THREE ON A COUCH
US, 1966, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jerry Lewis, Janet Leigh. Mary Ann Mobley.
Directed by Jerry Lewis.
Three On a Couch is one of the later Jerry Lewis comedies. With this film he moved from Paramount where all his films had been made, to Columbia. He produced and directed the film himself. It is also an attempt to move to a more serious style of comedy for himself - as he had done earlier in 1966 with Boeing Boeing with Tony Curtis. However, he also has the chance for his mugging clowning and impersonation with pretending to be three characters courting three girls in psychiatric treatment. These impersonations are sometimes funny and inventive although they have echoes of the old style farcical clowning. Janet Leigh is an attractive heroine but the three girls - the three on the psychiatric couch - are very good especially Leslie Parrish as the southern girl. There are amusing cameos by Kathleen Freeman, a regular in Lewis' films. and Buddy Lester as a drunk. The film is also an amusing comment on psychiatry and its fashionableness.
1. How enjoyable and entertaining a Jerry Lewis vehicle? His style, comedy roles, impersonations, farce? His attempt at a more serious role than usual? This film coming towards the end of his career in cinema?
2. Lewis as star, his relationship with women, the four leading ladies and the way they combine with Lewis? Less the pathos of the little man and more the ordinary man and the humorist?
3. How well did he draw the serious character of Chris Pride? The art prize, the relationship with Elizabeth, his hopes for his career, love for Elizabeth, friendship with Ben, the motives for his posing? The humour of his having to cope with the three girls? Moving in and out of character swiftly? The inevitability of their finding out? Elizabeth and her disappointment and his reaction? The suspense? The girls persuading Elizabeth to have him back? How well did Jerry Lewis manage the various roles?
4. Janet Leigh's charm as Elizabeth? Seeing her at work during the credits, her skill as a psychiatrist, her love for Christ, her reliance on Murphy as secretary? Her listening to the three girls, her decision not to leave them because of their need for her? Her trying to arrange to get away to Paris? Her seriousness in listening to the girls talk, enjoying their change, the build-up of her hopes for Paris? The arousing of suspicions? The humour of going to the boat and the discovery of the truth? Her failing in following her own advice? Her being able to be persuaded to take Chris back - especially when she thought he had fallen overboard?
5. The build-up to the revelation of the truth - the party sequence and its length, people dodging one another, the various jokes, Chris managing the three girls, Ben and his cover-up? The escape to the wharf? Elizabeth's disillusionment, the drunk overboard, the girls persuading Elizabeth and her final forgiveness?
6. Susan and her disillusionment , her love for sports, her meting the sports enthusiast, Warren? Sharing sporting activities with him, the change in her attitude, her reliance on him? A good satirical portrait of the active woman?
7. Mary Lou and her southern style? The encounter with Heather and the friendship, the discussions of biology, the emergence of Rutherford and the scientific discussions? His shyness? Mary Lou's coming out of herself?
8. Anna and her European background, her love for cowboys, Ringo and his wealthy style, the humour of the rodeo?
9. The variety of Jerry Lewis' impersonations? His old style comedy routines, the clever impersonations, his warning everybody off at the party?
10. The character of Ben and his advice, helping out his friend? Murphy and her devotion, her arranging the party, her speech?
11. The incidental characters and their contribution - especially the patients and the satire on psychology, the drunk and his presence at the party, his falling overboard?
12. Which were the most successful routines and jokes? The serious presentation of psychology and therapy, the satire on psychology?
