Cinderfella ** (1960, Jerry Lewis, Ed Wynn, Judith Anderson, Henry Silva, Robert Hutton) – Classic Movie Review 5951

Writer-director Frank Tashlin’s 1960 sex-swap gender-bending fairy tale comedy stars Jerry Lewis as Cinderella as a fella. That’s the set-up and the plot has Cinderfella left at the mercy of his snobbish stepmother (Dame Judith Anderson) and her two no-good sons, Maximilian (Henry Silva) and Rupert (Robert Hutton) after his father dies.

The bad boys try to find dad’s hidden treasure and the stepmother plans a grand ball for Princess Charming, who she hopes will marry Rupert.

And how you like it all mostly depends on your reaction to the farcical clowning of Lewis as Cinderfella. But also to taste are Ed Wynn’s performance as the Fairy Godfather and Judith Anderson as the wicked stepmum, as well as the brash writing and upfront direction of Tashlin (who made the delicious The Girl Can’t Help It).

Also in the cast are Anna Maria Alberghetti (as Princess Charming), Count Basie (as himself), Joe Williams, Kathie Browne and Del Moore.

It is shot in Technicolor by Haskell B Boggs, produced by Jerry Lewis and Ernest D Glucksman, scored Walter Scharf, and designed by Henry Bumstead. The songs are Let Me Be a People (Plain Old Me), The Other Fella (A Soliloquy), The Princess Waltz (Once Upon a Time) and Somebody, sung by Lewis, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Jack Brooks.

For a touch of class, Lewis commissioned Norman Rockwell to make the film’s promotional artwork.

RIP Jerry Lewis, who died on 20 August 2017, aged 91.

 © Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5951

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