Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River

After sixteen successful years with Paramount, Jerry Lewis ventured over to Columbia Pictures. "Don't Raise the Bridge..." was one of his first "gun for hire" films and he had nothing creatively to do with it (and it shows, it lacks the warmth and humor of "The Nutty Professor", "The Ladies' Man", and his several other solo classics. Nevertheless, it has some good moments, and the song performed by Danny Street at the opening is full of words to live by.

Being released in 1968, this film appears to be Jerrys attempt to be more contemporary and click with theatre goers changing tastes in the late 60s. He was not really involved with the production as he was with the majority of his films. He has stated himself that he did this film for verteran TV director/actor Jerry Paris because it was financially appealing. The results are very uninspired.

This is not to say that Jerry can't be contemporary and he is a joy in a film like Three on a Couch, however this one is as much of a misfire as Way Way Out, Hook Line and Sinker, and Which Way to the Front?.....Hey, they can't ALL be good.

Hopefully Columbia will release the rest of his output and its kind of a shame that they chose this rather weak title as their first DVD release. The Big Mouth is a much funnier and better paced film and is easily the best film he made after 1965. Hopefully they aren't going to gague sales of this title as a determining factor for future releases as this one is IMO strictly for Jerry Lewis completists.