just O.K. at the box office, and it ended up well behind the modest "Bellboy" which was a box-office smash. Thanks to handsome sets (with exteriors filmed at the "Beverly Hillbillies" estate in Bel Air, CA), costumes and a pleasant (if unmemorable) score, "Cinderfella" is entertaining enough to get by. But you'd better be prepared for a lot of "singing/mugging" from the Producer/Star, who fancied himself a brilliant vocalist. After all, though, this is SUPPOSED to be a fairy tale! [phillindholm]

Average customer rating:

Why did I use to like this?
Jerry can do better
Great Movie, but is something missing?
What fun!!!
Fairy Tale Gender Bender!

Cinderfella
Starring: Jerry Lewis , Ed Wynn , Judith Anderson , Henry Silva , and Robert Hutton
Director: Frank Tashlin
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video