Cracking Up (1983)

Suicidal nerd seeks help from psychiatrist, runs into various nutty characters.

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writers:

Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jr.

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Warren Nefron / Dr. Perks / Gangster / Speed Armeter (as Jerry --- Who Else?)
Milton Berle	...	Ms. Sultry
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Sammy Davis, Jr.
Herb Edelman	...	Dr. Jonas Pletchick
Foster Brooks	...	The Pilot
Zane Buzby	...	Waitress / Valet / Woman in Line (as Zane Busby)
Dick Butkus	...	Anti-Smoking Enforcer
Francine York	...	Marie Du Bois
John Abbott	...	Surgeon
Bill Richmond
Donna Ponterotto	...	Stewardess
Robin Bach
Buddy Lester	...	Passenger
Paul Lambert	...	Joe - Carpet Installer
Ben Davidson	...	Big Bearded Plane Passenger

Storyline

Warren Nefron is a hopeless klutz who has some of the worst luck in the world: when he tries to end it all with a foolproof suicide plan, he still manages to mess it up. In desperation, he goes to a psychiatrist to see if there is some way for him to end his troubles. As the doctor talks with him, the film cuts to a series of shorts about scenes from Nefron's life, and the lives of the people around him.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | attempted suicide | written by cast member | directed by cast member | co written by director | 

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Taglines:

T'es fou, Jerry! Ben je gek, Jerry? (You're crazy, Jerry! Are you crazy, Jerry?)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The picture was released in the USA on a double bill with The King of Comedy (1982).

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Goofs

The chair used in the opening hanging sequence disappears entirely and then suddenly reappears.

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Crazy Credits

Marcel Marceau is credited with singing the title theme, which is an instrumental.

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Connections

References King Kong (1933)

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Soundtracks

'Romeo and Juliet' Overture
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Played during scene in Dr. Pletchick's office

User Reviews

One of Jerry's Most Overlooked Gems

This is a sloppy mess of a comedy, with barely a plot to speak of, yet it contains some of the funniest bits Mr. Lewis has ever committed to film. It's one helluva lot better than the previous movie, "Hardly Working" which got a big theatrical release. It is the "Test Market Audience Mentality" that kept this excellent movie from getting a big-screen release in the U.S. "Cracking Up" keeps moving--if one gag fails, don't worry because there will be another, funnier one right on top of it. This overlooked gem has no less a fan than Martin Scorsese, who particularly loved the waxy floor opening credits sequence.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1983 (France)

Also Known As:

Cracking Up

Filming Locations:

Irving Ave & Bel Aire Dr, Glendale, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1