Slapstick of Another Kind (1982)

A rich, beautiful couple give birth to deformed alien twins who, when their heads are together, are the smartest kids on the planet.

Director:

Steven Paul

Writers:

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (novel) (as Kurt Vonnegut), Steven Paul

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Wilbur Swain / Caleb Swain
Madeline Kahn	...	Eliza Swain / Lutetia Swain
Marty Feldman	...	Sylvester
John Abbott	...	Dr. Frankenstein
Jim Backus	...	President of the U.S.
Samuel Fuller	...	Colonel Sharp
Merv Griffin	...	Anchorman
Pat Morita	...	Ah Fong, the Chinese Ambassador
Virginia Graham	...	Gossip Specialist
Ben Frank	...	Quentin, the Handyman
Cheire Harris	...	Maria, the Maid (as Cherie Harris)
Robert Hackman	...	Study Hall Supervisor
Eugene Choy	...	Lum Fung
Ken Johnson	...	Horace
Peter Kwong	...	Chinese Astronaut

Storyline

Caleb Swain and his wife Lutetia are a rich couple deemed to be the most beautiful of all the beautiful people by the press. This changes when Lutetia gives birth to oversize, deformed twins named Wilbur and Eliza. Unknown to them, the twins are really an alien brother-and-sister team implanted in Lutetia to solve the world's problems. When they are apart they are not much smarter than a potted plant, but together they are an intellectual force to be reckoned with. Their closeness is put to the test when a series of events threatens to keep the twins apart. Mixed in with all this is a miniaturized Chinese ambassador who needs the twins' help to make a deal for the sale of gravity.

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Plot Keywords:

twins | alien | chinese | voice over narration | ugliness | 

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Taglines:

Extra-terrestrials have never been this spaced-out before [DVD]

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Slapstick of Another Kind

Filming Locations:

The Rindge House - 2263 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original 1982 cut of the movie featured a score by Michel Legrand. When the movie was re-edited and subsequently re-released in 1984, it was replaced with a more science-fiction-laced score by Morton Stevens (of Hawaii Five-O (1968) fame). A soundtrack LP was released containing on one side the score by Stevens and on the other side highlights of the score by Legrand.

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Goofs

The boom mic is visible in the scene where the staff at the mansion is attempting to cheer up Eliza after Wilbur is taken to military school (on full frame 1.33:1 prints; the prints cropped to 1.85.1 mask the boom out).

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Connections

Referenced in Morons from Outer Space (1985)

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Soundtracks

Lonesome No More
Lyrics by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (as Kurt Vonnegut)
Music by Michel Legrand
Sung by Madeline Kahn

User Reviews

Misfired comedy of the unfunny kind

This movie is so tragically bad; that you feel sorry for those involved. Adapted from a Kurt Vonnegut story, with some big name talents in the cast, the story is destroyed by a lame script, no slapstick or any comedy of any kind, and stars given nothing to work with. Jerry Lewis and Madeline Kahn play aliens who have a message for the world, and encounter evil everywhere--a depressing premise to start with. Versatile Pat Morita is wasted on a mean-spirited, stereotypical little loudmouth character that isn't the least bit funny--only irritating. Marty Feldman, Orson Welles, and Jim Backus have parts they probably hid from their resumes too. One recurring joke is that excrement is a new fuel source; this sad attempt at humor was as close to a laugh as you get. The film has only one worth while moment: a touching scene near the end where you actually get a chance to feel something for the two characters who have been mercilessly hurt throughout the movie. An unfunny comedy that will just leave you feeling empty.