As the words “THE END” appear on screen, Martin and Lewis protest, saying they’re not ready for The End. They shoot down the letters from the screen using their pistols, and agree to make more films together. The words “THE END” reappear on screen, and everyone lives Happily Ever After.
This gag, so called, might appear as a (weak) attempt at a last laugh, but it was actually Loaded with Meaning.
During the making of Pardners, there were rumours that the team was on the verge of splitting up. After being together – as friends and performers – for 10 years, the friction between the two was becoming more intense.
The film’s ending was a way to quell the gossip. Settle down, everybody, we’re not breaking up the act.
But they were. According to IMDb, on the day Pardners was released in theatres, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis appeared together for the last time on stage.
There would be one final film, Hollywood or Bust (1956), and the pair would call it Quits.
They would not speak to each other in private for the next 20 years.
We didn’t see much evidence of this behind-the-scenes unease when we saw Pardners.
Lewis stars as a rich city boy who’s always dreamed of being a cowboy, while Martin plays a ranch foreman struggling with real-world problems of finances and Bad Guys.
The two meet at an eastern rodeo and travel west together, becoming unlikely partners on the journey.
Martin’s character, at first, thinks Lewis is a silly man-boy, but he eventually develops a grudging respect for the lad. Lewis’s young man isn’t too bright, but he does have a generous heart and a desire to help Martin save his ranch from the Bad Guys.
We had low expectations of Pardners, but we were surprised by how much chemistry Martin and Lewis still had, and how genuinely funny they were.
In fact, it’s the film that changed our mind about Jerry Lewis.
Jerry Lewis is keepin’ the peace. Image: justdial.com
We have to be honest: We never thought Jerry Lewis was amusing.
We felt Lewis was a bit too manic, but, admittedly, we’d only sampled his early radio and film work, which left us feeling flat.
Lewis, to us, seemed too frantic to grab all the laughs, relegating the naturally funny Martin to the Sidelines.
But when we saw Lewis in Pardners, we were struck by how sweet and trusting his character is, and how engaging he can be. The film is built around Lewis, and it’s crucial he doesn’t alienate the audience if the thing is to work.
He pulls it off. He has some truly funny scenes, the manic silliness notwithstanding, and we developed an unexpected appreciation for his style. Like Martin’s character, we began cheering for him.
So, when it came to the last scene, where the words “THE END” appear and are shot down by the pair, we could see why audiences would want to disbelieve the rumours.
Alas, it was not meant to be.
If you have a spare 90 minutes, we recommend Pardners, a playful spoof about The Old West. It could change your mind about Jerry Lewis.
Pardners: starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lori Nelson, Directed by Norman Taurog. Written by Sidney Sheldon. York Pictures Corporation, 1956, Colour, 90 mins.
Further Reading
More about the Martin & Lewis comedy team – and their onstage reunion – is HERE.
Jerry can be grating at times, but I’ve never been able to ignore his talent. That there is a scared little boy at his core with so much creativity carries him a long way in my estimation.
Often there is that one performance or movie that will change your mind about an actor. Of course, you have to see it at the right time (stars aligning and all that), but once that happens it seems as if there is no turning back. For me and Charles Boyer, it was All This, And Heaven Too some 25 years ago. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
Thank you for the thoughtful post. I admit I have not given Jerry Lewis a chance for some of the above-mentioned reasons. The “hey lady!” Child-man character that I would see in hyper-manic clips turned me off. Dean Martin has always appealed to me more, so I have stuck to his films, music, and tv work. However, your post has encouraged me to open my mind and give “Pardners”, thus Lewis, a chance. My grandmother would rave about seeing Martin and Lewis in Atlantic City at the 500 Club when they were first starting out on the nightclub circuit. She said they would mince around with the audience after their sets; they even came over to her table to kid around. So, I will look forward to catching a glimpse of the magic that my grandmother, and countless other people have seen. Thanks!
I think Dean Martin’s presence resulted a toned-down Jerry Lewis and that was a good thing. I’m not especially fond of his solo movies–other than The Nutty Professor (easily my favorite Lewis film). I did like him in The King of Comedy and a second season arc of the Wise Guy TV series.
Thanks for the interesting and thoughtful post about Jerry Lewis.
Whenever I saw his films and saw how he made faces, stumbled around and let out his squeaky voice, I had to laugh. He was a wonderful comedian.
❄🎈Wishing you and your loved ones a happy new year, filled with joy, peace and blessings in abundance. 🎀❄
Rosie from Germany…🤗
I have to admit I prefer Jerry’s movies without Dean, and Dean’s movies without Jerry! LOL! Seriously, both men were very talented, but I think they were better off working by themselves (Dean is brilliant in Some Came Running and Rio Bravo, and Jerry is unforgettable in The Nutty Professor and The King of Comedy). Just my opinion.
Silver Screenings 
Jerry can be grating at times, but I’ve never been able to ignore his talent. That there is a scared little boy at his core with so much creativity carries him a long way in my estimation.
Often there is that one performance or movie that will change your mind about an actor. Of course, you have to see it at the right time (stars aligning and all that), but once that happens it seems as if there is no turning back. For me and Charles Boyer, it was All This, And Heaven Too some 25 years ago. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
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So true, and I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess I was ready to see the talent and not be put off by some of the “Jerry-isms”.
Also, am glad you & Charles Boyer found each other at last! 😉
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Thank you for the thoughtful post. I admit I have not given Jerry Lewis a chance for some of the above-mentioned reasons. The “hey lady!” Child-man character that I would see in hyper-manic clips turned me off. Dean Martin has always appealed to me more, so I have stuck to his films, music, and tv work. However, your post has encouraged me to open my mind and give “Pardners”, thus Lewis, a chance. My grandmother would rave about seeing Martin and Lewis in Atlantic City at the 500 Club when they were first starting out on the nightclub circuit. She said they would mince around with the audience after their sets; they even came over to her table to kid around. So, I will look forward to catching a glimpse of the magic that my grandmother, and countless other people have seen. Thanks!
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That’s a wonderful story about your grandmother at the 500 Club. What a thrill to meet Martin & Lewis in person!
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I think Dean Martin’s presence resulted a toned-down Jerry Lewis and that was a good thing. I’m not especially fond of his solo movies–other than The Nutty Professor (easily my favorite Lewis film). I did like him in The King of Comedy and a second season arc of the Wise Guy TV series.
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Just so happens I plan to (finally) watch The King of Comedy this holiday season.
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Interesting reason for the breakup in their relationship–a shame they couldn’t have gotten past it and still worked together on occasion!
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It is a shame, especially considering they had been such good friends.
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Think he is a great actor 😊
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He can be pretty funny at times, right?
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Yes
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Thanks for the interesting and thoughtful post about Jerry Lewis.
Whenever I saw his films and saw how he made faces, stumbled around and let out his squeaky voice, I had to laugh. He was a wonderful comedian.
❄🎈Wishing you and your loved ones a happy new year, filled with joy, peace and blessings in abundance. 🎀❄
Rosie from Germany…🤗
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Jerry Lewis did have a lot of comedic gifts, didn’t he? So many people have enjoyed his films.
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🙂
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I have to admit I prefer Jerry’s movies without Dean, and Dean’s movies without Jerry! LOL! Seriously, both men were very talented, but I think they were better off working by themselves (Dean is brilliant in Some Came Running and Rio Bravo, and Jerry is unforgettable in The Nutty Professor and The King of Comedy). Just my opinion.
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I just realized, reading your comment, that it’s been a very long time since I saw a solo Jerry Lewis film. I’ll have to stream a couple of them soon.
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