The Bellboy (1960) User Reviews

No Plot! Just Humor. ;)

[robeykr · 6/10 · 2 September 2002]

No Plot -- The film starts with this proclamation. This film is definitely one of Jerry Lewis' best of his carrier. Filmed during the height of his movie output in the 1960's, this film is comedy unto its own sake. The gags just don't stop -- you aren't given a moment to relax, because it's all so funny, you can't stop laughing. The NO PLOT aspect only helps, as the audience is free to concentrate on the moment. I still burst into laughter when the hotel manager is called by the airport to inform him 'HE WHAT!?' Yes, this film is dated by today's standard, but that should come as no surprise. This film was the product of a different era -- and a different society. The change in our society was what made him decide to briefly retire from film in the '70s. The standards of humor just changed. And performers had to change with it. But film is permanent. It is set in celluloid. It can be re-edited, but what would be the point? For anyone who can appreciate 'the artist' for his art, this film still can be enjoyed. For anyone who can look at past films for nostalgia, this film can be enjoyed. It's called comedy -- 'nuff said.

72 minutes of of sight gags

[JasparLamarCrabb · 7/10 · 17 February 2014]

Jerry Lewis's directorial debut is 72 minutes of sight gag after sight gag as Lewis plays a bellboy at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami. Despite the harassment of co-workers and bullying of managers, Lewis manages to get EVERY job thrown at him done in his own outrageous ways. He also plays two roles...the other being himself(!), in town for an engagement at the hotel. Lewis is priceless in both roles, pantomiming his bellboy role and playing it straight as himself. There are many highlights in the film, from Lewis making the long walk across an insanely large empty theater to dozens of hotel guests trying unlock their rooms with the wrong key. The supporting cast includes Alex Gerry, Bob Clayton and two actresses playing Mrs. Hartunga! Milton Berle has a very clever cameo.

Very unusual....but worth seeing.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 27 August 2012]

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.

Gets Me Every Time!

[showbizgal87 · 27 December 2003]

This movie is one of my all time favorites! Every time I see it I catch something new I hadn't seen before, and, even after watching it so many times, it never ceases to set me into a fit of laughter! Future viewers: Ignore all that junk about it being dated, etc.! Watch this movie and decide for yourself- JL is awesome, and you WON'T be disappointed!

That raucous laugh and voice

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 7 March 2013]

In The Bellboy we get to see two Jerry Lewises. Jerry plays a bellboy at the famous Miami Beach Fountainbleu Hotel where a good deal of the film is shot. And he plays movie star Jerry Lewis who happens to be staying at the Fountainbleu with one very large entourage. That's one of the gags in a funny scene involving a limousine. Also staying there is Milton Berle in another gag involving an identical Milton as well as an identical Jerry.

Jack Kruschen plays the head of Paramount Pictures in a prologue opening where he explains this film has no plot or story, it's just the day in the life of a singularly inept bellboy. He's the bane in the existence of hotel manager Alex Gerry and bell captain Bob Clayton. Jerry must be related to someone important otherwise he would have been canned years ago.

That raucous Lewis laugh and voice you will not hear at all, still Jerry puts together a lovely series of sight gags without a sound coming from him. Usually that voice is so much a part of his comedy shtick you'd think he'd be lost without it, but he carries off his goal of making a film that is a tribute to the famous silent comedians of yore.

One gag involves writer Bill Richmond doing an imitation of Stan Laurel. My guess is that Jerry tried to get the real Stan to do this film, but probably health reasons prevented it. It wasn't one of the better gags in the film, it could have used the real Stan to make it work.

The Bellboy is a quieter, but not more gentle Jerry Lewis.

