Watch The Family Jewels
- Approved
- 1965
- 1 hr 39 min
-
6.2 (2,521)
The Family Jewels is a 1965 comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. The film revolves around an orphan girl named Donna Peyton (also played by Lewis) who inherits six million dollars from her late father. However, her father's will stipulates that she can only receive the money if she chooses one of her six uncles to be her legal guardian. Each uncle is played by Lewis, with different costumes, personalities, and accents.
The uncles are Luther, a tough truck driver; Everett, a timid private investigator; Julius, a naval officer; Captain Andy, an actor; Bugsy, a gangster; and Skylock, a pilot. Each of them has their own distinct quirks and eccentricities, and they all compete to win over Donna and become her guardian.
As Donna and her six uncles travel across the country, they encounter various mishaps and adventures, including a car chase, a plane crash, and a run-in with the police. Along the way, Donna gets to know each of her uncles better and learns important life lessons from them.
One particularly memorable scene involves Everett (played by Lewis with a fake mustache and glasses) trying to blend in at a hippie party. Throughout the film, Lewis manages to pull off all of his comedic personas with ease, from the gruff and stubbly truck driver to the lanky and bumbling private eye.
The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Sebastian Cabot as Mr. Halstead, the family lawyer; Neil Hamilton as the family doctor; and Jesslyn Fax as Miss Wigginton, Donna's governess.
Overall, The Family Jewels is a charming and lighthearted comedy that showcases Jerry Lewis's versatility as an actor and comedian. The film is a fun, feel-good romp that will have audiences laughing and rooting for Donna and her uncles until the very end.
In addition to its humor and heart, The Family Jewels also features some striking cinematography, particularly during the airplane sequence. The film's score, composed by Walter Scharf, is also noteworthy for its catchy and memorable theme song.
Though it may not be one of Lewis's most well-known films, The Family Jewels is a delightful comedy that is sure to entertain audiences of all ages. Its clever premise, colorful characters, and slapstick humor make it a classic example of the lighthearted comedies of the 1960s.
The Family Jewels is a 1965 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.