The Family Jewels (film)
| The Family Jewels | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jerry Lewis |
| Written by | Jerry Lewis Bill Richmond |
| Produced by | Jerry Lewis |
| Starring | Jerry Lewis Sebastian Cabot |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date | July 1, 1965 |
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Family Jewels is a 1965 American comedy film. It was filmed from January 18-April 2, 1965 and was released by Paramount Pictures on July 1, 1965.
Plot
Donna Peyton (Donna Butterworth) is a ten-year-old girl who inherits a $30,000,000 fortune when her millionaire industrialist father passes away. Per terms of his will, Donna must choose between her six uncles (All played by Jerry Lewis) to become her new "father."
- Willard Woodward (Jerry Lewis) is the family chauffeur who takes Donna to all of her uncles to stay with them for two weeks.
- James Peyton, a ferryboat captain, is her father's oldest brother who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
- Everett Peyton is a famous circus clown who hates kids and moves to Switzerland where he saved his money to avoid taxes.
- Julius Peyton is a professional photographer who photographs female models.
- Captain Edward "Eddie" Peyton is a pilot based out of Los Angeles, California who owns his own airline (Eddie's Airways, the Airline for the Birds) of one plane, a Ford Trimotor.
- Skylark Peyton is a Sherlock Holmes-esque detective who loves tea and lived in England until he lost his passport and decided to move back to the United States. He is accompanied by his faithful companion, Dr. Matson (Sebastian Cabot).
- Bugsy Peyton is a gangster who everyone thought was killed by the mob. Only interested in Donna's inheritance, he kidnaps her along with his right-hand-man, Joe. Willard attempts to rescue her by impersonating the leader of a military drill team that frightens the kidnappers into believing they are facing a platoon of armed soldiers.
The more time she spends with her uncles, Donna realizes that Willard should really be her father and that he was a father towards her even when her real father was still alive and was too busy to spend time with her.
Unfortunately the lawyers will not allow her to choose Willard, insisting that she must choose from one of her uncles. At the last minute, Everett, who is really Willard is disguise, comes to ask her to choose him. She does and the two live happily ever after.
Trivia
- The clown makeup used by one of Lewis' characters was devised by Jerry Lewis for 3 Ring Circus. It was reused by Lewis a second time in Hardly Working.
Home media release
The DVD was released on October 12, 2004.