Not-bad Jerry Lewis comedy

[moonspinner55 · 6/10 · 5 September 2006]

Directorial debut for writer-producer-star Jerry Lewis is a funny collection of skits centering around a put-upon bellhop at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. Having just completed "Cinderfella" for a mid-year release, Lewis suggested to Paramount Pictures they hold off showing that film until Christmas and gave them this one in its place (put together in near-record time). Short and relatively painless, the movie benefits from Haskell Boggs' sharp black-and-white cinematography, Walter Scharf's bright score and, of course, the snazzy locale. Lewis smoothly segues from one sight-gag to the next, his mugging relatively restrained. **1/2 from ****

Probably not the definitive Lewis film but considering Jerry wrote, directed and starred in the flick, fans should take a chance

[inkblot11 · 6/10 · 17 July 2007]

Stanley (Jerry Lewis) is a bellhop at a posh Miami hotel. It is hard to see how he stays employed! When a manager tells him to empty the trunk of a guest's car, for example, the auto turns out to be a Volkswagen beetle. Confused, Stanley nevertheless takes out the car's engine and presents it to the guests. Another time, an overweight lady checks into the hotel in order to complete a diet program. She loses a great deal of pounds and looks great but Stanley decides to give her a box of chocolates, as a reward, and she reverts to her old habits and fatter self. In short, this film is a series of episodes in the life of a hotel bellboy, strung together nicely. Lewis' usual facial expressions, physical humor, and antics are here for the world to see. As a legendary comic, he does a nice job but, this is certainly not his most memorable film. One would have to say The Nutty Professor or even one of my favorites, Way Way Out, are better examples of his talent. With that in mind, however, fans of Lewis should definitely carve out a couple of hours to watch this movie. It is fun, if not totally successful, flick.

Dated but significant

[faraaj-1 · 7/10 · 24 August 2006]

Jerry Lewis was a genius. After his partnership with Dean Martin (I recommend you read JL's excellent autobiography Dean & Me - A Love Story) ended and he made a few successful comedies just as an actor (notably with director Frank Tashlin), JL moved on to become star, writer and director.

His first film was supposed to be Cinderfella - a Christmas movie. But, the studio wanted a summer movie from him as well such was his popularity. So, while staying in Miami and engaged in live performances, he took out the time to write, star in and direct The Bellboy. In addition to all this, he invented the video-assist technique which is a standard tool today when making a movie. All this in four weeks. He went on to Las Vegas for further live performances where he did the editing.

The film itself, as the opening monologue frankly confesses is not about plot or any specific sequences. Its a series of comedic gags - snippets completely unrelated to each other. Some are funny, most are dated. Nothing to capture the magic of the Dean years or future classics from JL like The Nutty Professor. However, for fans of JL, it is required viewing. His facial contortions are brilliant. The DVD special features contain an act on stage with JL while rehearsing for the movie. Very nice.

I admit it - I'm a Jerry Lewis fan

[calgal84 · 9/10 · 9 December 2012]

If you don't believe Jerry Lewis is a comic genius, you need to see this film. The humor. The cinematography. Everything is spot on. I know people have said there is no plot to this but watch it. There is. And it's sad and funny, as all good comedy truly is. Still one of my favorites. Watch the reactions of all the people around him. Watch how each scene is set up and framed. Jerry Lewis never saw the critical acclaim here in the US as he did in Europe but I believe he was way ahead of his time. Comedians like Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, and even Jim Carrey owe a debt of gratitude for Jerry Lewis paving the way. I wish the younger generation would discover Jerry Lewis' movies, including this one, because I believe they would appreciate his humor and artistry. Check out this movie, The Nutty Professor, Cinderfella and the Errand Boy.

Times have changed.

[marksez · 6/10 · 26 May 2013]

I don't know. I remember seeing this movie as a kid and thinking it was a great, hilarious Jerry Lewis comedy. In the late 1950's and early 1960's Jerry Lewis could do no bad. People stood in long lines and paid a premium to see his movies.

I am watching "The Bellboy" now, recorded on my DVR, and it is incredibly stupid and unfunny. What happened? There has certainly been a change in social behaviors, seeing how women are treated and how men behave in the movie. And there has been a change in what we find funny, apparently.

There are a few comic pieces that hold up; Jerry leading the invisible orchestra is a nice piece of work, his trying to find a seat in the crowded coffee shop with the huge unoccupied counter which is instantly filled with customers the second he tries to take a seat, his joyride in the DC-8 and his buzzing of the Fontainbleau, the real Jerry Lewis meeting the Milton Berle bellboy, and the one I have always liked, his taking a flashbulb picture of the moon that instantly changes night into day.

Otherwise the movie is not funny anymore, or maybe I've outgrown its type of humor. It's good to watch as a piece of history and cinematic history.

