- 1 day ago
In desperation, a psychiatrist phones Jack for his help with a distraught patient. An amnesiac with a violin has been found on the street, and he's bitterly muttering Jack's name - over and over. Jack identifies him as his long-time, long-suffering violin teacher, Professor LeBlanc, who reveals he couldn't lose his hearing, so he lost his mind.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00From Hollywood, the Jack Benny Program.
00:10Well, Roy, I must admit, I didn't like the show either tonight.
00:36Mr. Benny just wasn't funny.
00:41Of course I worked for him.
00:43But after all, when the floors are dirty, he doesn't tell me they're clean.
00:47Mr. Benny and I are always honest with each other.
00:52Sorry, Roy, but Mr. Benny just didn't have it tonight.
00:56Okay, Roy, I'll talk to you later.
01:01Yeah, when I got through, I didn't feel like hanging around the studio, so I came home.
01:10By the way, what did you think of my show tonight?
01:14Sensational, boss! Sensational!
01:18You know, Rochester, coming from someone else, it wouldn't mean much.
01:22But I know that you always give me an honest opinion.
01:27By the way, were there any messages for me?
01:29Oh, yes, yes, I wrote them down on this pad.
01:37Dr. Johnson.
01:40Dr. Johnson, I don't think I know any Dr. Johnson.
01:44Look, the one who treated me for the flu was Dr. Allen.
01:50And then for my sinus, I had Dr. Miller.
01:54And then that time my knee went out of joint, I had Dr. Smith.
01:59Wait a minute.
02:00Who took out my appendix?
02:03I did!
02:07Yeah, that's when my knee went out of joint.
02:11Johnson, are you sure you got the name right?
02:13That's what he said, and I think it's important.
02:16Because he called three times.
02:18Well, I better call him then.
02:21Dr. Johnson, isn't it funny? I don't know a doctor.
02:26I hate to call this late, but that's what he wants.
02:33Hello.
02:34Oh, hello. Is this Dr. Johnson's office?
02:37Yes, this is Dr. Johnson speaking.
02:39Oh, well, I got a message to call you. This is Jack Benny.
02:42Oh, Mr. Benny, I'm delighted to hear from you.
02:45Could you come right over to my office?
02:47Well, doctor, what's it all about?
02:49I'd prefer not to discuss it over the phone.
02:52I'm in the Beverly Medical Building.
02:54Well...
02:55Well, if it's that urgent, I'll...
02:57I'll be right over, all right.
02:59Can't imagine what it could be.
03:03Anyway, Rochester, I'll be back right away.
03:05Oh, okay.
03:06Dr. Johnson.
03:07Isn't that funny?
03:08I...
03:09I don't know what it could be.
03:17Hmm, psychiatrist.
03:21Oh, Mr. Benny?
03:22Yes.
03:23I'm Dr. Johnson.
03:24I hated to ask you over like this, but as I said, it's quite urgent.
03:26I know, but what is it you wanted to see me about?
03:30Look, I have a man in the other room who's suffering from acute amnesia.
03:34Oh, it's a shame.
03:35Can't sleep at all.
03:39Insomnia is when you can't sleep.
03:41Oh.
03:42He has amnesia.
03:43Oh, of course.
03:45He doesn't remember who he is.
03:47Well, what's that got to do with me?
03:49Well, in all his mumblings, the only name he keeps mentioning is yours.
03:53Well, I mean, that could...
03:55It could be anybody.
03:56I have millions of fans.
03:59From what he's been mumbling, I don't think he's a fan.
04:06Well, I hope you can identify him.
04:08I'll bring him right in.
04:09All right.
04:14Come in with me.
04:16No one's going to hurt you.
04:18Just walk in very slowly.
04:21That's fine.
04:22Sit down.
04:23Right here.
04:25There you are.
04:26That's a good lad.
04:30You know him?
04:32Well, yes.
04:33That's Professor LeBlanc, my French violin teacher.
04:37Violin teacher?
04:38Yeah.
04:39Well, and that explains why he had this with him.
04:42When I found him in the gutter.
04:43Certainly.
