El terror de las chicas

This is my favorite Jerry Lewis movie. I laugh uproariously every time I see it. The surreal happenings just make the movie for me, like the butterflies. I was so surprised the first time I saw that as a kid. I just laughed and laughed! The lipstick on the painting is another example of the over the top absurdity. My favorite scene is hat scene, made even funnier because you can see Lewis laughing towards the end. He even moves his head when he can't stifle his giggles anymore to hide from the camera. Hilarious!I caught it on TCM today after a morning of studying with a difficult study partner. It made me laugh, and made me feel better. What I like the most is how game all the actresses are to go along with Jerry's ad libbing. They were all pro's. I appreciate that in a movie. Great stuff!

While I do not like this movie much, Helen Traubel's performance deserves all the stars. While she is a legend as one of the best sopranos, if not the best, she deserves much more acclaim regarding her performances as an actor too. What a shame that Rudolf Bing had not renewed her contract at the Met.

Herbert H. Heebert (Jerry Lewis) is broken hearted when he finds his childhood sweetheart with another man. Swearing off women for good he accepts a job at a boarding house run by Helen Wellenmellen (Helen Traubel), unaware that it's a women only house-and it's full of them! Could it be that they can be good for Herbert and he be good for them?

Jerry Lewis stars, co-writes and directs a virtually plot less film that's almost entirely set in one magnificent mansion set. As was the case with many of Lewis' film's, it relies on his character creation to bring in the laughs. Which is the case here, the problem being that his surrounding cast are not of the required standard to fully form the comedy. With the exception of the dependable Kathleen Freeman, nobody else comes forward to raise some laughs or enhance on Jerry's goofing. Thus Lewis has to once again carry the can, which works to a degree, but entering the last third the joke that is Herbert Heebert starts to wear thin and only his hardiest fans will be able to stay with him. There's many musings on the film across various internet sources that delve deep into the piece as some sort of masterpiece of sexual identity, machismo empowerment and etc. I don't see it myself, but maybe that's just because I want a Jerry Lewis movie to make me howl with laughter above all else! And for sure The Ladies Man does do that on occasions; because it ultimately is a comic vehicle for Lewis, as a soloist, that works splendidly. His direction is excellent with the camera work around the house fluid and very involving, while the Technicolor production really sparkles and enhances the rich visuals available around the star of the show--the set! A good but not great film, but Lewis as ever, to us his fans, entertains royally. 6/10

There's not much plot to The Ladies Man. Jerry Lewis plays new college graduate Herbert Heebert who finds his beloved on the day of his graduation in the arms of another. Depressed and somewhat disgusted he starts looking for work vowing never to marry and live a bachelor life.

Bob Hope did a film called Bachelor In Paradise around this time. But what he had was nothing compared to the situation that Lewis winds up with. He answers an advertisement for a handyman and finds it's in a private house that has been converted to a residential hotel for women. Beautiful young woman. Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion has nothing on this place. But the only way to keep him from leaving is to make sure that Jerry feels needed.

After that the whole film becomes a series of skits, some better than others, the best being what he does to tough guy Buddy Lester's hat. Running a close second is his bungling during a live broadcast from the house for a television feature. Helen Traubel plays the owner of the house, a former opera star who has turned her place into this residence because she wanted a family, apparently a family of just daughters.

Jerry directed himself and possibly The Ladies Man might have been a real classic if a comedy director had controlled Jerry just a little bit. Still give Jerry Lewis a big A for effort and B+ for results.

I enjoyed this movie and parts did make me laugh. Jerry Lewis is certainly an acquired taste however. When the movie started, I was worried and thought I would abhor the rest. It opens with a ridiculously over acted and unfunny scene where acts devastated to spot the girl with another guy. It was more cringe inducing than funny. This kind of slapstick might have caused a few laughs back in the 60s but it's almost unbearable to watch now.

That being said, there were parts in the movie I did find funny, as silly as they might have been. The bit with the method acting with the girl slapping him. The man and the hat. George raft. The butterflies flying out. Also, I do love the setting!

To summarise, humour is sometimes a bit forced, slightly outdated but still has its moments and charm.