IMDb >
The Bellboy (1960)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Bellboy (1960) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 July 1960 (USA) moreTagline:
Jerry Lewis rings the bell for buffoonery! morePlot:
In Miami Beach, the mute bellboy Stanley works at the luxurious Fontainebleau Hotel. In spite of being a serviceable and friendly employee, the clumsy Stanley gets successively into trouble with his mistakes. full summary | add synopsisPlot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Holiday Preview: A Repertory Calendar (From IFC. 3 November 2009, 1:01 PM, PST)
In My Opinion: Ranking the Films of Quentin Tarantino
(From Rope Of Silicon. 17 August 2009, 3:11 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Non-stop gags more (21 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jerry Lewis | ... | Stanley / Himself | |
| Alex Gerry | ... | Mr. Novak, Hotel Manager | |
| Bob Clayton | ... | Bob, Bell Captain | |
| Sonnie Sands | ... | Sonnie, Bellboy (as Sonny Sands) | |
| Eddie Shaeffer | ... | Eddie, Bellboy | |
| Herkie Styles | ... | Herkie, Bellboy | |
| David Landfield | ... | David, Bellboy | |
| Bill Richmond | ... | Stan Laurel | |
| Larry Best | ... | Apple Man | |
| Cary Middlecoff | ... | Himself | |
| Art Terry | ... | Himself (as The Novelites) | |
| Frankie Carr | ... | Himself (as The Novelites) | |
| Joe Mayer | ... | Himself (as The Novelites) | |
| Stanley Allan | ... | Hotel Guest | |
| Duke Art Jr. | ... | Bit part |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
72 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Filming Locations:
Fontainebleau Hilton Resort - 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, USA moreFun Stuff
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: When the staff helps the overweight Mrs. Hartung up the stairs you see the reflection of the boom mic raising up in the window moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (21 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Bellboy (1960)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Jack Weston in 'The Bellboy'? | coolscottnola |
| What is the best gag in the film? | gonog998 |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Little Miss Sunshine | Wedding Crashers | Police Academy | Cuban Fireball | Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

"The Bellboy" unapologetically states in an introductory scene that it has no plot or story and is made purely for fun. "The Bellboy" really is seventy minutes of nothing but sight gags, some hilarious, some clever, and some disappointing.
"The Bellboy" was Jerry Lewis' first film as director and is just as divisive as you would expect it to be, with some consistently claiming it is one of the great physical comedies, up there with Tati et al and others reacting to it the way one is sadly expected to react to a Jerry Lewis comedy nowadays. I personally think "The Bellboy" displays a lot of talent from Lewis as director, with some attempts at surrealism being surprisingly successful. Lewis also works the sight gags into the film beautifully, not ignoring one inch of the frame when composing the gags, one of the many reasons I suspect I hated this film when I first saw it on VHS.
Still, "The Bellboy" is far from Lewis' funniest or best film (see an unfairly maligned favorite of mine, "The Disorderly Orderly" for the former, and "The Nutty Professor" for the latter) and has its fair share of misses as well as hits with the gags. In addition the lack of structure the film has is occasionally distracting.
I won't comment on Lewis as a person or on his personal beliefs, but he makes me laugh which is really what matters in a filmmaker. Moreover, "The Bellboy" is surprisingly well-directed and more inventive than you might expect, but I'll leave it to the Europeans to explain to you why it's a great film as opposed to a good one, because I can't see the reason in that.
7/10