04:45Professor.
04:46Professor LeBlanc.
04:47What are you doing here?
04:50Professor.
04:52Don't...
04:53Don't you recognize me?
04:54No.
04:55No.
04:56Don't you remember me?
04:58How can I remember you?
05:00I can't even remember me.
05:02Where am I?
05:04Where am I?
05:05What am I?
05:06Where am I?
05:11This is pathetic, doctor.
05:13I mean, how did...
05:15How did it happen?
05:17Well, Mr. Benny, when the mind suffers a traumatic experience, the brain has a way of blocking it out.
05:24So, he's your violin teacher.
05:26Well, I mean, he used to be.
05:28I mean, he gave me lessons for years.
05:31When did he give you your first violin lesson?
05:34Well, that was, oh, that's a long time ago.
05:37I would say 18 or 19.
05:39About 19 years ago.
05:40I'll never forget, I was home waiting to take my first lesson from him.
05:49Well, Rochester.
05:51Yes, boss?
05:53Did you set up my violin stand?
05:55Oh, yes, sir.
05:57Oh!
06:03Boss.
06:04What?
06:05Why did you decide to take violin lessons again?
06:07Well, because, Rochester, I haven't played the violin since...
06:11since I was at the Palladium Theater in London.
06:14And I want... I want to get my fingers back in shape.
06:17Why? What did they do to them?
06:21They didn't do anything to them.
06:24Gee, I hope my new teacher turns out to be all right.
06:29Well, that must be him now.
06:34Monsieur Benny?
06:35Yes, sir.
06:36I am Professor LeBlanc. Pierre LeBlanc.
06:39Oh! Oh, yes, yes. Come right in.
06:42Si, come right in.
06:44My, you have a lovely home.
06:47Thank you. Thank you, Professor.
06:49Uh, Monsieur Benny, on the phone you told me that you have been playing the violin for many years.
06:53And you just wanted to take a... a sort of a refresher course.
06:57That's it. That's it, exactly.
06:58I just want to sort of smooth out the rough spots.
07:01Oui.
07:03Oh, yes, here. Oh, yes.
07:05Thank you very much.
07:08Well, I would be happy to give you the lessons.
07:11Shall we proceed?
07:13Well, first, Professor LeBlanc, I think I ought to know what your fee is.
07:16I mean, what do you charge for violin lessons?
07:18Oh, with me, music is a passion. To teach it is a great joy.
07:22So I would, uh, prefer to leave the price entirely up to you.
07:28Good.
07:30Well, come on, I'll get my violin, and we'll...
07:34Oh, Monsieur Benny, uh, before you commence, perhaps it would be well if I saw a little of your technique.
07:40Uh, would you play something for me?
07:41Why, certainly, but what would you like to hear?
07:43Anything, anything you know well.
07:45Well, uh, supposing I play the first movement, the start of the first movement, of the Mendelssohn Concerto.
07:52Oh, oui, Mendelssohn, very good, very good.
07:54You know...
07:55The top.
07:56The top.
07:57The top.
07:58The top.
07:59Right?
08:00There, there, how was that?
08:24Do you think you can make a good violinist out of me?
08:26Well, I think I can do something.
08:30But it will take time.
08:32How old are you?
08:35Why?
08:36How much time have we got left?
08:43Gee, I thought I played that very well.
08:47I mean, I've been playing since I was a kid.
08:49Oh, Monsieur Benin, do you mind if I tell you something?
08:52Forget you ever took any lessons.
08:55Let us wipe this slate clean.
08:58We will start with the exercises.
09:00Exercises?
09:01But that's for a rank beginner.
09:03Exactly.
09:05We play the Kreutzer exercises.
09:07Kreutzer?
09:08Oui, the Kreutzer exercises.
09:09Oh, I have them.
09:10Oh, you do?
09:11Good, good.
09:12I have them here.
09:13Gee, I haven't played this in a long time.
09:15It's for kids.
09:17Kreutzer exercises.
09:19All right.
09:20You want me to...
09:21I'll take...
09:22I'll...
09:23I'll start from scratch.
09:24That I am sure.