Times have changed.

there are two kinds of jerry lewis fans

[davidm-14 · 4/10 · 5 September 2017]

There are the ones who think he's a legendary comic genius from the 50's on. These are the folks who suffered through every bad self-directed movie and endless labor day telethon (let's welcome tony orlando and dawn!).

And then there those who think his single greatest moment was playing jerry langford in the king of comedy. as the years have gone by, i have found i'm in the latter group.

i have found that jerry lewis, and other comedians of his time like bob hope, terribly unfunny, especially in their movies. while the bellboy is an amazing piece of art (if you consider what he did to create it), it just isn't funny. it's a story-free tale, gag after gag, starring a largely silent jerry lewis, mugging at the camera like a chimp and creating strangely penalty-free chaos. like he always does. because i love the story of how he made it, i almost never turn it off if i come across it.

i do have to put this film in the same category as the ladies man, which i always watch also, but because of that amazing multi-level set.

Jerry Lewis the true genius of comedy

[Petey-10 · 10/10 · 28 July 2005]

Jerry Lewis produced, wrote and directed The Bellboy in 1960, in four weeks at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach, where he was performing at the time.The movie has no plot, it just shows us Stanley the bellboy getting in many hilarious situations.Stanley doesn't speak, he doesn't say a word until at the end of the movie.Lewis shows us some incredible silent comedy, great physical comedy in a way only Jerry can do.And what he does with his face! Marvelous, just marvelous! In this movie Jerry makes also a visit as himself.You can't help yourself laughing when the star arrives with a whole bunch of people.An other great comedian, Milton Berle can be seen there.And Stan Laurel.Well, not quite.Jerry wanted Stan to be in the movie, he sent him the script and Stan did make a few minor changes to it.He deleted one entire scene because it was too mean-spirited.So Stan did have something to do with the picture, but he wasn't seen in it.That's too bad, since Mr Laurel is also one of my favorite comics.But there is Bill Richmond as Stan Laurel look-alike.Mr Lewis will receive next September the Governors award for his charity work.He is the chairman of Muscular Dystrophy Association.Good for you, Jerry!You do deserve all the best in the world.I bought the DVD yesterday and I sure am glad I did.It may not be the most traditional Jerry Lewis movie, but it still works, works like a charm.After 45 years it still does.

The "Hand" of Stan Laurel" is all over this film.

[gene-07202 · 7/10 · 3 January 2022]

A great film..... On other Jerry Lewis Films? He would strike out. Not always. But often. He offered Stan Laurel a hundred G's per year to be a consultant on his films. Although Stan Laurel turned him down? Stan did review and rewrite the screenplay for "The Bellboy (1960). The "Hand" of Mr. Laurel can be seen everywhere in this film. Kudos to Jerry Lewis for acknowledging Mr. Laurel's contributions to this film. I would have liked to have seen Stan Laurel get an Oscar foe "co-writing" but it never happened.

Bleh

[jellopuke · 4/10 · 1 February 2020]

Jerry Lewis wishes he could be a silent film star here with very little dialogue and incessant mugging. There's no plot or forward momentum, just a collection of gags, some of which do not work at all, a few are okay, and a couple really shine. Overall it's more annoying than anything and I guess you had to be alive at the time to appreciate him and his style because I'm not on board at all...

dated? (minor spoiler)

[Sergeiii · 20 March 2001]

It is with productions like "The Bellboy" that Jerry Lewis earned more and more hostility in the States and made his eventual reputation in Europe (i.e France, of course). This movie is stuck in a continental divide, but also in a temporal one. I have no idea whether Lewis did actually grasp the ideas of surrealism or the absurd movement at the time, but it looks pretty much so. The man somehow managed to mix his usual desperately anarchic slapstick routines with a very clear sense of not making the innate tragedy of the matter an issue at all - only to disclaim at the end that the character shown in the picture might be your neigbour. The achievement here is that Lewis behaves like a lost circus clown throughout the major feature film - never allowing himself to get halfway sentimental or plot-oriented. He is illogic, destructive and spastic; and he makes the whole movie obey his zany rules, thus saving the Sennett/Roach school into a time when people were heavily reflecting on the opportunities of physical humour. Maybe it took the MelBrookses, the Abraham-Zuckers and the Farrellys to make that kind of unromantic comedy truly popular again way later, but here's someone who tried in 1960. Today, it looks like Jim Carrey taking over a Bunuel movie - and that's as silly as it gets.

