The Family Jewels (1965) User Reviews

More Lewis = less laughter.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 1 February 2020]

Ten year old heiress Donna Peyton (Donna Butterworth) spends two weeks with each of her six uncles to try and decide who is to be her new father, when it's patently obvious that her caring chauffeur Willard Woodward is the perfect candidate.

A vanity project written by, starring and directed by Jerry Lewis, The Family Jewels sees the comic actor playing seven different characters, thereby allowing him to run the gamut of his comedic repertoire: loveable (Willard), scatterbrained (old sea salt Uncle James), grouchy (circus clown Uncle Everett, who hates kids), zany (Uncle Eddie the pilot, who sounds a lot like Jack Lemmon from The Great Race), logical (private detective Uncle Skylock), and villainous (gangster Uncle Bugsy).

Films don't get more self-indulgent than this, Lewis milking his multiple roles for all they are worth, the star often over-egging the pudding, with many of the characters outstaying their welcome. Lewis is having so much fun doing his zany thing that he doesn't know when to call it quits and move on to the next segment. The result is a film that could have done with some judicious editing to remove the chaff, but I imagine Lewis's ego got in the way of that happening.

Butterworth is charming as the young rich girl who is constantly bemused by her many uncles' eccentric behaviour, and Lewis is at his best when he's playing loveable Willard, but overall there is way too much grandstanding from its star for this to be considered a success.

I would say Jerry is 2 faced here, but....

[helpless_dancer · 6/10 · 22 September 2001]

Jerry had to reach deep into his bag of stupid jokes, gags, and ham handed comedy to come up with this little jewel[?]. It doesn't play well by today's standards, in fact the whole thing is double lame; especially the 2 bits using son Gary and his band. Did the Playboys need this gig to further their hinky dinky careers? I did get a few laughs, but the film was really just too goofy....as usual for Lewis. What was with Jerry's hair? Two or three inches long in the front, and a buzz cut in back: a reverse of today's style.

Inventive concept!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 24 June 2017]

It's a creative plot which Jerry Lewis explores at the maximum this inventive concept of multiples characters which was used to by Eddie Murphy recently and successfully indeed, so Jerry deserves the credit to be the first one, all characters developed by Jerry are weirdly funny, this original idea gave to the movie another dimension to the main characters, multiply so to speak, Jerry Lewis is the most important comic actor for all time, covered for many nowadays!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5

Beginning of Lewis' fatal decline as director and funnyman.

[ronghero · 24 June 1999]

One has nearly always gotten the impression from watching the antics of Mr. Lewis that the humor is being undermined by a fatal egotism which knows no reasonable or acceptable boundaries. 1965's The Family Jewels marks the beginning of Lewis' long decline--his wish to play seven roles, far from constituting a bravura tour de force, is simply a sign of his nauseating hubris and megalomania. What better way to dominate the proceedings and garner all the attention for oneself than to occupy seven of the eight principal roles? Also, Lewis at this stage is teetering indecisively between being a director of kiddie flicks and turning out films designed to appeal (or at least be tolerated by) a mature audience. Here he fails dismally. The kiddie humor is mostly forced; the adult content betrays Lewis' all-consuming flaws of cloying sentimentality, self-righteousness, and hackneyed plot devices. You KNOW the little girl will pick the chauffeur to be her "father," you KNOW the foppish Brit will turn out to be a pool shark, the thug will have a heart of gold, etc. I get the impression that it is at about this point Mr. Lewis should have sought long-term psychotherapy so that he could have combatted the inner demons built up during the course of his (admittedly harrowing) childhood. Even at the self-expressed risk of losing his sense of humor, this move would have been cost-effective--his film previous to this, The Disorderly Orderly, was, in many respects, his last hurrah. Sadly, The Family Jewels (note the smirkingly referential title; note the poster in which a cloyingly "cute" moppet with a soft fuzzy beret is surrounded by seven phallic Jerry Lewises) deserves its reputation as a flop. But at least it's a very interesting case study.

The Jerry Lewis Show!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 2 October 2018]

"The Family Jewels" is all Jerry Lewis. Not only did co-write the script, produce and direct the film, he also played seven different characters as well. Hog the film? Nawwww.

Young heiress Donna Peyton (Donna Butterworth) has just lost her father who has left her $30 million. The terms of the father's will as interpreted by lawyers Jay Adler and Neil Hamilton, stipulate that she must choose a "new" father from among her six loony uncles. Young Donna has become attached to family chauffeur Willard Woodward (Lewis) who although he looks like all the uncles (why not? they're all Jerry), is not eligible to be chosen.

