Dont Raise The Bridge Lower The River (Columbia Pictures) (1968)

[Mat IA; Still No. 17) Jerry Lewis, as a fast-buck operator in London, wonders why his wife is angry when all he did was turn their home into a Chinese discotheque! It's a scene from "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ Columbia release in Technicolor. Terry-Thomas a AS Terry-Thomas, the gap-toothed, lightly-mustached British comedian, proves an invaluable comic foil to the exuberant Jerry Lewis in “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,” a Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor now at the ...... Theatre. Co-starred in the Walter Shennon production are Jacqueline Pearce and Bernard Cribbins. Terry-Thomas plays a_ fast-buck character with gold-lined dreams of fantastic financial success. Once regarded as typically English in his approach to humor, TerryThomas found the turning point in his career that set him on the road to becoming an international star with “Private’s Progress.” Since then the comedian has appeared in “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines” and “Guide to a Married Man.” Walter Shenson produced and Jerry Paris directed “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ from Max Wilk’s screenplay based on his novel of the same name. Bernard Cribbins ee ee ee eee ae ee Bernard Cribbins has one of those nondescript faces that seems to blend into the scenery. Yet without him, stars like Jerry Lewis, whose current vehicle, ““Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,” is now at the ........ Theatre in Technicolor, would have more difficulty in shining so brilliantly. It is by playing against an actor like Cribbins, with both feet solidly on the ground, that Jerry is better able to project his antic personality on the screen. Jacqueline Pearce and TerryThomas also co-star with Lewis in the new Columbia Pictures release, a Walter Shenson production. At 14, Cribbins was a student with the Oldham Repertory Company in Lancashire, England. His first part in London’s West End was in a musical version of the “Comedy of Errors,” the dual role of the twin Dromios. Two more musicals followed and then Cribbins branched out into television. Besides appearing in such successful films as “Wrong Arm of the Law” and Jerry Lewis oe Jerry Lewis recently went to London on holiday. The happy result is “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,” the Columbia Pictures release at the ....Theatre in Technicolor. A Walter Shenson production directed by Jerry Paris, “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River” was filmed from a screenplay by Max Wilk about an American operator whose’ grandiose get rich quick schemes keep him in constant hot water with his British wife, his friends, his enemies ... and with girls. The names are important, not only in their own right, but because they meant that Lewis could concentrate happily on the frenetic type of comedy for which he is most famous. He could enjoy himself acting, and let the behind-the-scenes problems be taken care of by others instead of, as he had been doing in recent years, by Lewis himself. Instead of “producer” Jerry Lewis, there was Shenson who had made the fantastic Beatles’ pictures. Instead of “director” Jerry Lewis, there was Paris, who had directed many of the Dick Van Dyke television shows. Instead of “writer” Jerry Lewis, there was Wilk who also was author of the popular novel on which the film is based. And, of course, instead of his previous hectic preand current production activities, there was comedian Jerry Lewis alone, a name and a talent to conjure with. “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River’ is considered by the star his most rambunctious performance in years. Incidentally, during one month’s shooting of “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,” 17 hours of television programming in England, France, Western Germany, Italy and the Netherlands were devoted to star Jerry Lewis as performer, director or on the French Riviera, where he attended the Cannes Film Festival. : Included was a 90-minute TV special, “Great Directors of Our Time,” a show which has featured such directors as John Ford, Jean. Renoir and Roberto Rossellini. The BBC showcased Lewis’ talents in two one-hour shows. Titled “The Movies,” the program delved extensively into the history of his earlier films and into his later career as a movie quadruple threat—actor, writer, producer and director. Lewis also was invited to lecture at the Royal College of Art. nn Mat 2A; Still No. 80) A gun is the last thing Jerry Lewis needs or wants in this scene from "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ in which he plays an American operator trying to make a buck in England. The Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor co-stars Bernard Cribbins, left, Terry-Thomas and Jacqueline Pearce. "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River'' was produced by Walter