The Sad Sack

19571957
PassedPassed
1h 38m

Peter Lorre, Jerry Lewis, Phyllis Kirk, Liliane Montevecchi, and David Wayne in The Sad Sack (1957)

A bumbling hero with a photographic memory winds up in Morocco as a private in the French Foreign Legion. He still hasn't adjusted after 18 months. Among other things, he's lost a tank.A bumbling hero with a photographic memory winds up in Morocco as a private in the French Foreign Legion. He still hasn't adjusted after 18 months. Among other things, he's lost a tank.A bumbling hero with a photographic memory winds up in Morocco as a private in the French Foreign Legion. He still hasn't adjusted after 18 months. Among other things, he's lost a tank.

Director
- George Marshall
Writers
- Edmund Beloin(screenplay)
- Nate Monaster(screenplay)
- George Baker(comic strip)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Peter Lorre and Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Jerry Lewis in The Sad Sack (1957)

Private Meredith C. Bixbyas Private Meredith C. Bixby

Maj. Sheltonas Maj. Shelton

Corporal Larry Dolanas Corporal Larry Dolan

Abdulas Abdul

Pvt. Stan Wenaslawskyas Pvt. Stan Wenaslawsky

Sgt. Major Elmer Pulleyas Sgt. Major Elmer Pulley

Ali Mustaphaas Ali Mustapha

Liliane Montevecchi

Zitaas Zita

Shepperd Strudwick

Major General Vanderlipas Major General Vanderlip

Hassimas Hassim

Sgt. Hansenas Sgt. Hansen

Corporalas Corporal
(as Ken Becker)

Two-Star Air Force Generalas Two-Star Air Force General
(uncredited)

Mokias Moki
(uncredited)

Dancing Girlas Dancing Girl
(uncredited)

Lt. Wilsonas Lt. Wilson
(uncredited)

Blondeas Blonde
(uncredited)

French Aideas French Aide
(uncredited)

Director
- George Marshall
Writers
- Edmund Beloin(screenplay)
- Nate Monaster(screenplay)
- George Baker(comic strip)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Private Meredith Bixby is so out of step in the Army that his six weeks of planned basic training has now stretched to 17 months. After he loses a tank, WAC Major Shelton, a psychologist, is assigned to make a good soldier out of him. She requests Corporal Dolan and Private Stan Wensalawsky to help with the training. Dolan and Stan both have scores to settle with Bixby and their "guidance" leads to more mishaps. Sergeant Pulley has them shipped out to Morocco. On leave in North Africa, Bixy wanders alone into a bar, has a few Moroccan Delights, which he thinks are malted milks, and becomes convinced that exotic singer-dancer Zita is THE girl for him. To protect him, Dolan tells him some lies about Zita, and Bixby, in despair, joins the Suicide Division of the Foreign Legion. He is kidnapped by a band of Arabian plotters and, guarded by the knife-happy Abdul, is ordered to assemble a stolen American cannon. Zita learns of his plight and gets Dolan and Stan to join her in a rescue mission. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

arab boot camp wac song singer 44 more

Taglines
- The Lovable Laughable GI Goof!
Genre
- Comedy
Certificate
- Passed
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
In the original comic, the Sad Sack's name is just that, Private Sad Sack, and he was even given an uncle, a colonel named Saggy Sack. But in the movie, the Sad Sack's name is Meredith Bixby.

Connections
Featured in Cinema: Alguns Cortes - Censura III (2015)

Soundtracks
The Sad Sack
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Hal David
Music by Burt Bacharach
Sung by Jerry Lewis

Top review

8/10

Jerry's 2nd Flick after the split with Dean Martin

OK, the second Of Jerry Lewis" films after the split up with Dean Martin - and I was only 10 years old when I saw it. So naturally I wanted to see Jerry succeed ( as well as Dean of course ) in his now solo career. To my Mother's shock and amazement I hung an 8 1/2 by 10 inch photo of Liliane Montevecchi ( wearing that black sexy outfit from the movie ) on my bedroom wall. Raging hormones at age 10 ??? Maybe LOL

But seriously I thought the movie was a riot. David Wayne and Joe Montell cracked me up as did Peter Lorre. Never stopped laughing. Funny thing though; I've never seen this movie repeated on TV. This is disappointing. That photo of Liliane stayed on my wall until it darn near wore out. Jerry's first movie after the split up was Delecate Delinquint which starred Darren McGavin.

The type of humor is probably dated by today's ( yuk ) standards but I can tell you for a fact that the entire theater audience laughed as hard and as long as I did.

So, if you get a chance to see this movie, I recommend it. It is in black and white but that's OK.

helpful•10

1

rosco1947
Jan 14, 2006

Release date
- November 27, 1957 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Languages
- English
- French
Also known as
- Der Regimentstrottel
Filming locations
- Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA
Production company
- Hal Wallis Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 38 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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Peter Lorre, Jerry Lewis, Phyllis Kirk, Liliane Montevecchi, and David Wayne in The Sad Sack (1957)

Top Gap

By what name was The Sad Sack (1957) officially released in Canada in English?

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