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Sydney L. Pythias (Jerry Lewis), more juvenile than delinquent, is a janitor mistaken for a gang member whilst emptying out the garbage. Kindly police officer Mike Damon (Darren McGavin) tries to straighten him out by putting him through police training.

The role of Damon was earmarked for regular Lewis partner Dean Martin, but Martin allegedly refused to play a copper and the role was given to McGavin. Thus the film became notable for being the first solo film for Lewis away from his regular partner. They never worked together again. Written and directed by Don McGuire who works from a script based upon the Greek mythology legend of Damon and Pythias, the film also stars Martha Hyer, Robert Ivers and features a rare dramatic turn from comedian/impressionist Frank Gorshin. After the tremendous success of the Martin/Lewis partnership the big question of course would be if Lewis as a solo performer would be a big draw? The Delicate Delenquent was a massive success, made for under half a million dollars it went on to make almost $6 million. Thus launching Lewis on a lucrative solo career encompassing many more film's in the decades to come.

Very much a send up of teen rebel movies that were knocking about in the 50s {delinquency amongst teens was becoming a hot topic in the decade}, Lewis' movie is gentle blend of comedy and drama. Tho he doles out some of the gurning buffoon antics that were his comedy trait, Lewis does get to play it more restrained for much of the piece, and it works, none more so than with the warm and uplifting finale. With that in mind, newcomers to the movie should not expect a raucous Jerry Lewis piece. The comedy is good, with some scenes during the police academy training portion of the film, particularly enjoyable. While Jerry sings "By Myself," in cheeky recognition of his split-up with Dino. The romantic interest in the film comes via the beautiful Martha Hyer, who married Hal Wallis in 1966, the producer of the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis films. And tho it's not a fully formed character, there's just enough material to let Hyer leave a favourable mark.

A long way from Lewis' best solo film {The Nutty Professor} but engaging enough on both its comedy and dramatic fronts. 6.5/10

At age 10, I kept my fingers crossed en route to see this movie. I loved both Martin and Lewis, was shocked at their breakup and truly wished them both happiness and success.

The movie did not disappoint me and I sensed that Jerry would be OK. Jerry's next movie, " Sad Sack " was much funnier; I thought - although I do remember having a huge poster of Liliane Montevecchi hanging in my bedroom for at least two years after seeing the movie - and perhaps "that" had something to do with my preference LOL.

The rest is history of course. For those in my age bracket, I also think it is worthwhile to mention how many times Jerry Lewis chose Kathleen Freeman to co-star in his movies. She was, of course, one of the two actresses to portray the maid in the 1953 TV series " Topper " which starred Leo G Carroll.

In his first solo effort without partner Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis did a combination West Side Story and a police academy movie in The Delicate Delinquent. West Side Story was running on Broadway and its popularity and Jerry's would have guaranteed a built in audience.

Darren McGavin takes over from Dino and you can almost spot the places songs would have been dropped in. Lewis plays a bumbling young kid who gets accidentally in the middle of a gang rumble between the local Jets and Sharks and is caught in a police dragnet.

Personally I'm not sure how anyone could have mistaken Lewis for a juvenile delinquent, but McGavin is in charge of a mentoring program and he picks Lewis as his prototype test case. And monitoring the mentor is Martha Hyer who is from the City Council.

Jerry has surprisingly little in the way of raucous comedy routines and concentrates on developing his character. The film proceeds at a leisurely pace in telling the story.

Robert Ivers who plays one of Jerry's juvenile delinquent friends has a nice part himself. In the end he actually saves Lewis's career as a budding policeman.

The Delicate Delinquent was a nice solo debut for Lewis. He did much better for himself and Paramount Pictures than his old partner did with Ten Thousand Bedrooms.

Jerry Lewis plays a janitor called Sidney Pythias, who is hanging up with wrong kind of people.With the help of a cop called Mike Damon (Darren McGavin) he goes to the police academy to become a policeman.Delicate Delinquent from 1957 is Jerry's

first movie without Dean Martin, but he does nice job as solo. This isn't Lewis' greatest works, but it offers some great moments.Watch the movie if you want to be a cop or if you just like Jerry Lewis.

Jerry proves in his first film outing after his infamous parting with his partner Dean Martin that his brand of comedy needs no specific straight man as the whole world is his straight man! Jerry plays a peripheral (read barely in) member of a gang who get into a rumble at his backdoor and he is subsequently arrested along with them. Seeing that he's different from the others, a sympathetic cop (Darren McGavin) takes him under his wing to guide him away from the other gang members and make an upstanding citizen of him. Which of course is a monumental task considering who he has as a charge. Speaking of which, you will get a 'charge' out of this movie.

