There are few actors more beloved thanRobin Williams. His acclaimed filmography is across a variety of genres – ranging from comedic classics likeJumanjiandMrs. Doubtfireto more dramatic turns inDead Poets SocietyandGood Will Hunting. This medley of rolessolidified his status as a cinematic iconand revered stand-up comedian. It’s hard to imagine a time when he wasn’t a national treasure, but even the greatest actors must start somewhere, often with minor roles that could easily wind up on the cutting room floor. And funnily enough, that’s exactly what happened.
When Williams was still a rising talent in the mid-1970s, he landed a part in the raunchy anthology film,Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?Although his performance was cut from the final edit. But when aleading role on the sitcomMork & Mindygave him a sudden burst of popularity,a re-cut of the film was hastily assembled that placed Williams front and center.Quite an overhaul, and one that Williams was not pleased with.
Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses
A comedy comprised of short sexually suggestive skits, starring Robin Williams and Jeff Doucette.
Who Was Robin Williams in ‘Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?’
An actor’s debut is a defining moment in their life. The first steps down the long road toward stardom can be taken from only a few well-received words, but they also hold the potential to end a career before it ever truly starts. In the most idyllic of circumstances, such a performance canthrust a person into glory overnight, as evidenced by incredible debuts likeAnna PaquininThe PianoorLupita Nyong’oin12 Years a Slave. Unfortunately for Robin Williams,his work inCan I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?will not see him included in these discussions. Not that he deserves the blame. Williams tries his best with the material, buteven with his brilliant comedic timing(flawless from the moment he first graced our screens), the writing simply isn’t good enough to generate more than the briefest of smiles. That his total screen time barely eclipses a minute makes it hard to provide further critical analysis, other than to point out how fascinating it is to see this once-in-a-generation actor in such a disposable role. No wonder there exists a version that exercised him entirely.
The rest of the experience is equally poor. WatchingCan I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?– the sequel to 1975’sIf You Don’t Stop It… You’ll Go Blind!!!– conjures the image of a young child listening to their grandfather recite taboo (and frequently outdated) jokes that fail to stick the punchline every time, all the while patiently waiting for an exit that never seems to arrive. But what else should be expected from a film whose title can be its review? If there is the promise of a 73-minute barrage ofpuerile sex jokes fails to pique your interest,then it’s unlikely you’ll find much enjoyment from what director,I. Robert Levy, has to offer. Not every joke is a disaster, but when you’re confronted with this many in a limited runtime, the rare triumphs serve only to remind the viewer that a broken clock is still right on occasion.If not for it holding the distinction of Robin Williams’s debut performance, thenCan I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?would have been just another forgotten comedy in a sea of thousands. Presumably, Williams spent many nights wishing for that outcome.
Robin Williams Was Paid $150 for ‘Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?’
To understand the drama surroundingCan I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?one must first direct their attention toward the visionary behind this whole endeavor,Mike Callie. Although primarily knownas the owner of numerous comedy clubsacross the American West, Callie occasionally dipped his toes into the world of light entertainment, such as by contributing material to television shows likeHollywood SquaresandThe Tonight Show. It’s easy to see how these experiences – combined with an infallible love for comedy that would see him authoring a frightening number of joke books – would lead him to produce his feature films, but these things do not come cheaply. Callie needed actors who would work for pennies, especially when his cast lists extended into the hundreds. One willing performer was Robin Williams, a rookie comedian from Chicagowho happened to be performing at Callie’s Newport Beach clubat the same time he was filming his second (and last) big-screen production.Williams was offered $150 to appear in two small roles. He accepted, filmed his scenes, and then went on his merry way, oblivious to the headache that lay just around the corner.
Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?received a limited release throughout 1977 and 1978, grossing an estimated $1.5 million – a meager sum, whichfailed to recoup its investments. “I owed $400,000 [and] I was in danger of losing my club,”Callie revealed to theLos Angeles Times, painting a grim picture of his situation. However, a lifeline soon appeared from an unlikely source. Williams – the actor so insignificant that Callie removed all his scenes after deciding the film was too long –had landed a major roleon the ABC sitcomMork & Mindy. Suddenly, he was no longer a struggling actor, but an actor undergoing a meteoric rise to fame that Hollywood was already keen to exploit.Callie realized he was sitting on a goldmine whose value was declining rapidly, so in December 1978, he and Levy recalled all eighty prints in circulation to perform a sweeping re-edit of their film. One year later,Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?was back in theaters with every second of Robin Williams footage reinserted, alongside a brand-new advertising campaign that promoted the actor over the film itself (“Star ofMork & Mindyin his FIRST screen role” as the poster read). Callie was delighted, but his enthusiasm was not shared by all.
Robin Williams Took Legal Action Against the Producer of ‘Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?’
Paramount Studios, for example, were reportedly “extremely upset” that their upcomingPopeyefilm could no longer be marketed as Robin Williams’s first film (it was instead marketed as his first leading performance). But it was Williams who was the most vexed. Before the film’s re-release in November 1979, Williams and his management firm took legal action against Mike Callie, claiming that his flagrant deception concerning the size of Williams’s role constituted “misleading and unfair” advertising. Callietried to refute the accusations(“Robin was an actor who was paid to do a job and who signed a release… I didn’t read in the release a clause that said ‘this release becomes invalid upon stardom.’”), but to no avail. One day before the film reached cinemas for a second time, Callie agreed to “modify” the advertising campaign to accurately reflect Williams’s participation, bringing the lawsuit to a close (although Williamswould fill a separate one in 1981asking for $5 million in damages).The fact that the re-release still netted an additional $3 million speaks to how popular Williams had become, although one suspects this new audience would have been sorely disappointed upon seeing the source of this controversy.
There are countless instances when producers have misrepresented their films depending on the popularity of certain cast members.Jesse Eisenberglaunched a similar lawsuit against Lionsgate Entertainment when, following a rise in prominence afterZombielandandThe Social Network, he suddenly found his cameo appearance inCamp Hellbeing advertised as the lead role. Callie himself mentioned the timeMarlon Brandoreceived top billing inSuperman(despite appearing for literal minutes)when trying to defend his actions, but two wrongs never make a right. The events surroundingCan I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?was a fiasco, pure and simple, but it was not wholly negative. Without it, fans of Robin Williams would never have been able to experience the humble beginnings of this great comedian. Being able to witness his final months before he became an international icon, irrespective of the quality it’s contained within,is an incredible sight. If only it had happened under more amenable circumstances.
Can I Do It… ‘Til I Need Glasses?is available to watch on Plex.
