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Summary: rare low-key performance from Jerry Lewis
Comment: In THE GEISHA BOY, Jerry Lewis provides a performance with equal shades of subtlety and comic brilliance. The colourful backdrop of Japan is a treat to see, and the supporting cast is equally fine.
Small-time magician Gilbert "The Great" Wooley (Jerry Lewis) and his rabbit Harry are part of a USO tour of Japan, but the visit takes an unexpected turn when Harry catches the attention of a shy little orphaned Japanese boy and his concerned aunt. Gilbert is the only one who seems to draw the boy out of his sorrows, and pretty soon a romance has blossomed with Aunt Kimi (Nobu McCarthy), too. But will Gilbert be able to leave everything in order to be with them?
THE GEISHA BOY allowed Jerry Lewis the opportunity to play some dramatic material; his scenes with Robert Hirano (as the little Mitsuo Watanabe) are adorable. This film also marked the screen debut of Suzanne Pleshette; she plays an army sergeant who also harbours an infatuation for Gilbert. The cast also features Sessue Hayakawa and Marie McDonald. The music score by Walter Scharf is lovely and the opening titles are a treat in themselves. Keep an eye out for some hilarious references to "The Bridge on the River Kwai", "Rear Window", the Paramount logo, and a dubbed Bob Hope!
For anyone who loves a heart-warming family comedy, THE GEISHA BOY is the perfect choice. It's currently available on DVD in the United Kingdom and Australia, so hopefully an American release shouldn't be too far away.
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Summary: Watch Jerry pull a rabbit out of his hat!
Comment: The comedy magic of Jerry Lewis is alive in this 1958 classic about his role as a magician performing in Japan and Korea and decides to make friends with an orphan. There are some touching moments especially towards the end of this movie as Lewis prepares to head back to America. Of course there are the plain outrageous moments that make this Lewis movie click. Good fun for everyone!
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Summary: The Rabbit Almost Stole the Movie!
Comment: I don't want to repeat what all the other reviewers have said. I know that when I went to see this movie when it first came out ( yes, I am "that" old ) I didn't have too much hope of it being a good movie. I mean it was Jerry Lewis without Dean Martin! How good could it be? Well turns out it was an excellent movie with an excellent performance by Jerry Lewis.
Just enough silliness without being stupid...and a surprising bit of seriousness also. I loved Harry the rabbit...and he really did almost steal the movie away from everyone...ALMOST.
My favorite line in the whole movie was "Oh look! Two genies, king-size and regular!" And those of you who've seen this movie know which hilarious scene I'm talking about!
Buy this movie and enjoy it...AND I really hope it will be released on DVD real soon.
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Summary: This Movie Has Magic!
Comment: Although Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis made a great team, this movie, The Geisha Boy, shows Jerry's true talent solo.Jerry plays a magician named Mr. Wooley, who plans to entertain troops overseas to make a few bucks. Part of his tricks include a rabbit named Harry. This rabbit plays a big part in the movie (perhaps taking Dean's place?). Struggling, Mr. Wooley thinks that playing for the USO will make him a few bucks and give him, perhaps, the big break he's been waiting for. In this time he meets a beautiful Japanese woman, who has a nephew that laughs at practically the sight of Mr. Wooley, and is forever changed by Mr. Wooley. In this comical love story, also featuring Suzanne Pleshette in her first movie role, Jerry really shows true talent for clean comedy and laughs without a sidekick (if you don't count the rabbit). There are also a few surprise things in the movie that you really have to pay attention to catch, making it even more fun!
I highly recommend anyone who enjoys Jerry to watch this film. It will have you rolling with laughter and magically feeling good!
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Summary: A Hidden Gem of Jerry Lewis; A Japanese Fan Can Testify
Comment: Owing to Eddie Murphy remake, "The Nutty Professor" comes to our mind first as Jerry Lewis's most representative work, but it also tends to overshadow his other neglected gems, one of which is here, "The Geisha Boy." Despite its now corny title, the film has still a lot to offer for our laugh.Jerry is this time a second-rate magician, who goes to Japan and war-time Korea, to entertain the soldiers; instead, he falls in love with a Japanese woman Kimi (Nobu McCarthy). He also forms an unlikely relationship with an orphaned boy, who considers Jerry as a new father. As the time of returning to America comes near, he has to decide: stay or leave?
Besides the touching story, in which Jerry shows his tender side, he exhibits lots of his crazy gags as usual, and they are very funny even now. Among many others, my favorite is "the biggest splash in the world" that happens in the Japanese public bath. And Harry the Hare always steals the show -- look how he runs in a hotel -- and Sessue Hayakawa appears as a cameo, to parody his role in a David Lean film (you know what).
As far as I can judge from the film, Jerry's segments are all shot inside America, just like they did in Bogart's "Tokyo Joe" (though we see a big statue of Buddha in Kamakura, Japan, Jerry does not share the screen with it.) The town of Japan is obviously made in a soundstage, but these facts are not important. As a Japanese, I am not a little surprised (pleasantly) to find that the film is friendly to Japan, (remember both nations were at war 13 years before) and inaccurate descriptions of Japan, which are still often found in Hollywood movies, are reduced to the minimal level. It is quite possible that someone behind the production team gave information on Japan, not to offend Japanese audience. The biggest suprise is that some of the gag are clearly made for Japanese; check out the scene where a Japanese boy watches a TV program. An American is speaking (dubbed) Japanese, but his speech is in a dialect of Kansai, western district of Japan. This causes a big laugh in Japan, because it is like hearing a Japanese speaking with a strong accent of, say, New Orleans or Scotland. Who thought of this idea?
My only complaint is the film is longer than it should be, and the opening and ending reels move a little slowly. And Pleshette's character (her debut, and appears in military uniform) should be given more screen time. But these are minor things. A good film that makes you laugh a lot.
