Jerry, der Herzpatient

The film starts out so seriously. A group of doctors and nurses in scrubs enter the operating room looking quite grim, as if they are about to save a patient's life. The gallery is filled with interested witnesses.

And then the patient is asked what happened. We don't see precisely what happened to him until much later, but I will say the procedure is related to fishing, hence the film's title.

In flashbacks, the story is told. Peter Ingersoll is an insurance agent who joins an emotionless, dedicated group marching into work as if part of a military unit at precisely 9 AM. He has a "Leave It to Beaver" family living in a "Leave It to Beaver" house. Well, not exactly. His kids treat him like a moron. Certainly not the impression one had of Ward.

Peter does some work around the house and gets into the usual Jerry Lewis type messes--a rodent in the garden, a stopped up sink (this gag is really funny). One gets the impression, though, that he's not really happy. For example, though this film has a G rating, we do get to see that Peter and Nancy have some ... trouble in the bedroom. Unlike Ward and June, we can imagine where this couple's kids came from.

Peter's good friend Scott is also his doctor. Scott tells Peter he has some sort of incurable condition that will give him only months to live (though there are no obvious symptoms). Peter decides to enjoy what life he has left. And being an insurance man, he has a great policy that will leave his wife secure after he dies. So Peter decides to run up $150,000 in debt on a lavish round-the-world fishing vacation, figuring the creditors will not go after a grieving widow.

There is a problem, though, which gives the film most of its comedy potential. I shouldn't give that away.

Anyone looking for the zany Jerry Lewis style might be disappointed. The two gags early in the movie, and a limbo dance in the Caribbean, are about all the examples of the classic Lewis style until the movie's second half. Lewis does get to display more of his trademark behavior pretending to be Fred Dobbs in Europe. Still, this is an entertaining and funny movie.

Peter Lawford is very good. The other leading actors do a good job, and there are some really silly scenes in Europe.

The film got a G rating, though it should be mentioned a couple is apparently naked in a hotel, with the appropriate parts covered. But this could mean anything--right? Something similar happens with Peter and his wife. And of course there is slapstick violence. But nothing really makes this film out of bounds for most kids.

I had a good time.

In this little known 1969 Jerry Lewis Film co-starring Peter Lawford.Jerry Lewis plays a an average normal American Family man from Suburbia who finds out he is dying from his deceptive Doctor friend"Peter Lawford"and goes on a mad worldwide spending spree.This is really good Jerry Lewis film that unfortunately isn't on vhs/dvd!

Like an episode of three's company. The usual miscommunications and misunderstandings, although on that show, they never actually tried to commit fraud. Jerry lewis is peter, about to undergo surgery. A starring film role, years after his beakup with dean martin, all told in flashback. This one co-stars peter lawford. And they re-used the same gopher scenes in caddyshack! It's a crazy caper. When peter is told that he doesn't have much longer, he decides to live it up and ring up the bills! It's light on story, so lewis stretches out the various scenes. Lots of filler and scenery. Directed by george marshall, his final full length film. Story by rod amateau and david davis. Sylvia lewis, who plays karlotta, does not seem to be related to jerry lewis, although she appeared in several of his films. It's all just okay. Much silliness.

Fred C. Dobbs (Jerry Lewis) is on the operating table in a foreign country. He recounts his story for the medical students. Nothing goes right for the insurance agent family man who is actually named Peter Ingersoll. His only joy is fishing but his wife Nancy (Anne Francis) complains about the costs. His doctor Scott Carter (Peter Lawford) tells him that he's dying. With a large life insurance policy, his family is secured. His wife suggests that he takes an epic blow-out tropical fishing trip.

I don't mind that he's unhappy with his suburban life. I'm not rooting that hard for him to go have a single man adventure. He's lusting for the beautiful babes and that seems rather lonely and unfunny. I actually would like him to go into the wilds or get into the local life. He needs to get in touch with himself and get some character growth. Was he pitching for Pepsi back in the day? Sometimes, dated comedic references can go over my head. As for the rest of the premise, I stop caring about it. Jerry is doing some Weekend at Bernie slapstick that would be funny if I actually cared. I see what he's trying to do. It's a comedy that I don't find funny.

I have tried any number of times to understand why the French think Jerry Lewis is the comic equivalent of Charlie Chaplin. I always fail. His sophomoric mugging always leaves me cold. Therefore I was surprised to see him in a new vein in this flick which I caught on American Movie Classics. Gone is the juvenile horseplay of his earlier films with Dean Martin. We have here a more restrained and mature comic style, shown to good form at the start of the movie, which is a series of set pieces showing off comic aspects of life in suburbia. Unfortunately, the film goes downhill as it deals with his extravagant fishing trip.