Visit to a Small Planet

Gore Vidal's original Visit to a Small Planet was a satire of post-World War II American culture under the sway of television while in the shadow of the Cold War and Communist paranoia. The Broadway play, which Vidal adapted from his original teleplay, ran for almost a year and earned multiple Tony nominations. The story was rewritten by Hollywood for the big screen when Jerry Lewis was cast in the lead. The Cold War politics and atomic era culture were jettisoned for UFO mania in this 1960 comedy focusing on the antics of Kreton (Lewis), an ageless yet juvenile student from another planet who cuts class, flies across the universe, and becomes the guest of an American TV commentator (Fred Clark) and his family. A hundred years too late to observe the Civil War, he decides to study modern human culture, in particular the romantic rituals between the family daughter (Joan Blackman) and her boyfriend (Earl Holliman). Little of Vidal's wit and satirical observations survived the translation, which plays up Lewis's man-boy persona and puts goofy gags in the foreground as Kreton shows off his alien powers (he pulls his ear and flares his nostrils and, like magic, objects levitate)—at least until his disapproving teacher takes away his powers and watches him flounder. It was shot quickly in black-and-white by director Norman Taurog on a relatively small budget and that shows, especially next to Lewis's energetic color films. While it does feature some amusing cultural parody (including a jazz club full of beatnik clichés), this is second-rate Lewis and third-rate Vidal. Extras include audio commentary by film historian James L. Neibaur. Optional, at best. (S. Axmaker)