fabulous, fabulous. ....his generosity and how much i learned. with jerry, if he got on a roll you had to really be able to edit in your own mind, not just wait for his lips to stop moving, know when this thing, when it was your turn to jump in and make it to the next level. when i came in to see jerry, i said, “hello”, and sat down, and he just stared at me. “don’t you want to know what i’ve done?” nothing, nothing, nothing. i said, “this is not a nice thing, i’m very uncomfortable.” i got up to walk out and he said, “wait a minute big mouth, come here.” he was doing this because he had had a series of simpering ingenues coming in and this was a character that had to stand up...and he just decided to see what the next one would do. as i was leaving he said, “come here big mouth. what’s your name?” and i said, “suzanne pleshette.” first of all, i love jerry lewis. you know when you get a wallet with a picture in it? i got a wallet with a picture of jerry lewis in it and kept it in there cuz i looooved him! i thought dean martin, phfff, but jerry lewis! so gorgeous, i mean handsome, you know? so he started to write it down and he said, “pleshette?” and he realized he was spelling it right and he said, “are you related to gene pleshette?” i said, “yah, that’s my father.” he had worked for my father as an usher. so he said, “what’s your father’s number?” he called, “gene? jerry lewis.” “hi jerry, how are you?” “i have some big mouth broad here who says she’s related to you.” “what’s her name?” “suzanne.” “yes, that’s my daughter.” “well, she just got a lead in my movie.” that’s how i found out i was employed. but he was wonderful. this was his last movie before he started directing them. but his curiosity about everything that’s going on, and the energy level he maintains, the kindness that he showed me. and he put me under contract. and the next movie i was supposed to do was a loan out to hal wallis.......i had been offered the lead on broadway......my agent said, “there’s nothing we can do, you’ve gotta deal with jerry, unless jerry will release you.” so i went in to meet with him. and he spent an hour telling me why i shouldn’t do the play....”here’s why you should do the movie” and an hour later, “here’s why you shouldn’t. what do you want to do?” “i want to do the play.” and he tore up the contract. he said, “if you ever need me, whatever”.......and that’s extraordinary! nobody tells these kinds of wonderful stories about jerry. cuz they say well, “laaady!” i still have a crush on him. he gorgeous and divine. a couple of times in my life he has been really, really ‘stand up’; for a friend of mine that was ill. and i really love him. i love him. and i haven’t told him that enough. he shouldn’t be taken lightly. he’s a good man.
