Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

aharenan 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.

David Anthony 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.

helpless_dancer 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.

Mister-6 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.