Jerry Lewis' strong directorial debut

[a_chinn · 7/10 · 7 October 2017]

Jerry Lewis was already a huge star when this film came out, but this film marked his first outing as a director and it's an assured first film. Like most Lewis directed comedies, the film is often series of vignette comic set pieces. Jerry's "Kid" character is a Miami hotel bellboy who has lots of various tasks that mostly go comically awry, whether it's answering phones, having to fill an enormous ballroom with chairs, or conducting an imaginary orchestra, it's all quite funny. There's no real story and this is even openly stated by the film's fiction producer at the film's outset. An interesting film history note, Jerry is credited with creating the video-assist technique on this film, where he put monitors on the set that allowed him to immediately see what was filmed live on set, which is now a standard practice on films. Overall, the film is nothing brilliant, but it's quite enjoyable and a solid directorial debut for Lewis. Milton Berle and Walter Winchell have cameo appearances and future longtime Lewis collaborator Bill Richardson appears in the film as Stan Laurel.

slapstick Jerry

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 5 September 2017]

Stanley (Jerry Lewis) is a bumbling, mostly-silent bellboy at a high class hotel. He gets into wacky slapstick situations. There is a cavalcade of comedic luminaries passing through including a big star played by Jerry Lewis himself.

This is a physical performance almost from a silent era. It goes from one situation to another. It can be rambling as the central narrative isn't well-developed. It is simply Jerry having slapstick fun. There isn't really a plot. At only 72 minutes, it doesn't necessarily need a compelling plot. It is short enough that the random physical comedy is fun before I got bored with it.

The Bellboy(1960)

[robfollower · 7/10 · 13 August 2020]

Jerry Lewis's first movie as director-writer-star (and co-producer) . The film's loose structure: the plot-less film centers around Stanley (Lewis), a bumbling bellboy at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. In place of a story, The Bellboy has what it describes as "a series of silly sequences." One typical sequence has Stanley instructed to take "everything out of the trunk" of an arriving car and take its contents up to the guest's room. Only the car turns out to be a Volkswagen Beetle, though Stanley dutifully removes the car's engine and delivers it to its nonplussed owner.

Though its gags are variable, The Bellboy pretty much works on every level.

A 72-minute ode to silliness.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 10 May 2022]

Legendary comedy actor Jerry Lewis made his directing debut with this generally engaging movie. Lewis' primary role is that of Stanley, a mute bellboy at the prestigious Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. He's always bumbling and causing trouble, no matter what he has to do. However, as the opening segment (featuring an unbilled Jack Kruschen) lets us know, this movie is deliberately refraining from telling us a real "story". It's just a series of gags strung together to provide some *fun* for its audience.

While this viewer didn't find all of the jokes that funny, there's still enough inspired silliness here to make "The Bellboy" an enjoyable enough movie. Among my favorite bits: Stanley miming conducting an orchestra, trying to walk up a *down* escalator, making the mistake of getting between an arguing husband & wife, and trying to call an elevator while somehow managing to miss the button every single time. Most uproarious is the bit involving a plane near the end of the movie. And the gag right at the end is pretty priceless, providing the perfect finish.

Lewis is in fine form, mugging for the camera for everything that he's worth, and his physical comedy is quite impressive the way that he throws his body around. He's ably supported by Alex Gerry as his boss and Bob Clayton as the harried bell captain. Lewis also plays "himself" (billed under his real name, Joe Levitch) during the first half of the movie. Cameos include Milton Berle, Cary Middlecoff, and entertainers The Novelites.

All in all, "The Bellboy" should be required viewing for fans of the star.

Seven out of 10.

Peak Jerry Lewis

[Ziglet_mir · 8/10 · 30 March 2020]

Decided to return to an old-favorite. This is peak Jerry Lewis. The only solo films of his (I've seen) that may be better are The Nutty Professor or Cinderfella (Haven't seen those since I was a kid though so will need to rewatch and review). Milton Berle's cameo, the auditorium seating sketch, the dieting lady... are all really well done sketches. I think it partially helps Lewis does 't say anything as the bellboy either.

