The Delicate Delinquent
The Delicate Delinquent
NR | 06 June 1957 (USA)
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Sidney Pythias is a bumbling janitor picked up by cop Mike Damon as a teenage gang member worth saving from delinquency. With Damon's help, Sidney works his way through the Police Academy to become a cop too.

Reviews
Cubussoli

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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Smartorhypo

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Allison Davies

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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Staci Frederick

Blistering performances.

LeonLouisRicci

Jerry Lewis Stepped Rather Softly into His Solo Career after His Highly Publicized Split with Dean Martin. They were a Very Popular Musical-Comedy Team in the Movies and had Them Rolling in Isles at Swanky Nightclubs and on TV Variety Shows.It wasn't a Congenial Breakup and Fans were Wondering just what would Become of the Two Entertainers. That's Ancient History now as Both Became Very Successful on Their Own. Rumours about Their (Non)Friendship were Fodder for the Tabloids and Gossip Columns for Years and there was Always Scuttlebutt about a Re-Uniting or at Least a Shaking of Hands.This is a Very Mediocre Movie but Jerry's Talent is Evident. He was a Hard Worker and an Always Involved Innovator of the Craft. He Honed His Slapstick Schtick and Mugging that Peaked with The Nutty Professor (1963) and then went Downhill for Years making Anachronistic and Unfunny Movies just on His Ego Alone.His Debut Solo Effort is not an Awful Film, it is just an Uneasy Combination of Comedy and Social Commentary that doesn't Quite Work. It has a Few Amusing Moments and is Highly Professional All Around but it doesn't Click. But it Made a Bundle of Money and Jerry was Off and Pratfalling His Way to Financial Success but Limited Critical Acclaim (except in France).

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Lee Eisenberg

Jerry Lewis's first movie without Dean Martin casts him as a juvenile delinquent hired by a cop (Darren McGavin) to become a cop. "The Delicate Delinquent" is the typical sort of movie that Lewis was making around that time. It's mostly an excuse for him to act silly, sometimes via facial expressions. There's nothing special about the movie, although it does provide a few laughs. Without a doubt, Lewis reached his apex with "The Nutty Professor".Martha Hyer (who later got married to Lewis's producer Hal Wallis) provides a foil for both Lewis and McGavin. Watch for a young Frank Gorshin (best known as the Riddler on the 1960s "Batman" series) as a gang member.

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Spikeopath

Sydney L. Pythias (Jerry Lewis), more juvenile than delinquent, is a janitor mistaken for a gang member whilst emptying out the garbage. Kindly police officer Mike Damon (Darren McGavin) tries to straighten him out by putting him through police training.The role of Damon was earmarked for regular Lewis partner Dean Martin, but Martin allegedly refused to play a copper and the role was given to McGavin. Thus the film became notable for being the first solo film for Lewis away from his regular partner. They never worked together again. Written and directed by Don McGuire who works from a script based upon the Greek mythology legend of Damon and Pythias, the film also stars Martha Hyer, Robert Ivers and features a rare dramatic turn from comedian/impressionist Frank Gorshin. After the tremendous success of the Martin/Lewis partnership the big question of course would be if Lewis as a solo performer would be a big draw? The Delicate Delenquent was a massive success, made for under half a million dollars it went on to make almost $6 million. Thus launching Lewis on a lucrative solo career encompassing many more film's in the decades to come.Very much a send up of teen rebel movies that were knocking about in the 50s {delinquency amongst teens was becoming a hot topic in the decade}, Lewis' movie is gentle blend of comedy and drama. Tho he doles out some of the gurning buffoon antics that were his comedy trait, Lewis does get to play it more restrained for much of the piece, and it works, none more so than with the warm and uplifting finale. With that in mind, newcomers to the movie should not expect a raucous Jerry Lewis piece. The comedy is good, with some scenes during the police academy training portion of the film, particularly enjoyable. While Jerry sings "By Myself," in cheeky recognition of his split-up with Dino. The romantic interest in the film comes via the beautiful Martha Hyer, who married Hal Wallis in 1966, the producer of the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis films. And tho it's not a fully formed character, there's just enough material to let Hyer leave a favourable mark.A long way from Lewis' best solo film {The Nutty Professor} but engaging enough on both its comedy and dramatic fronts. 6.5/10

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Petri Pelkonen

Jerry Lewis plays a janitor called Sidney Pythias, who is hanging up with wrong kind of people.With the help of a cop called Mike Damon (Darren McGavin) he goes to the police academy to become a policeman.Delicate Delinquent from 1957 is Jerry'sfirst movie without Dean Martin, but he does nice job as solo. This isn't Lewis' greatest works, but it offers some great moments.Watch the movie if you want to be a cop or if you just like Jerry Lewis.

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