09:26Do not hold your bow too tightly.
09:42It will help you play more lightly.
09:45Lay it softly, not so brassy.
09:48Pull your tongue in, you're not lassie.
09:52So that day 19 years ago was the first time Professor LeBlanc gave you a violin lesson.
10:05That's right.
10:06From then on, week after week, he came to my house and continued to give me lessons.
10:12No, no, no, no.
10:13What?
10:14Did I do something wrong, Professor?
10:15No, no.
10:16Perhaps it is my fault.
10:18But do you mind if I tell you something?
10:19No, no, not at all.
10:20The violin is an instrument that is like the singing of the angels, the murmur of the breeze,
10:25the rippling of the brook.
10:26Now, lay.
10:27Lay.
10:28Lay.
10:29Lay.
10:30Lay.
10:31Lay.
10:32Lay.
10:33Lay.
10:57Lay.
10:58Lay.
10:59Lay.
11:00Lay.
11:01Lay.
11:02Lay.
11:03Lay.
11:04Lay.
11:05Lay.
11:06Lay.
11:07Lay.
11:08Lay.
11:09Lay.
11:10Lay.
11:11Lay.
11:12Lay.
11:13Lay.
11:14Lay.
11:15Lay.
11:16Lay.
11:17Lay.
11:18Lay.
11:19Lay.
11:20Lay.
11:21Lay.
11:22Lay.
11:23Lay.
11:24Lay.
11:25Lay.
11:26Lay.
11:27Play it softly while you're learning
11:32Not so loud my stomach's turning
11:35Mr. Bonnet, the music of the violin is supposed to soothe you, to calm you, to make you relax, to settle your nerves, to rippling of the brook, to singing of the angels, the mother of the brave!
11:54Pardon me, I lost my temper, Mr. Bonnet.
12:00Oh.
12:02I wish it was my hearing.
12:05What?
12:06Mr. Bonnet, could I have some water, please?
12:10Water? Yes, there's some in the cooler out in the hall.
12:13That is not enough. I would like to drown myself.
12:20Drown?
12:20We proceed with the exercises, please, please.
12:24Should I start now?
12:26We start, start.
12:28I wish I was in Singapore.
12:45Oh.
12:59Take your wrist and slide your finger, pull the switch, don't let me linger.
13:06professor i i've played these exercises so much now can't i play my number we we play but mr
13:22benny lately you always make me come back for my money could i be paid for the lesson today
13:28well of course professor certainly oh rochester yes boss you call me yes yes of course professor
13:39uh rochester uh in my bedroom on the dresser my money is there will you bring me a dollar 75.
13:46wait rochester mr benny now please do not get excited no but the cost of living is so high
13:54i must raise the price of the violin lesson but professor look at me i am in rags look my shoes
14:03these souls are worn out i owe everybody money i am over the one at the bank i have borrowed on my
14:12insurance next week my wife is expecting another baby that will make eight miles to feed
14:21our rent is overdue we are being dispossessed
14:32professor well of course i'll i'll raise i'll raise your salary i'll raise your price rochester
14:41you're crying yes until it got to the white and children i thought he's talking about me
14:57please hurry rochester the lesson she's done no no no no the lesson isn't over yet look at the clock i got 14
15:06seconds 14 seconds 14 seconds he cannot read a note but time he can tell
15:14play play play play the vinyoski
15:16play play play play no no no no i'm playing the bronze play anything
15:31is
15:52and doctor that's the way it went for 19 years 19 years and every week he came
16:00over to your house to give you a lesson well no not exactly i remember once he called me to tell
16:06me that he had broken his ankle and he couldn't come over you see so uh after he hung up rather
16:13than miss my lesson i went to his house
16:16i cannot understand you there you sit with a broken ankle and yet there is such a happy
16:29look on your face oh well mon chéri because of this broken ankle i do not have to give monsieur
16:34benny a violin lesson who can that be i will see
16:39oh does professor leblanc live here i am mrs leblanc oh well i'm jack benny please my dear
16:56in the hall it is mr benny what shall we do what shall we do oh i know i know i know
17:04i will lie down in the cedar chest and i will cross my arms you light a candle and cry a little
17:12maybe he will believe it and go home
17:21oh i suppose so well let him in
17:28you may come in monsieur benny thank you
17:30oh professor you know when you called me and said you couldn't come over to my house and i
17:35thought rather than my miss my lesson i'd come here i know i know how's your broken ankle it was a
17:42miserable failure it was not worth it
17:48well come on let us proceed with the lesson if you came here to take a lesson get it over with okay
17:53i'll get off my violin now professor what were we doing the last time you gave me a lesson you were
18:02playing the blue danube and i was picking up the dead flies i mean after that you were trying to play
18:11the number you are trying to be learned for 10 years i know when you ask the concerto well do you
18:16you want me to try that now we wait try when you ask the concerto
18:21suzette aren't you going to kiss me goodbye i am not going out you will in a minute
18:28it's the concerto what's happening when you ask the concerto
18:32what's happening when you ask the concerto
18:34what what did she say well it loses something in the translation
19:04but it means you stink
19:13so good in french
19:15should i go on we we continue
19:19i'll take it from the start again from the start
19:21i know
19:33i know
19:35Quiet, girl, quiet.
