The Stooge

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The Stooge
Directed by Norman Taurog
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Written by Fred Finklehoffe
Martin Rackin
Starring Dean Martin
Jerry Lewis
Polly Bergen
Marion Marshall
Eddie Mayehoff
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) December 31, 1952
Running time 100 mins.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Stooge is a comedy film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. The film was released on December 31, 1952 by Paramount.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Entertainer Bill Miller (Dean Martin) believes that he has the ability to become a solo performer. He and his partner Ben Bailey (Richard Erdman) split up and go their separate ways. Miller fails miserably, and his manager, Leo Lyman (Eddie Mayehoff) thinks it would be a good idea to perform with a "stooge." Enter Ted Rogers (Jerry Lewis), who plays an accident-prone foil for Miller. Soon afterwards, Miller's act is a hit.

Along the way Rogers is unaware that he is the real reason the act is a success, and becomes very loyal to Miller. Even though he receives no billing, he defends his "partner" when someone suggests he is being taken advantage of by Miller.

However, even Miller's wife Mary (Polly Bergen) is ashamed of his treatment of Rogers...going so far as to threaten him with divorce. Miller is more determined than ever to prove he can make it as a single and fires Rogers, and promptly regrets his decision as his first act as a true solo artist flops. He address the audience and admits that the "stooge" was the true heart and soul of the act. Rogers, who is sitting in the audience, comes to his rescue by joining him onstage and the two finally become true partners!

[edit] Cast

[edit] Production

The Stooge was filmed between February 19 and March 24, 1951 and although it was filmed before two other Martin and Lewis films, Sailor Beware and Jumping Jacks, this film was withheld from distribution by Paramount because they were concerned about the audience's reaction to the way Martin treated Lewis in the film.

Jerry Lewis has stated that this is his favorite Martin and Lewis film.

[edit] DVD Releases

October 12, 2004
October 31, 2006

[edit] External links

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Martin and Lewis
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