THE STOOGE

US, 1952, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen, Eddie Mayehoff.
Directed by Norman Taurog.

One of the earlier Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedies. While there are comedy routines and music. the film attempts a more serious tone. It is partially successful and veers towards the sentimental. A similar approach was tried in That's My Boy about the same time. Director Norman Taurog directed the pair in many of their films.

Martin plays a typical role and in a selfish singer who tries to succeed alone. Lewis is the stooge who has talent and in really the life of the act. It takes a dramatic confrontation for Martin to realise the truth - and the denouement in which he acknowledges the truth comes rather quickly, especially in dramatic terms. Polly Bergen is a pleasant heroine. The film is an interesting example of a popular comedy duo of the fifties, the difficulties about show business and team work. It shows also the direction in which each of the two went after their split in the mid-fifties.

1. Audience expectations of a Martin/Lewis comedy? Their popularity in the fifties? Their individual contributions? Their work as a team - reflected in the work of the team in this screenplay?

2. The comedy conventions, Jerry Lewis' routines? His particular comic style - the little man put upon, sentiment, nice, immature, a kid? yet being very influential? Dean Martin's suave personality, singing style? The leading ladies as subservient to the leading men in some romance, comedy? Black and white photography, Broadway and theatres of the thirties?

3. The basic plot - the setup of the two characters, the lights on the Great White Way and the dim bulb? The establishing of Bill as a successful musical star? The showing of Ted as foolish and a stooge? Mary and Freckle Face in support? The agents, the managers of the theatres?

4. Bill and his marrying Mary and his self-preocpupation, his trying to go alone, his choice of Ted as stooge, the success of their act? Bill not wanting to acknowledge this, his being saved by Ted, for example when drunk, Mary's birthday? The Broadway contract and his missing Mary's party? Mary's confrontation with him at the agent's office? His failing, apology to the audience, the happy ending with Ted supporting him after their fight? A credible character type?

5. Jerry Lewis, as Ted - the initial comedy routines, his being sacked from his job, his ability to be the stooge in the theatre, his comic contributions - especially the Maurice Chevalier impersonations, when he went on instead of Ted? His comic and singing styles and skills, for example in the finale? His relationship to his mother, the love for Freckle Face, his loyalty to Bill, devotion to Mary? A sentimental American hero?

6. Mary as the long suffering wife, her love for Bill, her career? Her appreciation of Ted? The birthday party and Bill's missing it, his serenading her? Her confrontation with Bill? The happy ending? Freckle Face as a comic variation on this theme?

7. The agent and his friendship with Bill, the advice about the stooge, his disappointment, for example at the review party when Ted was overlooked by Bill? His tearing up Bill's contract? The former partner? The manager of the theatre? the producer?

8. The musical interludes, for example the serenading of Mary, the singing of the song in the restaurant?

9. The comedy routines and their success? The particularly American style of Jerry Lewis's comedy?

10. A basic story about pride, loyalty, love? The Martin and Lewis treatment of this popular theme?