The Geisha Boy (1958)

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Rudy Makoul (story)
Frank Tashlin (writer)

Release Date:

2 November 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

MORE THAN GREAT COMEDY HERE'S GREAT ENTERTAINMENT (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Gilbert Wooley is a second-rate magician who is sent to entertain the troops in the pacific. During...

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Magician | Japan | Soldier | Airport

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jerry Lewis	...	Gilbert Wooley
Marie McDonald	...	Lola Livingston
Sessue Hayakawa	...	Mr. Sikita
Barton MacLane	...	Maj. Ridgley
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Sgt. Pearson
Nobu McCarthy	...	Kimi Sikita (as Nobu Atsumi McCarthy)
Robert Hirano	...	Mitsuo Watanabe (as Robert Kazuyoshi Hirano)
Ryuzo Demura	...	Ichiyama
The Los Angeles Dodgers	...	Themselves
Carl Erskine	...	Himself (as The Los Angeles Dodgers)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The most interesting item in the film is the appearance of the real "Los Angeles Dodgers" who made an appearance in the film playing an exhibition baseball game in Japan. This film appearance was directly after the Dodgers abruptly moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn which probably enraged New York filmgoers at the time.

Movie Connections:

Features The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Not a Lewis fan? This could change your mind!

This is one of the funniest films, not just in the Jerry Lewis catalog, but ever. Lewis is a clumsy magician, trying to entertain the troops overseas (even in fox holes and under fire). Frank Tashlin's shots of Lewis' white rabbit friend, associate, and confidant are hysterical simply by their brilliant framing (and it's really just a plain old white rabbit!). Of course, there's romance as Lewis befriends a Japanese family with a gorgeous young woman, as well as the kind of sensitive story line with a terribly cute Japanese boy which John Hughes and Steven Spielberg so often fail at. And while we're at it, there's baseball and a Bridge on the River Kwai site gag. Speaking of gags, Lewis being stalked in a Japanese bath and the payoff shot are fabulous. Fun for the whole family and a must see for both Lewis fans and those who've wondered what the fuss was all about.