19:40Monsieur Benny, please, please, the baby.
19:50Monsieur Benny, please, please, stop playing.
19:53The baby is crying.
19:55My wife is nervous.
19:57I have a broken ankle, and you stink.
20:01Please, please, stop, stop, stop.
20:05And that's the last lesson I ever took from him.
20:12I'm sorry, doctor, that I couldn't be of any more help.
20:15On the contrary, you've been a great help.
20:18I have?
20:19Yes.
20:20From what you've said, I'm sure his loss of memory
20:22is a subconscious effort to escape from reality,
20:24a reality in which he sees himself as a failure
20:27because of his inability to teach you to be a good violinist.
20:31But that's ridiculous.
20:33I am a good violinist.
20:35I am, uh, Professor, Professor LeBlanc,
20:38Professor, you must listen to me.
20:41You're not a failure.
20:42You're a success.
20:43I'm a fine violinist.
20:44I play Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn.
20:47I'm telling you, you're not a failure.
20:50Benny, you're just not getting through to him.
20:53I know.
20:55Hey, I got an idea.
20:56It's important that I take his violin
20:58and prove to him that I'm a good violinist.
21:02Yes.
21:03Yes, maybe if he hears you play well,
21:06the shock will bring him back to reality.
21:07I didn't like the way you phrased it,
21:13but that's the idea.
21:16Professor, I'll play, I'll play the Bunaski Concerto for you.
21:21You remember that one.
21:22Yes, sir.
21:33What?
21:41What?
21:41Oh, Monsieur Benny, Monsieur Benny, oh, that is beautiful, that is beautiful, Monsieur Benny.
22:11I am a success, I am not a failure, Professor LeBlanc is not a failure, I am not a failure, Suzette, I am coming home.
22:27Mr. Benny, you did a wonderful thing, you brought that man back to normal.
22:42It was a great favor you're coming here tonight.
22:45Well, thank you, thank you, Doctor.
22:47And now, you could do me a great favor.
22:50What's that?
22:51Well, during my long career as a comedian, I've made a lot of money getting laughs with my violin.
22:59So please, please, Doctor, don't tell anyone that I, I play that well.
23:06Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you all enjoyed the show.
23:26And I certainly want to thank the fellow who played the part of my violin teacher, one of the most versatile performers that I know, Mr. Mel Blanc.
23:42Mel, you were just, just wonderful.
23:47Thank you very much, Jack.
23:48And you know, ladies and gentlemen, he's played so many characters, besides my violin teacher, so many characters going back over years, ever since the days of radio, you know.
24:00But, Mel, I want to ask you something.
24:02Now that you have played my violin teacher for so many years, what do you honestly think of my violin playing?
24:10Sensational, boss, sensational!
24:12Sensational!
24:18Good night, folks.
24:22I'll be seeing you soon.
24:23Good night, folks.
24:24I'll be seeing you soon.
24:48Good night, folks.
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