Donna is required to go and live with each of her uncles for two weeks before making her decision. The first stop is with Uncle James, a ferryboat captain (Lewis in ridiculous makeup). The brothers are all supposed to be in the same age group but James looks to be 102. Next Donna moves on to uncle Everett (Lewis in clown makeup) a nasty child hating person who plans to leave the country (a plot device to make the ending possible).

Next we move on to Nutty Professor I, Julius a photographer whom we meet photographing beautiful models, ineptly of course. Then its on to Captain Eddie a pilot with an ancient airplane awaiting passengers. A group of senior ladies book his plane for a flight to Chicago with hilarious results. Then it's on to Nutty Professor II, Skylock, a Sherlock Holmes clone complete with Dr. "Matson" (Sebastian Cabot). The last brother "Bugs" (Lewis with rotten teeth and painted on whiskers) kidnaps young Donna to hold her for ransom.

Willard calls on Skylark and Cpt. Eddie to help find her. Skylock ends up playing pool with Robert Strauss and Capt. Eddie flies to the rescue but we never see him after he takes off. Donna manages to escape and winds up in the pool room.

Later, all of the brothers except Everett the angry clown appear in the lawyers offices where Donna reviews her views of each before making her choice of a new father. It's not hard to figure out who the new father will be and..............................................................

Lewis didn't miss the opportunity to promote his son Gary's musical career, playing his record of "This Diamond Ring" and having him and his group do a cameo during the airplane sequence.

Other familiar faces pop up in the movie. Anne Baxter appears in an in flight movie aboard Cpt. Eddie's plane. Also watch for Lewis regulars Milton Frome, Del Moore ,Scatman Crothers Benny Rubin and Vince Barnett in other cameos.

Too much Jerry for my liking.

Kind Hearts And Jerry Lewis

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 8 December 2011]

The Family Jewels casts Jerry Lewis as chauffeur/bodyguard/factotum to little Donna Butterworth who is worth millions and who has just lost her father. The attorney for her estate is the officious Neil Hamilton and by the terms of her father's will Butterworth can choose whom her guardian shall be among an interesting variety of uncles.

And those uncles are all played by Jerry Lewis in a homage to Alec Guinness and the many members of D'Ascoyne family he played in Kind Hearts And Coronets. The Family Jewels is not as good a film as Kind Hearts And Coronets but that's because the Guinness film contains a witty and interesting story, wit being supplied by Dennis Price as he kills off the heirs.

Nothing that bad here except one of the uncles Jerry plays is a gangster who wants the fortune for himself and holds Butterworth for ransom after several inept efforts to capture her from chauffeur Lewis.

The most interesting of the Lewis characters is that of the pilot uncle who has a broken down one plane airline who happens to get a charter flight the day Butterworth visits. The whole sequence is one sustained gag about this group of old ladies with matrimony on their minds who out of desperation take Jerry's airline to a convention in Chicago. The trip is most interesting and hilarious.

Jerry directed himself in this and director Lewis packaged all his characters with tender care for a still appreciative audience.

Frustratingly uneven...

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 19 February 2013]

I wanted to like "The Family Jewels" but found there was more to it to dislike than like. It's really a shame, as some aspects of the film were quite good--but too much of it suffered from extreme overacting.

The film begins with a very rich little girl being told by lawyers that her father's will stipulates that she must move in with one of her five uncles. So, the plan is for her to visit each uncle and spend a couple weeks with each of them--and then she gets to choose the one she'll live with for the rest of her life. The uncles, it turns out, are all played by Jerry Lewis. And, oddly, their unrelated chauffeur also is played by Jerry. So, in many ways the film is reminiscent of such comedies as "Kind Hearts and Coronets", "The Mouse That Roared" and "The Klumps".

There were some parts of the film I liked. A few of the jokes (a distinct minority) were funny and I caught myself laughing a couple times. Additionally, I liked watching the relationship between the chauffeur and the child--showing what I've thought for a long time--that Lewis was EXCELLENT at drama and I wish the film had more of that. But, too often the characters were done with no subtlety and although many reviewers love him, I found much of the antics overbearing and overdone. Subtle, it ain't! It's a shame, as I do like some of Lewis' films--but others just needed less--a lot less.