Shenson and directed by Jerry Paris. (Mat 2B; till No. 51) While she's breakfasting in bed, and talking on the phone to her new boy friend, is no time for a husband to try to win back an estranged wife! But no one can blame Jerry Lewis for trying, in "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ when the girl is lovely Jacqueline Pearce. Others in the cast of the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor are Terry-Thomas and (Mat 1B; Still No. 57) Jerry Lewis stars and lovely Jacqueline Pearce co-stars in Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ new Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor. The made-in-England comedy also co-stars Terry-Thomas and Bernard Cribbins. Jacqueline Pearce SSS Pixie-faced Jacqueline Pearce, who has the looks and appeal of a young Audrey Hepburn, was selected from scores of candidates to play Jerry Lewis’ leading lady in “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor at the 5 Sethi: « Theatre. Also co-starred with Lewis in the Walter Shenson production are Terry-Thomas and Bernard Cribbins. Jacqueline was auditioned to play Jerry’s estranged wife on a Wednesday, screen-tested on Thursday, signed to a contract on Friday—and played a love scene with Jerry for her first scenes on the following Monday. On Tuesday, they quarreled, for the cameras, of course. Miss Pearce was educated at the Maris Convent at Byfleet, England. Even at 16, she was nearly expelled from school when she shocked the sedate sisters there by performing, with another girl, an outspoken scene from John Osborne’s “Look Back in Anger.” Only the fact that the pair won awards for their performance, prevented instant dismissal. Made In London For the first time in 18 years, comedian Jerry Lewis stars in a motion picture away from Hollywood. London is the setting for Walter Shenson’s production of “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor now at the eres Theatre. Lewis stars in the comedy, which co-stars Terry-Thomas. Jacqueline Pearce and Bernard Cribbins. Advance Notice Jerry Lewis’ new comedy, the Walter Shenson production of “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,” a Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, opens ...... Co ig 0): ae Theatre. Co-starred with Lewis in the comedy are Terry-Thomas, Jacqueline Pearce and Bernard Cribbins. “Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River” was produced by Walter Shenson and directed “Casino Royale,” his comedy discs have made him a major recording star. Bernard Cribbins. Walter Shenson produced the comedy. by Jerry Paris from a screenplay by Max Wilk based on his novel of the same name. COLUMN ITEMS During the recent Middle East crisis, a Jerry Lewis comedy scene in Walter Shenson's production of ''Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River," the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, called for several Arabs wearing a fez. One ''Arab,"’ it turned out, was played by a reservist in the Israeli Army who had fought during the Suez crisis of 1956. * * Jacqueline Pearce, the young British actress, hated to get up early—despite the fact that an early start was essential for her role as Jerry Lewis’ leading lady in Walter Shenson's "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,'' Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor. So Jackie came up with a compromise solution. She would leave her apartment at the last possible moment, with a coat covering her nightdress! * * * So realistic was a gas station built for Jerry Lewis comedy scenes in "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River," the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, a wire fence had to be erected to stop motorists from stopping for gas and interrupting the location work. In a daze in the maze at Hampton Court was comedian Jerry Lewis during a sight-seeing tour while in England filming Walter Shenson's ''Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,’ the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor. Touring Henry VIII's palace, Jerry got lost for half an hour before finding the exit. * * In London for his first film away from Hollywood, "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River,'' Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, comedian Jerry Lewis observed the British mod scene. Asked how he liked London, Jerry quipped: "'It's the only city in the world where you see four guys together on the street and they look like a pop group!" During his London filming of "Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River," the Columbia Pictures release in Technicolor, Jerry Lewis received an actor's dream offer from the French Film Center in Paris, where he is virtually idolized. The comedian, who plays an American operator seeking financial success in England, was offered "carte blanche" on “‘any script, any film, any time" by the French—with the only proviso being that the film be made in France.