The Errand Boy (1961)

A goofy paperhanger is hired to root out a financial inefficiency on a Hollywood studio lot, wreaking havoc as he goes.

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writers:

Jerry Lewis, Bill Richmond

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Brian Donlevy, Howard McNear

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Morty S. Tashman
Brian Donlevy	...	Tom 'T.P.' Paramutual
Howard McNear	...	Dexter Sneak
Dick Wesson	...	The A.D.
Robert Ivers	...	Young NY Director Who Argues with T.P.
Pat Dahl	...	Miss Carson
Renée Taylor	...	Miss Giles
Rita Hayes	...	Singer Who Dubs Davitt
Stanley Adams	...	Grumpy
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Helen Paramutual / Mrs. T.P.
Isobel Elsom	...	Irma Paramutual
Sig Ruman	...	Baron Elston Carteblanche
Felicia Atkins	...	Serina
Doodles Weaver	...	Weaver
Fritz Feld	...	Busby - Roaring '20s Director

Storyline

Paramutual Pictures wants to know where all the money is going, so they hire Morty to be their spy. Morty works for Mr. Sneak and gets a job in the mail room so that he can have access to the lot. But all that Morty ever finds is that he can cause havoc no matter what he does.

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Plot Keywords:

written and directed by cast member | satire | physical comedy | slapstick comedy | gag humor | 

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Taglines:

Fractures Hollywood with a Million Howls!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Roscoe Ates.

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Goofs

The diver writes a question to the title character but omits the apostrophe from "DON'T".

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Quotes

Morty S. Tashman: Do you smoke ma'am?
[Bubblegum Blower in Elevator shakes her head]
Morty S. Tashman: Thank heavens.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

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Soundtracks

Lover
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers

User Reviews

The fool in Hollywood

Jerry Lewis is Morty S. Tashman who is hired by Paramutual Pictures to be their spy.He gets to work in the mail room for Grumpy (Stanley Adams).Soon they notice it wasn't such a good idea to hire Morty.Morty causes a disaster after another at whatever he does.The funny man Jerry Lewis directed and wrote with Bill Richmond this hilarious movie.Jerry is at his funniest in this one, just like he is in many of his other movies.The supporting cast is great as well.There are talents like Brian Donlevy, Dexter McNear, Renée Taylor, Kathleen Freeman, Isobel Elsom, Iris Adrian, Del Moore, 'Snub' Pollard, Michael Landon and three other members from Bonanza.The Errand Boy (1961) is a party for Jerry Lewis fans, such as myself.The movie is filled and full of hilarious scenes, like Jerry in the elevator or in the candy store, when he has problems with pronouncing all those complicated names, when he gets accidentally to the movie set and gets carried away with the song...The list goes on and on until the movie ends.The movie can also be serious and sweet, when Jerry encounters with the hand puppet clown and ostrich.I think a good comedy can be funny and serious, maybe even at the same time.Serious moments don't worsen the comedy.Jerry Lewis has the capability of bringing both of those sides into his movies.Watch this movie.It will show you the both sides of Jerry Lewis, the king of comedy.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 November 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

De golpe en golpe

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Lewis Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1