Goofy stuff

[DrWorm · 8/10 · 20 April 1999]

Ah, Jerry Lewis. One of the most underappreciated comic actor/writer/directors. In "The Family Jewels" he attempts to play every single member of a family of brothers...and pulls it off successfully. All these Lewis characters are funny and quirky, and this movie is consistently entertaining all the way through. Note the similarites between the voice of the airline pilot Peyton brother and the voice of Paul Reubens' Pee-Wee Herman. The plot here involves a young girl who must live with one of her uncles, and her search for the uncle she likes best. But that's mostly an excuse to let Lewis show off his incredible comedic character talents. Sometimes downright cartoonlike.

Funny? Irritating!

[PeterJackson · 3/10 · 2 September 2000]

This is the third old Jerry Lewis-film I've seen recently(the others being THE NUTTY PROFESSOR and WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?)and it's easily the least of the three. Whereas the other two had an inspired moment every hour or so, this film scores low on ingenuity and high on stupidity. There just isn't a single funny scene in it, the story is of course ludicrous(which wouldn't have been a problem when it would have been funny) and the only thing Jerry Lewis seems to be able to is looking cross-eyed when there's a sudden noise. Oh yes, and have I mentioned his idiotic walk? Now I know that when you've seen a Lewis movie, you've seen them all. The more I see of him the worse it gets. And I just can't understand why some people keep calling him "underrated", I just can't. There's nothing subtle about him, he's about as funny as Pauly Shore(and his films of the same level)and he's not really a modest guy too. If it's obvious that your films are nothing more than a showcase for yourself(and the story of no importance), you expect them to be funnier. What can I say more? Just don't see this unless you have to write a book or so about Jerry Lewis. But then again, who would do that? 3/10

Why not?

[warlorde · 10/10 · 31 May 2003]

I know this isn't the best movie to watch, but for some reason I found it campy, corny and enjoyable. Jerry Lewis did seem to try and have fun with this film, and showed off his mulit-character talents which some people called hogging the movie. But hey can't we all just have fun sometimes? Apparently not since some of the negative reviews the movie received. Oh well I still like the movie alot and will always look to catch it on TV.

10 out of 10, bc I said so.

awful

[aharenan · 1/10 · 24 February 2008]

I have been giving Jerry Lewis a chance recently. He was great with Dean Martin in the 1950's TV show; there are many great moments in those. The French, or some of them, revere him. His movies alone, in the late fifties and sixties,however, do nothing for me. Family Jewels is one of the worst. If you ever see the Dick Cavett interview, you might sense a certain arrogance or pretentiousness, more than can be attributed to the situation of a star and the adoring interviewer . These solo films, written by, directed by, and starring Lewis, reflect a certain self-indulgence, that of a great clown who has lost sight of what's funny. Explore the early work and don't waste much time with the later.

Jerry Lewis in several roles poses no threat to Peter Sellers or Alec Guinness...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 16 July 2017]

Somewhat strenuous farce has Jerry Lewis exhausting himself both on-screen and off, portraying seven different characters while also serving as producer, director and co-writer (with Bill Richmond) of an extremely thin screenplay about a 10-year-old heiress and her search for a daddy. The tyke, worth $30,000,000 after being left orphaned, must choose one of her five uncles to act as her legal guardian--though she gets along best with her accident-prone chauffeur. Lewis is best in his 'straight' role opposite unassuming little Donna Butterworth, but the other acting opportunities are a bust due to Lewis' penchant for self-adoration (also the fault of the editor, who doesn't know when to cut off a scene). The plot is so slim, Lewis has to throw in added unrelated episodes (such as the chauffeur having to briefly manage a busy gas station) just to pad the running time to 99 minutes. Pete King's bouncy score adds a touch of fun, but the plugs for Gary Lewis (Jerry's musician son) are unnecessary and the constant hamming and mugging is often painful to witness. *1/2 from ****

All in the "Family"...

[Mister-6 · 8/10 · 24 November 1999]

I'll give Lewis credit: even though this one isn't on par with the uproarious stuff he and Dean Martin did or even with "The Disorderly Orderly" or "The Nutty Professor", "The Family Jewels" shows Lewis doing what he does best.

Running amok.

Playing no less than seven characters here, Lewis changes costumes, accents and venues but stays just as addled in all of them. This time, he plays a chauffeur who takes care of a little girl (Butterworth, a novice here and since) and shuttles her between six brothers (all Lewis again) who vie to be guardian of her and the millions of dollars she will inherit.

Of course, it's interesting to see that he brings back (in shape only) his character from "The Nutty Professor". Good to see him.

