Movie spotlight
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
George Lester is a man who is chasing rainbows, looking for the pot of gold at the end. When his wife, Pamela grows tired of being dragged all over the world, she leaves him. While she is away, George converts her family home into a discotheque, when she returns, she threatens to send George to jail for fraud, cause she didn't give her approval. George needing some fast bucks, decides to turn to an old cohort of his, William Homer but Willy's a little short. George then decides to steal the plans to a new drill, Pamela's suitor, Dudley Heath is working on. But when George gets the mumps, he can't make it to the meeting place and refuses to give Willy the plans unless he gives him the cash first. And the buyers won't give unless they see the merchandise first.
Insights
Plot Summary
A charming but inept con artist, George Brown, sets his sights on defrauding a wealthy businessman, Mr. Smith. To achieve this, George enlists the help of his girlfriend, Helen, and attempts to infiltrate Smith's inner circle through a series of elaborate, albeit often clumsy, schemes. His main objective is to marry Smith's daughter and gain control of his fortune.
Critical Reception
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River received a generally lukewarm reception from critics, often seen as a typical Jerry Lewis comedy of the era. While some appreciated Lewis's signature slapstick and energetic performance, others found the plot formulaic and the humor predictable. Audience reception was similarly divided, with fans of Lewis's style often enjoying the film more than general moviegoers.
What Reviewers Say
Jerry Lewis's trademark physical comedy and energetic performance are present.
The plot is considered formulaic and lacks originality.
Humor is often seen as predictable and dated by some critics.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce and often reflect a divided opinion, with fans of Jerry Lewis's comedic style generally enjoying his energetic performance, while others found the film to be a standard, uninspired comedy from the era.
Fun Fact
The film's title is a play on the phrase "Don't raise the bridge, lower the water," a common saying used to indicate that problems should be solved by adapting to circumstances rather than changing the circumstances themselves.
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