(see my review on Amazon.com)

Apprentice maintenance worker is mentored by a good-hearted neighborhood cop who wants to get one kid from the streets on the right path in life. Writer-director Don McGuire apparently fashioned this comedy vehicle for the team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, but when Martin dropped out (and ended the partnership), Lewis took center stage--and appeared very comfortable in doing so. Unfortunately, McGuire's script (which shows evidence of tampering) allows Lewis too much room to do his act: self-pitying pathos, dumb/smart retorts, goofy faces and voices. The plot doesn't make much sense, anyway: officer Darren McGavin apparently thinks Lewis is a member of a street gang--but Lewis has a job and his own apartment, and there are no scenes to show McGavin realizing his subject isn't a delinquent at all (he just goes right on helping him...into the police academy!). Slick and well-produced in black-and-white, the picture mixes in 'funny' scenes for the kids (Lewis helping an eccentric tenant with his experiments, being picked in a self-defense demonstration by a Sumo wrestler) and also adds convenient ladies for both Lewis and McGavin. The narrative is lumpy (it's just a bunch of episodes strung together), but McGavin is surprisingly paternal with Lewis, which eventually leads to a curiously sober conclusion, one that won't please fans hoping for another wild Jerry Lewis outing. ** from ****

I first saw this movie at the theater in 1957. I was 13 and was captivated at the transformation of Sidney(Jerry Lewis). I watched as he went from a goofy, skinny kid(like I was then)to a mature, respected policeman. I never forgot this film and developed an interest in law enforcement. I have been retired for 8 years after a career with the PA State Police. The movie was more than entertainment to me.

Once again Jerry stinks up the big screen with his hyperactive sthick. Here he offers the ultimate in corny jokes along with a 'hoods become angels with the right kindly influence' story. If you really like Jerry then you'll most likely go for this one, otherwise it will bore you senseless.

My wife hates Jerry Lewis. The French love him. Why the divergence?

In the late 40's and 50's Martin and Lewis were the most popular comedy act of their era. Watching some of their early stand-up routines one can't help marvel at Lewis's precocity and Martin's understated comic acumen. People who really know about Dean know what an underrated genius he was, but in this movie, Lewis's wide range of talents - mimicry, improvisation, foolery, jest - erupt with no comic-duo distractions. It's his tour de force.

Darrin McGavin turns in a great performance as Damon to Lewis's Pythias. The stunning Martha Hyer is great as the uppity goody two-shoes who falls for McGavin. Don't forget the uncredited cameo by Frank Gorshin. Robert Ivers, Horace McMahon, Richard Bakalyan, Milton Frome, et al, complete a great cast in one of the best comic movies ever.

Jerry Lewis Stepped Rather Softly into His Solo Career after His Highly Publicized Split with Dean Martin. They were a Very Popular Musical-Comedy Team in the Movies and had Them Rolling in Isles at Swanky Nightclubs and on TV Variety Shows.

It wasn't a Congenial Breakup and Fans were Wondering just what would Become of the Two Entertainers. That's Ancient History now as Both Became Very Successful on Their Own. Rumours about Their (Non)Friendship were Fodder for the Tabloids and Gossip Columns for Years and there was Always Scuttlebutt about a Re-Uniting or at Least a Shaking of Hands.

This is a Very Mediocre Movie but Jerry's Talent is Evident. He was a Hard Worker and an Always Involved Innovator of the Craft. He Honed His Slapstick Schtick and Mugging that Peaked with The Nutty Professor (1963) and then went Downhill for Years making Anachronistic and Unfunny Movies just on His Ego Alone.

His Debut Solo Effort is not an Awful Film, it is just an Uneasy Combination of Comedy and Social Commentary that doesn't Quite Work. It has a Few Amusing Moments and is Highly Professional All Around but it doesn't Click. But it Made a Bundle of Money and Jerry was Off and Pratfalling His Way to Financial Success but Limited Critical Acclaim (except in France).

In my opinion, the first half of The Delicate Delinquent features overly animated acting, jokes that aren't even funny, Jerry using a much-too-high voice, and an awkward storyline. However, about halfway through the movie, it suddenly starts to become more interesting. Jerry's voice gets lower, his bits are more tolerable--some even amusing, and the storyline becomes richer. I really thought I would not like this movie through and through, but with the end being more like a drama, it turned out okay and even somewhat inspiring. Or at least, relatable.

Jerry Lewis's first movie without Dean Martin casts him as a juvenile delinquent hired by a cop (Darren McGavin) to become a cop. "The Delicate Delinquent" is the typical sort of movie that Lewis was making around that time. It's mostly an excuse for him to act silly, sometimes via facial expressions. There's nothing special about the movie, although it does provide a few laughs. Without a doubt, Lewis reached his apex with "The Nutty Professor".

Martha Hyer (who later got married to Lewis's producer Hal Wallis) provides a foil for both Lewis and McGavin. Watch for a young Frank Gorshin (best known as the Riddler on the 1960s "Batman" series) as a gang member.

As Lewis's ostensible first solo film, you can't help but imagine Dean Martin in the Darren McGavin role (as was originally intended).

The movie is well-staged - evocative at times of James Dean and West Side Story.

That said, I had a little trouble flipping back and forth from the goofy zany Lewis to the insightful erudite Lewis on a moment's notice.

You could rightfully consider this a "coming of age" movie for the Lewis persona wherein he displays increasing signs of "maturity" and sophistication.

Having watched all of his solo movies, this movie and The Sad Sack are probably my lesser liked movies but I'll give it an A for effort.

