The Bellboy (1960)

Mute bellboy Stanley works at the luxurious Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. In spite of being a serviceable and friendly employee, the clumsy Stanley gets successively into trouble with his mistakes.

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writer:

Jerry Lewis

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Alex Gerry, Bob Clayton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Stanley / Jerry Lewis
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	...	Cary Middlecoff
Art Terry	...	Art Terry (as The Novelites)
Frankie Carr	...	Frankie Carr (as The Novelites)
Joe Mayer	...	Joe Mayer (as The Novelites)
Stanley Allan	...	Hotel Guest
Duke Art Jr.	...	Bellboy

Storyline

Stanley is a bellboy at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach. It is there that he performs his duties quietly and without a word to anyone. All that he displays are facial expressions and a comedic slapstick style. And anything that can go wrong - does go wrong when Stanley is involved. Then one day, Jerry Lewis, big star, arrives at the hotel and some of the staff notice the striking resemblance. Stanley continues to do what he was hired to do while star Lewis has more trouble with his entourage than the hotel accommodations.

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Plot Keywords:

double | reference to the shadow | episodic | vignette | slapstick comedy | 

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Taglines:

It's a Series of Silly Sequences and One of Jerry's All-Time Great Comedy Performances!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the bellhops says that Stanley could be Lamont Cranston. This is a reference to the night avenger known as The Shadow, a popular hero of 1940's pulp novels, radio shows and theatrical serials (and a 1990's theatrical film of the same name). His civilian alter ego was Lamont Cranston, just like Clark Kent is actually Superman.

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Goofs

The camera's shadow is visible on several occasions.

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Quotes

Mr. Novak, Hotel Manager: Stop shaking your head! What's a matter with you, can't you talk?
Stanley: Certainly, I can talk. I suspect I can talk as well as any other man, Mr. Novak.
Mr. Novak, Hotel Manager: In that case, how is it we never heard you talk before?
Stanley: Because no one ever asked me.

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Crazy Credits

Jerry is credited both as "Jerry Lewis" and "Joe Levitch", his real name: Jerry Lewis plays Stanley, Joe Levitch plays himself.

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Connections

Referenced in Battleship (2012)

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Soundtracks

Alabama Jubilee
(uncredited)
Music by George L. Cobb
Lyrics by Jack Yellen

User Reviews

Very unusual....but worth seeing.

This is one of Jerry Lewis' most unusual films. While many of his are quite episodic (with lots of little comedy skits buried within the film), this one is episodic--with no real plot to support it. In other words, it's JUST comedy skits and there is no attempt to create a back story or plot. While this isn't the sort of film I'd usually want to see, it's nice for a change of pace. In many ways, it reminds me of the Mr. Hulot films by Jacques Tati--which isn't surprising, as Lewis has praised Tati's work (and vice-versa).

The film takes place at a swank Miami hotel. Jerry plays a bellboy who always seems to be getting into trouble or being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many of the skits are only mildly funny--but they come so quickly that it really doesn't matter. Among the best of the routines is when the great actor, Jerry Lewis, comes to the hotel-- as well as Milton Berle. Seeing the bellboy AND Lewis was a clever touch--and I loved seeing the entourage that got out of Lewis' limo. Quite engaging and worth seeing. I also marvel that Lewis wrote, directed and starred in this film and did it so very quickly.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1960 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Bellboy

Filming Locations:

Fontainebleau Hilton Resort - 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Lewis Pictures, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1