Visit To A Small Planet (1960)

Fascinated by humans, an alien (Jerry Lewis) from another galaxy visits Earth against the orders of his superiors. But the more he learns about human beings, the less infatuated he becomes. Very loosely based on the play by Gore Vidal (in turn based on a TV play he wrote) and directed by Norman Taurog (BLUE HAWAII). This is one of Lewis's lesser vehicles and least funny. Vidal's play had a more serious subtext (man's fascination with war, fear of communism) but all that has been jettisoned in favor of a fish out of water comedy and a weak one at that. The film's one highlight is a visit to a beatnik hangout where Lewis is let out of the straight jacket the movie forces on him and is allowed to display a wee bit of his comic genius. If you were a fan of the TV show MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, then you might find it to your taste. Otherwise, it's for Jerry fans only. With Earl Holliman, Joan Blackman, Fred Clark, Lee Patrick, Gale Gordon, Ellen Corby and Barbara Lawson.