Customer Reviews

The Delicate Delinquent

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The "Delicate Delinquent" was originally written for Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, but it became Jerry's first solo film. The movie is a departure from the slapstick comedy Lewis had done with Martin. I would describe it as a drama with comedy. Jerry plays a young man in a tough city who isn't exactly a "delinquent", but certainly has stopped attempting to live up to his potential. Jerry's speech in the middle of the film is certainly devoid of humor: "When I was a kid I was jerky, now I'm a man, and I'm lonely...I'm a nowhere, a no place." However, a false arrest turns his life around as a police officer takes a special interest in "reforming" him.

Dean Martin turned the film down, before the partnership desolved, becuase he didn't want to play a cop, but Lewis turns this black and white story into a personal epic about standing on your own and making a difference (a fitting message for someone who had just launched into a solo career after coming off what was then the biggest act in American history).

Yet another Lewis classic that should be on DVD.

In this endearing comedy, Lewis plays a youth caught between gangster-type friends and the grown-up world. Mike Damon (McGavin) takes a shining to this delinquent and determines to help him become a star citizen. Sydney enrolls in the police academy which sets off a wide array of antics that disrupts the entire school. The Delicate Delinquent is a charming boy-to-man film. A must have for any Jerry Lewis fan.

I remember this movie from when I was a kid and I went to see it with my neighbor... it stuck with me for a long time and even though I think there are so many funnier Lewis movies, this one has a softness to it.

I thought this movie was instinctively funny. I knew Jerry Lewis was going to be funny, but I didn't expect him to meet me on deeperlevels of funny. I saw a sexiness in the storyline as well,where Jerry's character struggled with his manhood. It gave me insight on what men deal with on a profound level. For example, when he fought the Japanese guy, it was almost as if Jerry was saying that it is okay to not be so macho.

This might be the movie for the unbeliever. Lewis does a lot of things in this movie ~ sight gags, funny faces, dramatic acting, and all sorts of interesting things in between genres, even a song ~ but he does them all quickly and quietly. The intro, and his irruption into it, is a real surprise. It's a Lewis to surprise you. Darren McGavin and Martha Hyer provide Lewis some acting with which to interact. There's a loose end subplot involving a zany professor but, luckily, that strand got zipped before it interfered with ... well, hell, a great dramatic turn by the king of comedy. No wonder Lewis choose this remarkable performance to kick off his box set.

The Delicate Delinquent (1957) will particularly interest the
youth segment, and a general audience enjoying comedy of a unique
style. It's not unlike car drivers slowing down on a road or
highway, hoping to get a better look at cars involved in an
accident for example, meaning there's an undeniable fascination
in the unusual.

Here, Jerry Lewis (who was 31 at the time) plays Sidney - a
handyman and superintendent of a large 12 floor apartment
building. Lewis's character is struggles in handling customer
satisfaction of the tenants, namely, in completing all sorts of
repairs, electrical, plumbing, etc.

The comical aspect, obviously, is not lost, in the juxtaposition
of the ultra-responsible, hard-working, model and upstanding
citizens in all walks of life with Lewis's character - who is a
paradox of a human being, with a still-developing perception of
reality, and less-than apprentice-level skills in completing the
oddjobs, in interacting socially. etc.

For example, there's an intentional awkwardness in interacting
with gangs, taking lightly tenant complaints, ineffectiveness in
body-to-body combats, or in public relations with the public as a
police officer, etc.

Darren McGavin, as "Mike" plays a mixture of regular citizen,
(yet company man in the police corps), and model citizen eager to
lend a hand to a fellow human being struggling with various
challenges and adaptations. He's mystified of Lewis's clumsiness
- obviously contrived by the talented actor to reap the most
laughs and sympathy possible.

Next, Martha Hyer, using her own name, has a remarkable presence
as a clean-cut woman with a strong character and keen
intelligence, intent in being successful in her social worker
role and mission. In this particular case, she's charged of
rescuing juvenile delinquents from a destiny of futile behavior
and misery - that person being, of course, Lewis.

At the same time, the reason for Hyer's character is to perhaps
pull a few jabs and get some laughs from the too-good-to-be-true
image presented, as well as overdone spotless vanity, and
superficiality of some women, too often, in the 20th century, as
well as the "social work" or "charity volunteerism" used as a
litmus test in some classes, in evaluating one's worthiness, that
has to be demonstrably proven.

The work isn't dated too much, even in 2009, but is actually
amplified by the excess quantity and generic quality of too many
movies these days.

Society's hierarchical nature is acknowledged, which has been
mitigated since the end of military conscription and the
disappearance of rigid social customs in the mass media and
between various professions.

Jerry Lewis's acting clearly shows a natural affinity to film and
comedy, proving that self-deprecating humor is commercially
successful in entertainment.

The Delicate Delinquent
This movie was written by Jerry Lewis for him and Dean Martin. Dean Martin was to play the role of a police officer in this movie but refused because he didn't want to wear a police uniform he offered Jerry to play a detective instead. The famous duo split before the film was made. So... with this said, this was Jerry Lewis's very first movie without has friend Dean Martin. Actor Darrin Mcgavin, played the roll Dean Martin was suppose to play and this was Jerry Lewis's "first" of many smash hits that rocketed him to become a successful artist in his own right and a mega star known as the King of Comedy.

I don't really know why, but this film had a profound affect on me. I was 6-7 years old, family life was pretty bad, and this film made me.. feel weird, but in a good way. All I can say for sure is that the emotions I had during and around the time I saw this silly flick were very poignant, and are still with me, accessible at unexpected times.

It was 50 years ago when this movie came out starring the great Jerry Lewis. Fun story line about our hero as a policeman! This is true Jerry Lewis at his hilarious best. Darren McGavin also is featured. Audiences might remember him from A Christmas Story. Fun film not to be missed by the fans of Jerry!!

This is a very good movie, but I would have to say it isn't Jerry's best. It is very low budget, but Jerry makes up for that. It is definatly a must see, but as I said, Jerry has done better.