Geisha Boy

Gilbert Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is a magician who goes to entertain the troops in Asia with his rabbit.There he meets a beautiful Japanese girl and a small orphan boy.The Geisha Boy (1958) is directed by Frank Tashlin and it's another hilarious Jerry Lewis movie.It's not quite the best but it still offers many funny scenes.Mr Lewis is one of the best comedians of all time and in the 50's and 60's he ruled the world of comedy.Nowadays there are only a few comedians if any who can reach to his level.This comic who will turn 76 years old next month has made many people laugh for decades.He isn't as popular in USA as he is in Europe, especially in France, which is a shame.I think everybody should notice what a great talent he is.Just watch this movie and I bet you can't stop laughing.And there's only one man to blame for that;Jerry Lewis

A sentimental Jerry Lewis comedy about a down and out magician who takes a job entertaining the troops in Japan and meets a young mother and her son who hasn't laughed since his father died.

So I've had this one here for years and avoided it because of the title. Even for a Jerry Lewis movie it sounded too dumb or offensive. While it didn't have the genius routines of The Bellboy, but it was entertaining, funny in a few places, but most surprisingly it was likable. Jerry was likable, the supporting cast were likable, and I had a good time.

3/5

"The Geisha Boy" is one of Jerry Lewis' better films. This is because the film is rather sweet without being maudlin or saccharine. It also places more emphasis on the story as opposed to laughs...though it has a decent number of laughs as well--with the sort of hit or miss laughs you expect from such a movie.

When the film begins, Gilbert Wooley (Lewis) is flying along with his rabbit, Harry, on an Air Force plane bound for a USO tour of Japan. However, along the way, Gilbert (not unexpectedly) makes a total nuisance of himself. It ultimately results in him ripping the dress off an obnoxious but famous actress--and he is to be punished by being sent on a tour of the front lines in Korea. But during his bumbling, he impresses a little Japanese boy who apparently has been depressed. The boy instantly bonds with Gilbert and now there is a problem...how can Gilbert leave Japan following his Korean tour? After all, the kid sees him as his new step-father!

The film has a lot of goofy laughs but at heart is appears to actually be a re-working of the famous Chaplin film, "The Kid", and goes for those same sorts of heartwarming scenes between Jerry and the boy...and these work very well. I also think the film works well because it was neither written nor directed by Lewis and so the pacing was a bit better than some of his later films. Overall, a delightful film.

I think this is one Jerry Lewis's best films. Not only is it incredibly funny, but it evokes compassion (Mr.Wooley's relationship with the young boy is touching, and will make you cry) from the audience without being too sentimental. The Japanese setting is beautiful and exotic, and Miss Kimi is lovely and charming. No wonder Mr.Wooley prefers her to the cold American Sergeant Pearson (Suzanne Pleshette)! When Mr.Wooley accidentally knocks a big Hollywood actress down an airplane staircase--that has to be one of the funniest scenes in any Lewis film. This is a great family movie, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants good comedy with a touch of tenderness in it. It ranks right up there with "The Nutty Professor"(1963).

Hollywood bombshell diva Lola Livingston (Marie McDonald) is going to Japan on a USO tour. Struggling second rate magician Gilbert Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is one of the lesser acts joining her. They do not get along right from the start. Sgt. Pearson (Suzanne Pleshette) is a WAC overseeing the tour.

This is mostly slapstick and mugging from Jerry Lewis who has a rabbit and a kid. So, he's breaking the cardinal rule. He is still the most chaotic of them all. This also has a young Suzanne Pleshette in her first movie role. Mostly, she gets to look pretty and side-eye at Jerry Lewis' craziness. It's not much more than a good excuse for Jerry's brand of tomfoolery. It's light silly fun with a lot of sentimentality.