Introduction
Jerry Lewis is one of the most iconic comedians and showmen of the 20th century. His eccentric charismatic personality and presence in the room which was both subtle but at the same time captivating allowed him to achieve universal appeal and respect. However, his life was difficult, exacerbated by extraordinary fame at a young age and his divisive views. This report will focus on the biography, career, and comedic style of Jerry Lewis.
Biography and Filmography
Jerry Lewis (real name Joseph Levitch) was born in 1926 in New York to parents who were also performers. He began performing at a young age, participating in a play at a resort at the age of five. Lewis gained prominence in the late 1940s after teaming up with fellow comic Dean Martin, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. Their duo became popular with television and nightclub shows as their styles and characters complemented each other.
They were hired by Paramount to appear in a range of films starting with My Friend Irma. Eventually, the duo broke apart and for almost a decade Lewis dedicated himself to a music career and doing prominent shows in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami which were the staple of his career. His solo act was recognized as he starred as a guest on several television shows, solo TV specials, and hosting award shows as well as starring and co-producing several films for Paramount such as Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) and The Geisha Boy (1958) (“Jerry Lewis Biography”).
In 1960, having attained such popularity in Hollywood, granting him creative control, Lewis was the director, producer, and star in the film The Bellboy which was largely silent as an homage to Charlie Chaplin. It was a commercial and critical success as Lewis went on to direct more films including The Ladies Man (1961), The Errand Boy (1961), Boeing Boeing (1965), and Three on Couch (1966).
Towards the 1970’s his career began to wane as he appeared on periodic films and shows, mostly revivals and reprisals of his previous works. He continued to appear as a cameo on various shows and films, as well as public speaking and conducting tours. Towards the end of his life, Lewis suffered many health problems, some associated with his physical style of comedy in the past. Lewis was married twice and has 8 children. He died on August 20th, 2017 (Kehr).
Style and Technique
Jerry Lewis is best known as the essence of American slapstick comedy, known as vaudeville and burlesque. His low-brow comedic approach encompassed extreme antics, physical movements, and an improv-heavy style of interaction. It is described as raw and edgy, sometimes reaching such levels of absurdity and experimentation that it broke the status quo in the industry, no matter the project he was working on (Wallace).
This inherently distinguished him from the rest of the comedic landscape and contributed to his popularity. He would often utilize a dual personality approach between Serious Jerry and Idiot Lewis that would help drive his sketches. Lewis would also utilize any object that he would find lying around or do crazy things such as banging his head against the glass or rub chocolate over his face, emphasizing the very physical hands-on approach to his style, which was almost excruciating to watch but made audiences laugh (Vosburgh).
The technique of Jerry Lewis cannot be easily identified because of how anarchistic it was. A strong aspect of his comedy, either physical or verbal, was self-depreciation, as he knew how to laugh at himself even when faced with criticism. His wild personality and performances were uninhibited and volatile, full of improvisations and ad-libbing, providing audiences with a new experience with each show (Izadi).
Lewis used deconstruction to enhance his comedy, often breaking the fourth wall and acknowledging the sets, failed jokes, and any malfunctions, essentially demystifying the process of joke writing and performance. His bodily features, loud voice, facial expressions and quirks, and highly physical stunts and performances introduced a new generation of comedic style in the mid-20th century which remains popular to this day (Kehr).
Jerry Lewis took inspiration from Charlie Chaplin whom he beloved, also known for his physical style of comedy and brilliance to use simply his movements and facial expressions for audience pleasure (Wallace). The juxtaposition of an ‘idiot’ personality such as in The Kid (1921) combined with the deeper thought and reflection in The Great Dictator (1940). Lewis was inspired by this and sought to reflect it in his characters and real life. With his style, Lewis inspired a whole generation of comedians including Steve Martin and Jim Carrey, who are well-known for their slapstick and physical style of performance.
Significance and Personal Contributions
In the context of the history of American comedy, Kliph Nesteroff stated that Lewis’s “influence cannot be overstated” as he is an example of a brilliant comedic mind (Izadi). His work gave him international recognition, particularly in France where was greatly appreciated after Bellboy was released. Lewis’s humor remains iconic for its instinctual and primitive approach, so infantile and chaotic that in the modern show business of significant planning and choreography, it would have no place. Nevertheless, it created excitement, and its simplicity was the reflection of raw emotions and the fundamental “ridiculousness of the human condition” (Wallace).
Woody Allen called Lewis “the greatest comedian’s director around” (Vosburgh). As a director, Lewis was just as innovative and contributed to the industry in many ways. Famously, he invented video assist in filmmaking which allowed him to see himself act on monitors; a concept used in all productions to modern-day (Alexander). Lewis was a brilliant director, discovering a range of techniques and devices to help his work.
At the time of his prime, Lewis was one of the few American directors who would make progressive films that provided honest commentary and showed the realities of a messy frustrating life (Hirschberg). Although not specializing in comedy, modern directors Tarantino and Spielberg took inspiration from Lewis as filmmakers and public figures because he refused to censor himself (Wallace). It made people uncomfortable, which ultimately pushed the boundaries of the industry positively and gave recognition to his astonishing artistry.
In personal life, Lewis was a controversial figure, often drawing criticism for his opinions. Towards the end of his life, he publicly voiced misogynistic (against female comedians) and anti-homosexual slurs, as well as other controversies related to his work with disabled kids (Izadi). However, he used his fame for good, appearing on various telethons and supporting the cause of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, credited with helping raise over $2.6 billion over the years (Vosburgh).
Personal Reflection
I find Lewis and his performances appealing and funny. Despite not being a fan of slapstick performances and more appreciating of high-brow comedy, one cannot help but laugh. His mastery of facial expression, smoothness of physical movement, and the ability to perfectly characterize as well as ridicule certain elements make his movies and performances highly enjoyable to watch. Lewis’s charisma and both on-screen and off-screen personality were appealing, and one can recognize the artistic genius and passion that Lewis put into his work.
Conclusion
Jerry Lewis was a brilliant comedian, actor, and director who contributed strongly to the industry. His slapstick style and physical technique revolutionized comedy and inspired whole generations. His art and contributions were full of pathos but were emotionally and physically self-sacrificing, influencing comedy forever.
Works Cited
Alexander, Bryan. “How Jerry Lewis Hit Comedy Gold: Five Must-See Movies.” USA Today. 2017. Web.
Hirschberg, Lynn. “What’s So Funny About Jerry Lewis?” Rolling Stones. 1982. Web.
Izadi, Elahe. “The Two Sides of Jerry Lewis.” The Washington Post. 2017. Web.
“Jerry Lewis Biography.” IMBD. Web.
Kehr, Dave. “Jerry Lewis, a Jester Both Silly and Stormy, Dies at 91.” The New York Times. 2017. Web.
Vosburgh, Dick. “Jerry Lewis: The Slapstick Clown Who Raised Billions for Muscular Dystrophy.” Independent. 2017. Web.
Wallace, Amy. “Jerry Lewis, the Essence of Comedy.” GQ. 2017. Web.