"Would you quit it with the brushing!"

Jerry Lewis was born on March 16th, 1926

[PCC0921 · 7/10 · 25 February 2022]

Forget what you know or think about Jerry Lewis. Even if you have issues with his kind of comedy, you can't deny the fact that his contributions to the art of film is boundless. He invented, created and perfected so many different kinds of camera tricks and filmmaking ideas. He comes up with so many interesting ideas to express his comedy, that you don't even need to pay too much attention to the actual comedy. This is most evident in this film. It is refreshing seeing the interesting ways he approaches his style of story-telling.

This Jerry Lewis film will not disappoint. In the beginning of the film, Jerry has a fictitious, Hollywood executive, played by Jack Kruschen, come out and explain to the audience that this film has no plot, no script and is just a film about a crazy bellboy. It sets up the film in a perfect way and sets the tone for things to come. It is the original idea of "the show about nothing". It is pure, comedic entertainment, full of skits and it highlights the uproarious energy of Mr. Lewis. It also is his first directing job and he pulls no punches.

7.2 (C MyGrade) = 7 IMDB.

A Silly Collection of Gags

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 4 June 2007]

In Miami Beach, the mute bellboy Stanley (Jerry Lewis) 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.

"The Bellboy" is a silly collection of gags written, produced and directed by the lead star Jerry Lewis. There are some funny and non-sense jokes, like for example when Stanley meets the guest Jerry Lewis or when he removes the engine of a Volkswagen, and a great homage to Stan Laurel. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Mensageiro Trapalhão" ("The Clumsy Bellboy")

I really enjoyed this!

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 13 December 2015]

Even though Jerry Lewis is meant to be a really quiet Bellboy, that doesn't mean he'll give up with his usual silly tricks and of course, making you laugh. Seriously I think he is a comedy genius, he can do anything from being quiet to yapping a lot!

The most memorable scene I'll never forget is when he was suppose to get baggage from the airport but instead, he rode the plane to where the president should be left off. However he didn't appear so it was instead Lewis carrying the baggage and not the president. I'll honestly never forget that scene, it was such genius!

It was funny to think Lewis played himself and the bellboy at the same time. Jerry Lewis is well able to play anything at the same time! He really made me laugh in this, check this out!

The Dumb-Bellboy!

[bsmith5552 · 5/10 · 1 September 2018]

"The Bellboy" was Jerry Lewis" baby. He not only wrote, produced, directed and starred in it (twice) but his company made it as well. I didn't like it.

For openers there is no story or plot no recognizable co-stars and no love interest. The whole thing is a series of incidents and/or sight gags that happen to clumsy inept bellboy Stanley (Lewis). Some are funny, most are not. A string of no brainer "comedic" moments gets a little tiring after a while.

For some reason Lewis has Jerry Lewis (Joe Levitch) arrive on the scene. This had several comedic possibilities such as the two Jerrys meeting and being confused with each other and being mistaken with each other. They never meet. There is a funny exchange with Milton Berle where he plays two identical characters, himself and an old looking bellboy. They meet the two Jerrys separately but the four do not interact. After the Berle sequence we do not see the celebrity Jerry again. Stanley gets involved in a poker game with a group of gangsters including B. S. Pully, Maxie Rosenbloom and Joe E. Ross but nothing much happens.

Lewis goes through his madcap routines until finally the end credit comes up. Yawwwwn!

The only supporting players of note are Alex Gerry as Hotel manager Novak and Bob Clayton as the Head Bellboy. Jack Kruschen as studio boss Jack E. Mulcher introduces the picture telling us that we are about to see a different sort of comedy. Boy was he right. Walter Winchell provides the opening narration.

Joe Levitch for those who do not know was Jerry Lewis' real name.

I really thought I'd really die watching it

[matthank · 16 August 2003]

This movie is solid gags. No plot and JL is very open about that....only gags or what they used to call 'blackouts'. I have simply never laughed so hard as when I watched this movie. But as for the scene where he loses it by the elevators, you may or may not like it (French?) but it nearly caused me to have an early death. Tape it, rent it or buy it, but if you have come this far, watch it!