And only Lewis could make a slapstick free-for-all in which Anne Baxter makes a cameo.

It's good, nutty fun for all and definitely a better choice than his later work. "The Family Jewels" - definitely a "Jewel" in the rough.

Eight stars.

Multiplicity for Lewis!

[thejcowboy22 · 4/10 · 27 January 2017]

Got home from school late missed Dark Shadows but caught the ABC Channel 7 4:30 movie already in progress and I see what looks like Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) Attorney talking to a young lady Donna Peyton (Donna Butterworth) no relation to the Maple Syrup Company, anyway, Donna has a dilemma, she has to choose which of her eccentric Uncles to live with. All of these Uncles portrayed by Jerry Lewis. A collection of six of the strangest characters in the Jerry Lewis genre. Donna closest companion and temporary guardian is the chauffeur Willard Woodward also played by Jerry Lewis. From a ship's Captain to bumbling photographer and into the air with Captain Eddie and down to earth being abducted by Nubbley Uncle Buggs and pursued by his brother the clumsy detective Shylock Peyton. Along side in tow with Uncle Shylock is his rational sidekick Dr. Matson played by the bearded portly (Sebastian Cabot) notable TV character the gentlemen's gentlemen Mr. French on Family Affair. Willard and Donna had a special bond. Willard was Jerry plays it straight for the most part as he would drive Donna to each of the Uncles for a visit except for the evil Uncle Circus Clown Everett who loathes children. Some notable performances by Captain Eddie and his beat up airplane. Cameo appearance by Jerry's Son Gary and his Playboys in the closet. This movie is not to be taken seriously, but an attempt to see Jerry Lewis show his range of Characters. Uncle Julius for example was taken from his earlier movie THE NUTTY PROFESSOR except this time no more professorship minus wife Stella Purdy who is not present in this film but replaced by sexy models in a photography studio. The scene was awful and dull. A side splitting scene is when Uncle Detective Shylock warms up his pool stick at the pool hall as Lewis showcases his agility. Meanwhile, Uncle Buggs is teaching Math problems to his Niece Donna as she repeats the math answer verbatim in Bugg's voice lip sync. All Donna wants to do is live with Willard her personal driver. Jerry Lewis is an acquired taste. Either you love him or hate him. This movie did at times tickle my funny bone. This movie was sort of a farewell to his silly movies from there after. A few years later, Jerry once again did attempt the multiple roles in Three on a Couch with close friend Janet Leigh and Kathleen Freeman.

Watch the film.

[allan davidson · 10/10 · 5 July 2000]

And now I would like to write an objective review of the movie for you--but I don't have time. Just watch it. I thought it was fascinating and funny. I hadn't seen it since 1965 when it was at the theaters, maybe it was kept off tv because experts didn't like it. But make up your own mind, one that isn't closed from the beginning because of analysis or psychoanalysis by someone else. There are two great pool shots that you definitely need to see, and the part where Jerry Lewis was talking like Pee Wee Herman way back in 1965 was also interesting. I think there's a lot more to the movie than these two things though.

Just like all the other Lewis's

[QueenoftheGoons · 1/10 · 25 August 2022]

His playing pool was actually really funny. Loved that Sabastian Cabot was in it - though brief. Lewis's different roles were all stupid or annoying. Liked Robert Strauss in it. He's always great. Other than that its like all his others; so long on skits, too long on scenes and gags. Its like don't try so hard.

Sevenfold Star Vehicle

[directoroffantasies · 31 October 2004]

I finally figured out why the French love Jerry Lewis. They have this idea that one guy should be the "author" of a film: director, scenarist, star performer, the whole bit. Fernandel was like that. For their transAtlantic tastes, this standup jokester turned movie mogul is just the ticket.

I saw "The Family Jewels" in the theater as a little boy and loved it; Lewis had reached the point where he could make kids laugh. But are Vegas audiences of adults still buying his act?

This story probably would have been more believable as a stage presentation, as Lewis's mugging certainly works better before a live audience. It's OK on film, and continues to appear on cable from time to time. For someone who figured out how to entertain the little ones, Jerry Lewis here pulls off the very considerable feat of not being upstaged by a child actor.

forgetting all of the 'real' this is good humor honestly ...

