Visit to a Small Planet

Goofy alien Jerry Lewis lands on Earth, decides to try the suburban way of life for awhile, angering his superior officers in space. Screenwriter Edmund Beloin adapted Gore Vidal's play, but it doesn't seem directly tailored for Lewis' mugging talents--which is a blessing. The material is actually quite sophisticated, with a fair amount of witty lines and good supporting performances by Joan Blackman, Earl Holliman and Gale Gordon. Jerry Lewis himself isn't bad; he had yet to be reeled-in by a strong director, but he isn't grating or overtly offensive here. There's some surprising, modern humor in this scenario, while the production, the (minimal) special effects, and Loyal Griggs' black-and-white cinematography are all first-rate. Lots of fun! **1/2 from ****

This has to be where Robin Williams drew his inspiration from for Mork of Ork. While this movie is by no means the funniest fish out of water film you could see, I think it still rates a look IF you could just find it somewhere...

I was five years old when this movie came out and was intrigued more by the special effects (Jerry floating in air and walking up the wall and onto the ceiling). It was also of not that this was his last film for many years where he had someone else direct the film (the veteran Norman Taurog). From this Jerry went to make his kind of movies. My parents were big Lewis fans and I am to this day. This may not be up there with "The Nutty Professor" but it's close. This film also had a good supporting cast and had a "stagy" look befitting its origins as a play. I mentioned being intrigued by the FX (floating and walking on walls). Being a typical kid I thought I could walk on walls and quickly found out I couldn't. This is definitely something that shouldn't be tried at home-only in the movies.

I'm suspicious to talk about Jerry Lewis he makes part of my life in my youthful days and today a l have almost all movie from this true genius of the comedy whose many actors were inspired by him, like Jim Carrey, this time he came to the Earth as a clumsy friendly alien visitor, who didn't scary nobody except a fearful dog which he talks each other, great acting from veteran actor Fred Clark , the always fine Earl Holliman and John Williams as Alien leader who almost stolen the movie with a funny performance!! Just came out officially in Brazil with dubbed short version and extended subtitled version, sorry for a wrong choice for black and white photography, as comedy works well in color!!

Resume:

First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25

Thank you Cinemax for dusting off this rare gem. You don't get too many chances to see this on the tube. The idea of Jerry Lewis popping in from 8 million light years away in his saucer to help Gen. Lee's troops fight the "damn yankees" should be enough incentive for anyone to make time for this and it doesnt disappoint. Unfortunately Jerry miscalculated and landed on Earth 100 years later-he's a student, not a very smart one but he is majoring in the "Earth" so his natural curiosity brought him down for a short stay, much to the frustration and eventual amusement of his mentor Mr. Delton on his home planet where his every move is monitored on the first 60" wide screen I can remember seeing. The movie is just hilarious with sight gags galore. I thought I was going to fall out of my chair watching Jerry take his first glass of whiskey and then walk up the wall and stand on the ceiling to have a conversation with his host. And the Beatnik scene at the "Hungry Brain" is a real keeper although many probably wont get it-beatniks were the 'way cool' hipsters that preceded the flower child movement of the 60's. Koo koo baby! Earl Holliman is very funny in an early role and Joan Blackman is scrumptious as Holliman's love interest that he can never seem to keep his hands off of. She later appeared in two Elvis flicks so you know she's got to be pretty hot. Just a great movie and I think ranks in Lewis' top three with The Bellboy and The Errand Boy. Don't miss it. 9/10