Classic Television Showbiz: Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness starring Milton Berle and George Jessel (1969)

Monday, August 19, 2013

The only X-rated film starring Milton Berle and George Jessel... that we know of.

Anonymous said...: A real train wreck. Joan Collins later cited the film as contributing to her divorce from Anthony Newley.

Also, the late '60s/early '70s was a weird time for me watching tv and movies. Comedians who had done vaudeville in the 1920s were still onstage, introducing acts like "the lovin' spoonful" and the "grassroots." Comedians who had performed alongside legends like W.C. Fields and Buster Keaton were yukking it up with Regis Philbin and Merv Griffin. I can't tell you how bizarre it was to see someone like Jack Benny, who had been in 1915 vaudeville, doing skits with Sonny Bono.

And don't get me started on comics who looked hip and cool in the 1950s, but by 1970 were sporting bright green leisure suits, mutton chop sideburns, and beatle haircuts (shecky greene, buddy hackett, etc.); August 19, 2013 at 6:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Thanks!...I think.
I've always wanted to see this...and now I want to divorce Anthony Newley.; August 20, 2013 at 3:32 PM
AndrewJ said...: Roger Ebert actually kinda liked this film.

Newley collaborated on the screenplay with Herman Raucher, who immediately went on to write his own autobiographical film, Summer of '42...; August 20, 2013 at 6:46 PM
Dwight Casey said...: Terrible film -- but several great songs - The album contains some material not in the film - though I think there may be more than one version of the film.; August 22, 2013 at 1:32 PM

Classic Television Showbiz