Just watched this, Jerry Lewis' first movie without Dean Martin, on YouTube. Meant to partially be a spoof of the "delinquent" films of the time, Jer does quite well in mixing his usual goofy persona with that of a more serious learner when he gets mentored by a friendly cop named Mike Damon (Darren McGavin). In fact, this was originally supposed to be Dean's role but either he balked at actually playing an authority figure or he simply just had enough of his former partner's ego to continue on with him. Anyway, whenever McGavin has fights with a female council member named Martha Henshaw (Martha Hyer) there's still some traces of the Martin-like attitude especially when he reveals to Sidney (Lewis' character) his feelings for her. Officer Mike not only has to deal with the punks that hang around Sidney like Monk (Robert Ivers) and Artie (Richard Bakalyan) but also his superior officer, Capt. Riley (Horace McMahon) who has plenty of doubts about Mike's methods. Like I said, this was a good mix of comedy and drama and also, Jerry has a nice number by himself in which he drops his usual whiny voice for his more normal one (which he also does in the more serious scenes). So on that note, I highly recommend The Delicate Delinquent.

THE DELICATE DELINQUENT (1957) ** Jerry Lewis, Darren McGavin. Rather weak Lewis flick with Jerry as a troubled kid who hooks up with the police force. Noteworthy only because this was his first solo outing after he split with Dean Martin.

I've seen this movie about 10 times, and have enjoyed many aspects of it from repeated viewings. Most people see "Jerry Lewis" and think, oh, it's gonna be a goofy comedy. And that's partially right, however this movie has genuinely honest hearted acting. About half of the movie is various jokes, gags and satire. The other half is a serious commentary on the human condition. As you watch the actors talk to each other you can see in their eyes that they truly feel what they're saying. And there's a lot of positive messages in this. (I. E. Everyone is worthwhile. If you try to help others in your community by taking genuine interest in them, they will realize everyone is alike on the inside)

I find this very upbuilding and is done in a way that's not too serious.

As far as who would enjoy this? Those that have felt alone or trapped in life I think will enjoy it most. You can see yourself in Lewis's characters shoes.

In this movie, Jerry Lewis, so I once read, combines two of his favorite interests-comedy and juvenile delinquency. While it is comical, it does clearly convey the fact that juvenile delinquents can be helped and made productive citizens provided they're given the right kind of help; the cop Mark Damon (Darren McGavin) does become a great, positive influence on the delinquent Sidney Pythius (Lewis) and that delinquent does become a productive citizen. Robert Ivers plays the part of Monk, a small but rough punk who lives in the same poor, rough section of the Big Apple.

It is, again, comical, but Lewis is completely serious as he lets Monk know that he, Sidney, wants to be, in his words, a somebody; he is very brave and frank toward Monk as he lets him know that.

While I'll give no spoiler, it is enough to say that Monk does come through for Sidney.

Again, the story is very touch, thus I fail to see how anyone who sees it could not be influenced by it.

The Delicate Delincuent 1957 Written and Directed by Don McGuire Starring and produced by Jerry Lewis

I love classic movies and I loved Jerry Lewis as a kid. For some reason I decided to go back to this underrated Jerry Lewis movie some 40 years after seeing it for the first time and I was really surprised by what I found!

From the start I saw it as an answer to the more dark tinged The Wild One or Rebel Without A Cause by taking another, less dramatic and more hopeful twist at what seemed to be a concern at the time: marginalized youngsters. In a sense I think that Jerry Lewis might be to Marlon Brando what Buddy Holly was to Elvis Presley: the nerd-y, clumsy side of the same rock and roll / juvenile delincuency story (at least in the context of these two movies).

The first part of the movie is interesting in that it brings up social commentary and subtleties that are not far from the ones of today's. There is a policeman who advocates social support for the youth instead of discipline and punishment, which seems to be an advanced vision for the historical context; at the same time, the same police officer claims in a spiteful tone "I am not going to work with a dame!" at one point, which in my opinion signals another social concern and by the way gives the character a more rounded dimension (we as humans are all full of contradictions in the end). Jerry Lewis himself doesn't really come across as dumb as I remembered (he's still funny as hell though!) and in some scenes his character acts like an assertive little man.

In the second part, in my opinion, and I don't mean to spoil it, the script goes a bit sideways, but it is justified by an awesome dialogue between Jerry Lewis and the antagonist character.

In the end it is a really entertaining movie and one that doesn't really feel completely anachronistic. An 8/10 for me.

Everybody knows that the late fifties - more precisely the second part of this decade - evoked the juvenile delinquency. Thanks to Nicholas Ray and his REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE which opened the way to this kind of subject; a social and drama scheme, that you could use in nearly all kinds of features, including science fiction - look for some Edward L Cahn's movies. Only westerns did not speak that much of juvenile delinquency, with the exception of some Billy The Kid westerns where the juvenile delinquency element was not that far...Back to this movie, it remains an amusing comedy, because of Jerry Lewis, but not as slapstick as other films starring also Jerry Lewis and that looked like more TEX AVERY cartoons than social comedies. Because in this film, the social element is also not so far. A social message, to give a chance to juvenile delinquents to succeed in life.