[ING123 · 10/10 · 20 December 2004]

I've rated this movie a ten - why? For one it's fun to watch - teaches a great lesson when having kids watch with you. Jerry Lewis was a great father and was always good with kids! The acting, slap stick isn't quite up today's standards of 'horror' 'bloodshed' or 'sex' but it's so much better than any of them on the big screen. One you don't have to worry about a scene slipped in or words you don't use and don't care to hear in public or private. This movie came out as I was returning from Africa for my final duty station in the US. When I went to the Far East in 1963 - we appeared to have a sane country - when I came back it was to nudity, sexual gradification, drugs and race riots. Then going to Africa - if possible the society got worse - aiding and abetting the enemy by protests which even today make a pale comparison to some. Jerry Lewis was an exception to this - reminding us of values and morals. chuck

Great Jerry Lewis Effort Indeed.

[dweilermg-1 · 10/10 · 22 March 2019]

Jerry tried hard to outdo Peter Sellers doing multiple roles in this movie but Sellers would never do more than 3 roles in any movies feeling he could give 100% to no more than 3. Still this was indeed a fun Saturday matinee flick loved by Jerry's kiddy fans. Miss Donna Butterworth showed great potential as an actress yet her career didn't last very long. ♣

I went to the movies as soon as this one was released

[Etherial_2000 · 22 November 2003]

My friends and I laughed so hard. Even at age 10 I thought the movie was totally funny and engaging. Jerry Lewis was my favorite comic back then and I also liked the child actress Donna Butterworth. She and Jerry had chemistry. I loved the characters and I remember Sabastian Cabot trying to squeeze into or out of a car; too funny.

Whatever happened to Donna Butterworth? She acted in an Elvis movie and that was it for her. If anyone knows, let me know.

WOW!

[dweilermg-1 · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

It seemed to me that Jerry Lewis was trying to out-do Peter Sellers at doing multiple roles in 1 movie and Jerry indeed succeeded in this great Saturday Matinee comedy. Always fun to watch indeed. ☺

I loved this movie as a child... and still watch it from time to time

[fh-athome · 9/10 · 1 February 2021]

Although the production value seems very low and the story is a bit thin, I still think it's a delightful movie. Very 60s, it has character, feels "light" and fun but it's surely not in the league of e.g. Peter Sellers' films. However, I'd watch it over some of the more recent comedy films any day.

Donna Butterworth is delightful

[jackcade · 21 August 2007]

I have been familiar with both The Family Jewels and Paradise Hawaiian Style for many years, but it was only when I coincidentally bought both on DVD recently that I realised Donna Butterworth starred in both. I'm not sure her name even registered with me in the past. However, her performances in both films are winning and funny and I imagine she grew up to be a very lovely person. Her singing is sensational in what is otherwise a lesser Elvis Presley film (directed by Michael Moore (!) but not the Sicko guy). The audio commentary and special features on The Family Jewels provide some interesting information and background about Donna. Jerry claims to have discovered Donna in Hawaii and we see amusing and heartwarming screen tests of them together among the special features. She is now 50 or so years old and I hope she is proud of them. If you're reading this Donna, hi from me.

Better than the new generation realizes

[charlesachapman · 8/10 · 7 September 2022]

There are a lot comedians and actors that were very very influenced by Jerry Lewis, but you probably wouldn't notice if you are expecting this movie to be just like a modern comedy. Modern comedy is just a continuation of the evolution and refinement of comedy style that had to occur over the history of film. And Jerry was a major influence. If you watch this movie expecting it to be modem then you'll be disappointed. But if you watch all the characters he plays in this movie and try to figure which modern comedian and actor was influenced, you will see a lot of stuff that Jerry passed along. Yeah, a lot of it is over the top, but so were clothes styles. Just try to listen closely to his word choices and you should get a lot of chuckles.

Jerry seven times nuttier

[Petey-10 · 20 August 2004]

The father of a 9 year old Donna Peyton (Donna Putterworth) dies and she has to live with one of her six uncles, which are all played by Jerry Lewis.He also plays a chauffeur called Willard Woodward.All the uncles are nutty in a way or an other.There is a clown and the other is like Jerry's character in The Nutty Professor.The Family Jewels (1965) is a movie, that mr Lewis also directed and wrote.I remember when I saw it in 1998, when I was 16 and liked it very much.As a huge Jerry Lewis fan I was delighted to see Jerry Lewis in seven.He and the young Donna do both great job in this movie.This is a funny comedy which ain't a wonder since it's a Jerry Lewis film.It makes me glad to read from IMDB that he's making an appearance in a movie called Miss Cast Away this year.Let's hope we'll see this 78 year old comedian in more movies in the future.